The Exploration Foundation
Support West Hawaii exploration academy public charter school and to foster dissemination of the school's best practices and other educational reform initiatives.
The Exploration Foundation at a glance
In short: The Exploration Foundation gave $121K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $121K), mostly in Hawaii. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $121,360
- +807.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $121,360
- +807.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $121,360
- Total assets
- $5,961,231
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Exploration Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was West Hawaii Explorations Academy ($121K).
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 3 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2020) to $121K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $121K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| West Hawaii Explorations Academy Kailuakona, HI | Support | $121,360 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,961,231 | $567,718 | $612,216 | $121,360 | 1 | $5,935 |
| 2024 | $6,110,252 | $498,811 | $476,846 | $13,380 | 1 | $4,169 |
| 2023 | $6,250,594 | $427,926 | $436,679 | — | — | $1,614 |
| 2022 | $6,415,023 | $475,606 | $430,803 | — | — | $288 |
| 2021 | $6,689,700 | $607,946 | $452,297 | $6,500 | 1 | $283 |
| 2020 | $7,005,563 | $606,920 | $466,889 | $4,500 | Total only | $1,520 |
| 2019 | $7,529,053 | $602,111 | $484,596 | — | — | $620 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About The Exploration Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Exploration Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Kailua Kona, HI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $121K. Net investment income was $6K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Exploration Foundation is led by Vicky Carlson, Chairperson on every filing since 2023; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Vicky Carlson
Chairperson
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Hummel
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Bergsma
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Cat Cambria (2024) — Member
- Former: Lauren Manuel (2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Catherine Cambria (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jo Greenburg (2023) — Member
- Former: Kathy Penwell (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Marisa Bankston (2019–2022) — Chairperson
- Former: Erin Detweiler (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Heather Nakakura (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Laurence Scott (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Andi Pawasarat-Losalio (2020) — Former Chair
- Former: Grace Beymer (2020) — Member
- Former: Mary Crispi (2020) — Member
- Former: Andi Pawasat-Losalio (2019) — Vice Chair
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 Exploration Foundation
How much does The Exploration Foundation give each year?
The Exploration Foundation gave $121K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $13K across 1 grant.
How large is The Exploration Foundation?
The Exploration Foundation reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $568K.
What is The Exploration Foundation?
The Exploration Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Kailua Kona, HI. It holds $6.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Exploration Foundation operate?
The Exploration Foundation has awarded grants in Hawaii.
What is The Exploration Foundation's EIN?
The Exploration Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8992248. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
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