The Conrad Prebys Foundation
The Conrad Prebys Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, California, established in 2020 following Conrad Prebys’s philanthropic legacy. It supports work in visual and performing arts, youth success, healthcare, and medical research, with the goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable future for an individual recipient County.
The Conrad Prebys Foundation at a glance
In short: The Conrad Prebys Foundation gave $54.9M across 392 grants in 2024 (avg $140K), mostly in California. 41% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $54,897,373
- +2.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 392
- +17.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $140,044
- -13.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $1,092,632,689
- -3.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (117 of 284, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Conrad Prebys Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing directs applicants to its strategic plan for information about grantmaking. The foundation says it will share opportunities throughout the year and may use open applications, requests for proposals, invitation-only processes, or community-led grantmaking. Its stated program areas are visual and performing arts, youth success, healthcare, and medical research.
- Contact
Application contact: Director Of Grantmaking
Mailing address: 1420 Kettner Blvd Suite 700, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 860-2100
Website: https://prebysfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Conrad Prebys Foundation
Arts Ecosystem: Venues & Spaces Grant
The Conrad Prebys Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Prebys Sparx Challenge
The Conrad Prebys Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Youth Workforce Initiative Program
The Conrad Prebys Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Conrad Prebys Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was San Diego Symphony Orchestra Association ($3.0M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $15.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,216 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 512 grants of 1,216 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s mission and strategic plan center on an individual recipient County. In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to California recipients and 2% to Massachusetts recipients; New York, New Jersey, and Virginia each accounted for 0% as reported.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 392 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Conrad Prebys Foundation open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 117 of 284 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $148K; repeat grants $225K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $43.2M (2021) to $54.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 392 grants totaling $54.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Symphony Orchestra Association San Diego, CA | General Operating | $3,000,000 |
| Uc San Diego for the Depot (Uc SD Fdtn) La Jolla, CA | General Operating | $3,000,000 |
| San Diego State University Fdtn (KPBS) San Diego, CA | General Operating | $1,600,000 |
| The Campanile Foundation SDSU San Diego, CA | General Operating | $1,500,000 |
| San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 San Diego, CA | General Operating | $1,000,000 |
| San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance San Diego, CA | General Operating | $1,000,000 |
| Sharp Healthcare Foundation San Diego, CA | General Operating | $1,000,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | General Operating | $1,000,000 |
| La Jolla Institute for Immunology La Jolla, CA | General Operating | $750,000 |
| National Conflict Resolution Center San Diego, CA | General Operating | $750,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,092,632,689 | $33,971,703 | $67,516,173 | $54,897,373 | 392 | $64,317,311 | $25,033,674 | $58,540,469 |
| 2023 | $1,125,949,431 | $-58,066,159 | $63,631,241 | $53,715,018 | 333 | $60,988,874 | $19,048,499 | $51,805,962 |
| 2022 | $1,254,163,145 | $33,852,859 | $59,843,543 | $47,147,006 | 278 | $50,160,675 | $28,578,553 | $53,891,950 |
| 2021 | $1,275,093,137 | $742,135,203 | $141,700,726 | $43,188,837 | 213 | $44,538,134 | $652,888,575 | $47,370,104 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Conrad Prebys Foundation reported a distributable amount of $58.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation aims to help ensure that San Diegans have financial security, good health, a sense of empowerment, and access to opportunity. Its strategic plan organizes its work around four areas: visual and performing arts, youth success, healthcare, and medical research. It also describes work beyond traditional grantmaking, including building collaborations, supporting nonprofit capacity, and testing new ideas.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported organizations. For example, the La Jolla Institute for Immunology says its scientists study how the immune system works to promote health and prevent disease. The Museum of an individual recipient describes its mission as inviting audiences to experience the world, region, and themselves through contemporary art. World of Work Foundation says it provides supplemental financial support to help maintain a strong educational system in Cajon Valley Union School District. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 392 grants totaling $54,897,373. Awards ranged from $200 to $3 million, with a median grant of $100,000. The foundation’s stated grantmaking approach includes ongoing opportunities rather than fixed grant cycles, using open applications, requests for proposals, invitation-only processes, and community-led grantmaking as appropriate. Its website lists opportunities including Arts Ecosystem: Venues & Spaces, Prebys Sparx, and the Youth Workforce Initiative.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $3 million each to the an individual recipient Symphony Orchestra Association and an individual recipient for The Depot, both for general operating support. Other large awards included $1.6 million to an individual recipient State University Foundation (KPBS), $1.5 million to The Campanile Foundation SDSU, and $1 million each to an individual recipient Tijuana World Design Capital 2024, an individual recipient Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Sharp Healthcare Foundation, and WGBH Educational Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dan Yates as president and Grant Oliphant as CEO. Other listed officers and directors are Alan Sorkin, secretary; Gil Alvarado, CFO; Peter Ellsworth, treasurer; and directors Constance Carroll, Irma Cota, Mary Walshok, Paula Cordeiro, and Victoria Hamilton.
