The Desantis Foundation
The Desantis Foundation is a private foundation, based in Escondido, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $64K. Net investment income was $142K.
The Desantis Foundation at a glance
In short: The Desantis Foundation gave $64K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $64,183
- -26.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,023
- +47.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,603,798
- +5.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (36% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Desantis Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Christian Foundation ($21K). Together the top 8 received $64K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 50 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Desantis Foundation gives
- Giving grew 94% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 59% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2022) to $251K (2019). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $64K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Christian Foundation Alpharetta, GA | General Fund | $21,000 |
| RFK Human Rights Washington, DC | General Fund | $18,933 |
| Saint Mary's College Moraga, CA | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Santa Barbara Volleyball Club Santa Barbara, CA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Laguna Blanca School Santa Barbara, CA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | General Fund | $2,000 |
| The Art of Elysium Los Angeles, CA | General Fund | $1,250 |
| Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OH | General Fund | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,603,798 | $213,871 | $135,835 | $64,183 | 8 | $64,183 | $142,135 | $108,154 |
| 2024 | $1,525,762 | $279,964 | $157,444 | $87,332 | 16 | $87,332 | $207,852 | $85,892 |
| 2023 | $1,403,242 | $32,858 | $158,492 | $85,615 | 13 | $85,615 | — | $85,701 |
| 2022 | $1,528,876 | $-68,290 | $94,162 | $33,083 | 5 | $33,083 | — | $89,091 |
| 2021 | $1,691,328 | $110,213 | $121,999 | $56,920 | 8 | $56,920 | $44,855 | $104,316 |
| 2020 | $1,703,114 | $107,840 | $185,855 | $122,920 | 7 | — | $44,540 | $85,842 |
| 2019 | $1,781,129 | $141,500 | $314,158 | $250,888 | 14 | — | $78,230 | $90,224 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Desantis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $108K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Desantis Foundation is led by Robert J. Desantis, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert J. Desantis
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Desantis Foundation
How much does The Desantis Foundation give each year?
The Desantis Foundation gave $64K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $87K across 16 grants.
What is The Desantis Foundation's typical grant size?
The Desantis Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,023, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Desantis Foundation give grants?
The Desantis Foundation's top state is California, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (33%) and District of Columbia (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (3 grants).
Does The Desantis Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Desantis Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Desantis Foundation's largest grantees?
The Desantis Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Christian Foundation ($21,000), RFK Human Rights ($18,933) and Saint Mary's College ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Desantis Foundation?
The Desantis Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $64K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $108K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Desantis Foundation's EIN?
The Desantis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6718443. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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