The Endurance Fund

Private foundation · Grantmaker Nicasio, CA EIN: 94-3170349

The Endurance Fund is a private foundation based in Nicasio, California. In 2024, its trustees decided to dissolve the Fund and distribute its assets to Marin Community Foundation and Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program; the dissolution plan was approved by the California Attorney General on October 18, 2024.

The Endurance Fund at a glance

In short: The Endurance Fund gave $6.2M across 49 grants in 2024 (avg $127K), mostly in California. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$6,242,328
+2298.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
49
+58.1% vs 2023
Average grant
$127,394
+1417.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,070
New grantees (estimate)
31% first-time grantees (11 of 36, 2024)
Primary geography
California (56% 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 Endurance Fund

How to Apply

The Foundation has no application form. It requires details about the purpose of the grant and verification of the donee’s tax-exempt status. It does not restrict awards by geography, charitable field, kind of institution, or other factors.

Review Cycle
There are no submission deadlines.
Deadline
There are no submission deadlines.
Contact

Application contact: Robert G Schiro
Mailing address: 1749 Nicasio Valley Road, Nicasio, CA 94946
Phone: (415) 488-4311

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Endurance Fund funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Marin Community Foundation: $3.3MMarin Community Foundation$3.3MVanguard Charitable Program: $2.8M across 4 grantsVanguard Charitable Program$2.8M · 4 grantsSan Geronimo Valley Community Cente: $79K across 7 grantsSan Geronimo Valley CommunityCente$79K · 7 grantsKingswood-Oxford School: $10KKingswood-Oxford School$10KHealth-Connectedorg: $10KHealth-Connectedorg$10KLEAP Lagunitas School Savers: $5KLEAP Lagunitas School Savers$5KMarin Agricultural Land Trust: $5KMarin Agricultural Land Trust$5KSan Geronimo Valley Emergency Fund: $5KSan Geronimo Valley EmergencyFund$5KMarin Country Day School: $5KMarin Country Day School$5KBranson School: $5KBranson School$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Marin Community Foundation ($3.3M). Together the top 10 received $6.2M.

Grant Size Distribution

168 grants across all recorded years

157<$50K7$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 157 grants of 168 (93%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 43% to recipients in Rhode Island, and 1% to recipients in Pennsylvania. The filing also lists recipient shares of 0% for Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.

Cities

San GeronimoSan RafaelSan FranciscoPoint Reyes StationWarwickNicasioRossSanta RosaWashingtonClaremontCorte MaderaAnchorageHarrisonNew YorkSoutheasternSt HelenaBecketEast Palo AltoLagunitasNovato

Is The Endurance Fund open to new grantees?

31%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 11 of 36 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $304K; repeat grants $116K. How we count

Medians: $250 first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 2092% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M11 grants2020 33 grants2021 44 grants2022 31 grants2023 49 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $197K (2020) to $6.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 49 grants totaling $6.2M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Marin Community Foundation Novato, CAThe Reliance Fund$3,335,743
Vanguard Charitable Program Warwick, RIGeneral Support$2,631,590
Vanguard Charitable Program Southeastern, PAThe Granite Fund$50,000
Vanguard Charitable Program Warwick, RIThe Meili Fund$50,000
San Geronimo Valley Community Cente San Geronimo, CACouncil Dinner$26,091
Vanguard Charitable Program Warwick, RIFacilitation of grant making$25,000
San Geronimo Valley Community Cente San Geronimo, CAJob Training$18,900
San Geronimo Valley Community Cente San Geronimo, CAJob Training$16,100
Kingswood-Oxford School West Harest Hartford, CTAnnual Fund$10,000
Health-Connectedorg East Palo Alto, CA#comprehensivesexed$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets for 2024 are not provided in the filing data summarized here.

