The Fat Tire Foundation
The Fat Tire Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2006 and based in Los Altos, California. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple cause areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$86.6M
+62.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.1M
+76.0% YoY
Grant Count
43
-20.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$73K
+121.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fat Tire Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fat Tire Foundation's mission encompasses four primary areas:
- Cure Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
- Eliminate inequality in the Bay Area
- Provide increased opportunity through education
- Protect the natural world
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker that does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Interested organizations should contact the foundation directly at fattirefoundation@gmail.com.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a primary focus on the Bay Area while also making grants nationally and internationally across its mission areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $86.6 million
- Total Revenue: $32.6 million
- Total Expenses: $4.29 million
- Total Liabilities: $8,390
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $53.4 million
- Total Revenue: $13.9 million
- Total Expenses: $2.6 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $86,600,524 | $53,382,035 | $47,733,421 |
| Revenue | $32,574,341 | $13,924,116 | $453,658 |
| Expenses | $4,289,575 | $2,572,689 | $2,339,682 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,161,857 | $1,823,271 | $1,793,518 |
| Net Investment Income | $25,847,499 | $1,511,498 | $650,079 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,094,422 | $2,762,456 | $2,802,246 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
186 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of California San Francisco ($1,000,000), Jdrf T1d Fund Llc ($250,000), Abortion Care Network ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABORTION CARE NETWORK WASHINGTON, DC | WELLNESS | $200,000 |
| ACTIVATE BERKELEY, CA | ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION | $10,000 |
| ADVENTURE SCIENTISTS BOZEMAN, MT | ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION | $200,000 |
| AMAZON FRONTLINES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION | $25,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE PENINSULA MENLO PARK, CA | COMMUNITY | $200,000 |
| CANARY MEDIA BOULDER, CO | ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION | $10,000 |
| CENTER FOR DISASTER PHILANTHROPY WASHINGTON, DC | ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION | $100,000 |
| CURRY SENIOR CENTER SAN FRANCISCO, CA | WELLNESS | $20,000 |
| DENSHO SEATTLE, WA | EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES | $10,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY | WELLNESS | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFF JORDAN | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| KAREN SHISHINO JORDAN | CEO | 0.5 | — |
| ALISON JORDAN | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| CONNOR JORDAN | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 1707, Los Altos, CA 94023-1707
Phone: 650-845-8100
Email: fattirefoundation@gmail.com
EIN: 20-8066058
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Fat Tire Foundation fund?
The Fat Tire Foundation's mission encompasses four primary areas: • Cure Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) • Eliminate inequality in the Bay Area • Provide increased opportunity through education • Protect the natural world
How do I apply for a grant from The Fat Tire Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker that does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Interested organizations should contact the foundation directly at fattirefoundation@gmail.com. In 2023, the foundation made 38 grants totaling approximately $1.06 million. Notable recent grants include: • Japanese American National Museum: $200,000 (Educational Resources) • Stanford University / The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University: $166,667 (Educational Resources) • Adventurers S…
Where does The Fat Tire Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains a primary focus on the Bay Area while also making grants nationally and internationally across its mission areas.
What size grants does The Fat Tire Foundation award?
In 2024, The Fat Tire Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $3.1M — an average of about $73K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Fat Tire Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Fat Tire Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Fat Tire Foundation's EIN?
The Fat Tire Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8066058. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Fat Tire Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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