The Conrad Prebys Foundation is led by Grant Oliphant, CEO on every filing since 2022; 9 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Grant Oliphant
CEO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$609K (2022) → $904K (2024)
Dan Yates
President
On filings since 2021
2.4 hrs/week
$7K (2022) → $45K (2024)
Constance Carroll
Director
On filings since 2023
2.4 hrs/week
$7K (2023) → $35K (2024)
Mary Walshok
Director
On filings since 2023
2.4 hrs/week
$7K (2023) → $35K (2024)
Paula Cordeiro
Director
On filings since 2023
2.4 hrs/week
$32K (2023) → $35K (2024)
Victoria Hamilton
Director
On filings since 2023
2.4 hrs/week
$7K (2023) → $35K (2024)
Irma Cota
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2.4 hrs/week
$35K (2024)
Peter Ellsworth
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2.4 hrs/week
$6K (2022) → $35K (2024)
Gil Alvarado
CFO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$442K (2022) → $416K (2024)
Alan Sorkin
Secretary
On filings since 2021
2.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Anthony Cortes (2021–2023) — Chair
- Former: Irma Cotes (2023) — Director
- Former: Joseph Gronotte To (2021) — Treasurer & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $904K, to Grant Oliphant (CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Conrad Prebys Foundation
How much does The Conrad Prebys Foundation give each year?
The Conrad Prebys Foundation gave $54.9M across 392 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $53.7M across 333 grants.
What is The Conrad Prebys Foundation's typical grant size?
The Conrad Prebys Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $140,044, across 392 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation that year got $148K on average.
Where does The Conrad Prebys Foundation give grants?
The Conrad Prebys Foundation gives mostly in California: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (269 grants), La Jolla, CA (22 grants), Escondido, CA (9 grants) and San Marcos, CA (8 grants).
Does The Conrad Prebys Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 99% of The Conrad Prebys Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (389 of 392) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "NPI ((University of San Diego)" (3 grants).
Who are The Conrad Prebys Foundation's largest grantees?
The Conrad Prebys Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include San Diego Symphony Orchestra Association ($3,030,334 across 4 grants), Uc San Diego for the Depot (Uc SD Fdtn) ($3,000,000) and San Diego State University Fdtn (KPBS) ($2,224,600 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Conrad Prebys Foundation?
The Conrad Prebys Foundation reported $1.1B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $64.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $58.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Conrad Prebys Foundation fund?
The foundation aims to help ensure that San Diegans have financial security, good health, a sense of empowerment, and access to opportunity. Its strategic plan organizes its work around four areas: visual and performing arts, youth success, healthcare, and medical research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Conrad Prebys Foundation's EIN?
The Conrad Prebys Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3216993. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Conrad Prebys Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-conrad-prebys-foundation-morg_8ecba24a5f3a4669b1dfd2f99b58bfa0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203216993_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Conrad Prebys Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-conrad-prebys-foundation-morg_8ecba24a5f3a4669b1dfd2f99b58bfa0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Conrad Prebys Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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