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024—$462,678$6,294,326$6,242,32849$6,289,799$462,570$120,681
2023$6,041,379$238,510$283,192$260,26631$283,091$238,420$277,362
2022$5,582,028$-247,387$393,732$384,13944$389,865$34,710$307,006
2021$7,385,525$324,642$292,956$284,73033$292,177$324,637$337,400
2020$6,719,269$204,156$215,240$197,25011—$203,163$304,729

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Endurance Fund reported a distributable amount of $121K 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

No mission statement for the Fund is provided. Its 2024 grants went to a range of organizations. For example, Marin Community Foundation describes its mission as advancing equity for people, places, and the planet through community and philanthropy. Marin Agricultural Land Trust says it works to permanently protect Marin’s agricultural land for agricultural use. Vivalon describes its work as advancing independence, health, and quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities, while Redwood Empire Food Bank says it works to feed neighbors in need and lead the community to end hunger.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the Fund reported 49 grants totaling $6,242,328. Grants ranged from $20 to $3,335,743, with a median of $1,070. The largest listed awards were $3,335,743 to Marin Community Foundation for “The Reliance Fund” and $2,631,590 to Vanguard Charitable Program for “General Support.” The Fund’s filing narrative says it donated its interest in Park West Partners, Limited to Marin Community Foundation on November 1, 2024, and made a $2,631,590 donation to Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program on November 11, 2024. It intended to make a final distribution of approximately $26,000 to Vanguard after paying current operating liabilities.

Other 2024 grants included $26,091 to San Geronimo Valley Community Center for “Council Dinner,” $10,000 to Kingswood-Oxford School for its “Annual Fund,” and $10,000 to Health-Connected for “#comprehensivesexed.” The 2024 list also includes grants to Pomona College, Marin Country Day School, KQED, Dominican University of California, Vivalon, and Redwood Empire Food Bank.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Robert G Schiro and Dorene C Schiro as trustees.

The Endurance Fund's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Dorene C Schiro

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert G Schiro

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Endurance Fund

How much does The Endurance Fund give each year?

The Endurance Fund gave $6.2M across 49 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $260K across 31 grants.

What is The Endurance Fund's typical grant size?

The Endurance Fund's median grant in 2024 was $1,070, and its average grant was $127,394, across 49 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Endurance Fund that year got $304K on average.

Where does The Endurance Fund give grants?

The Endurance Fund gives mostly in California: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (43%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Geronimo, CA (9 grants), San Rafael, CA (6 grants), San Francisco, CA (6 grants) and Warwick, RI (3 grants).

Does The Endurance Fund give general operating support?

Yes: 71% of The Endurance Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 49) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Endurance Fund's largest grantees?

The Endurance Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Marin Community Foundation ($3,335,743), Vanguard Charitable Program ($2,756,590 across 4 grants) and San Geronimo Valley Community Cente ($78,916 across 7 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

What does The Endurance Fund fund?

No mission statement for the Fund is provided. Its 2024 grants went to a range of organizations. For example, Marin Community Foundation describes its mission as advancing equity for people, places, and the planet through community and philanthropy. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Endurance Fund?

The Foundation has no application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

How much is The Endurance Fund required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Endurance Fund reported a distributable amount of $121K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Endurance Fund's EIN?

The Endurance Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3170349. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Endurance Fund's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California

Marin Community Foundation

Novato, CA

Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

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McNabb Foundation

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Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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California Community Foundation

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The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.

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The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

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The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Direct Relief

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Direct Relief supports healthcare providers serving people affected by poverty or emergencies, including community health centers, clinics, and grassroots organizations, with medicines, supplies, and funding for health access and equity. In 2025, its grants had a median award of about $65,000, and its work spans all 50 U.S. states and countries around the world; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

International, Foreign Affairs & National Security

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$1.3B

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$337.4M

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Endurance Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-endurance-fund-morg_6aa5146d3d9247c681814361cebf39c8

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943170349_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Endurance Fund funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-endurance-fund-morg_6aa5146d3d9247c681814361cebf39c8},
  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 Endurance Fund'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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