The Foothills Foundation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA EIN: 94-2412392 Website

The Foothills Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in June 1977, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to supporting community development through grantmaking and philanthropic initiatives.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$10.0M

-8.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.8M

-1.8% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$65K

-1.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Foothills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $525K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services

The foundation prioritizes support for education nonprofits and STEM education initiatives.

Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Primary funding regions include:

California
North Carolina
Tennessee

Grant Distribution by State

California $4.0M (49%)

North Dakota $1.6M (20%)

North Carolina $1.3M (16%)

District of Columbia $525K (6%)

Tennessee $270K (3%)

Connecticut $95K (1%)

Virginia $80K (1%)

Ohio $60K (1%)

+4 more states

States

Arizona California Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Michigan North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Tennessee Texas Virginia

Cities

ArlingtonBismarckBooneCalistogaCarmelCharlotteChesapeakeColumbusConcordCosta MesaDanvilleDaytona BeachFullertonGilroyGreenbraeLiberty TownshipLos BanosLos GatosMarquetteMemphis

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $9,963,440

Total Giving: $1,833,333

2023 Financial Summary:

Revenue: $2,331,632
Expenses: $1,922,790
Total Assets: $10.9 million
Total Liabilities: $0

Tax-Exempt Status: The organization has maintained its 501(c)(3) designation since June 1977 and has no outstanding liabilities.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$9,963,440	$10,862,104	$10,453,783
Revenue	$1,007,431	$2,331,632	$3,232,026
Expenses	$1,909,229	$1,922,790	$1,820,658
Qualifying Distributions	$1,895,226	$1,918,180	$1,803,518
Net Investment Income	$1,007,431	$331,632	$1,232,011
Distributable Amount	$525,461	$577,093	$484,803

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

113 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cannon School Inc ($400,000), Delta Waterfowl Foundation ($333,333), Congressional Sportsmens Foundation ($200,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMENS FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC	TO SUPPORT CSF'S EFFORTS TO WORK WITH CONGRESS, GOVERNORS AND STATE LEGISLATURES TO PROTECT & ADVANCE HUNTING, ANGLING, RECREATIONAL SHOOTING & TRAPPING.	$200,000
DELTA WATERFOWL FOUNDATION BISMARCK, ND	IN SUPPORT OF MILLION DUCK CAMPAIGN - INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT, HABITAT AND HUNTING POLICY.	$333,333
MZURI WILDLIFE CLUB FOUNDATION GREENBRAE, CA	TO SUPPORT THE MISSION TO PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND SHOOTING SPORTS EDUCATION.	$75,000
UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC STOCKTON, CA	TO SUPPORT THE VETERAN HOUSING PROJECT.	$100,000
CHP 11 99 FOUNDATION COSTA MESA, CA	TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL EMPLOYEES AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO THEIR CHILDREN.	$20,000
UNITED STATES SPORTSMENS ALLIANCE FOUNDATION COLUMBUS, OH	TO PROTECT AND DEFEND AMERICA?S SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN, WHILE EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OUTDOORS ENTHUSIASTS.	$25,000
DUCKS UNLIMITED INC MEMPHIS, TN	TO SUPPORT THE KLAMATH BASIN INITIATIVE.	$20,000
ROTARY CLUB OF MOUNT SHASTA FOUNDATION MT SHASTA, CA	TO SUPPORT THE MT. SHASTA ROTARY CLUB AND THE	$25,000
VICTORY JUNCTION GANG CAMP INC RANDLEMAN, NC	FOR GENERAL SUPPORT IN HONOR OF VICTORY JUNCTION'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY.	$20,000
WEST COAST STOCK CAR HALL OF FAME DANVILLE, CA	TO ASSIST THE ORGANIZATION IN ITS OPERATIONS TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE HERITAGE OF STOCK CAR RACING.	$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
GARY H BECHTEL	PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR	—	—
GEORGE T ARGYRIS	SECRETARY & DIRECTOR	—	—
ERIN WILMS	TREASURER, ASST SECRETARY & DIRECTOR	—	—
ERIN WILMS	SECRETARY & DIRECTOR	—	—
SARAH V COPELAND	TREASURER, ASST SECRETARY & DIRECTOR	—	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Foothills Foundation fund?

The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation prioritizes support for education nonprofits and STEM education initiatives.

How do I apply for a grant from The Foothills Foundation?

**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $4,345 to $400,000. **Total Giving:** $1,833,333 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing) **Geographic Scope:** The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Where does The Foothills Foundation make grants?

Primary funding regions include: • California • North Carolina • Tennessee

What size grants does The Foothills Foundation award?

In 2024, The Foothills Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $65K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Foothills Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Foothills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $525K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.