The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation
The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation is a private, independent 501(c)(3) foundation based in Palm Springs, California. Established in 2003, the foundation honors the legacy of Ms. Grace Helen Spearman by providing grants to organizations and individuals working to improve the lives of needy and less fortunate members of the community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.7M
+0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$872K
+20.2% YoY
Grant Count
90
+9.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+9.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $928K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to honor Ms. Spearman's legacy by providing funds to organizations and individuals to help improve the lives of the needy and less fortunate in the community. The foundation maintains a consistent mandate aligned with Ms. Spearman's vision, with special emphasis in the following fields:
- Education
- Medical research
- Cultural arts
- Assistance to the impoverished and disabled
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with the following characteristics:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Oregon, with a particular emphasis on serving needy communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2024:
- Total Assets: $13,702,878
- Total Revenue: $1,516,365
- Total Expenses: $1,482,302
- Net Income: $34,063
- Total Liabilities: $34,500
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,702,878 | $13,671,616 | $13,800,120 |
| Revenue | $1,516,365 | $1,109,893 | $1,038,483 |
| Expenses | $1,482,302 | $1,241,144 | $1,513,075 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,018,287 | $854,150 | $1,056,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,064,350 | $723,089 | $613,475 |
| Distributable Amount | $927,631 | $903,154 | $959,730 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Eisenhower Health (medical Center) ($60,000), Cathedral City Senior Center ($50,000), Boys & Girls Club ($42,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF COACHELLA RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND SENIORS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY | $3,500 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB ATLANTA, GA | TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL | $42,500 |
| CA FEDERATION OF WOMENS CLUBS WASHINGTON, DC | TO ENHANCE LIVES THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICE | $5,000 |
| CATHEDRAL CITY SENIOR CENTER CATHEDRAL CITY, CA | TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES TO SENIORS | $50,000 |
| CENTER FOR ARTS AT ITHACA ITHACA, NY | TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL THEATRE EXPERIENCES | $2,500 |
| DAP HEALTH PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO ADVOCATE FOR HEALTHCARE FOR ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS | $25,000 |
| EISENHOWER HEALTH (MEDICAL CENTER) RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | TO SUPPORT HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN THE REGION | $60,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR PALM SPRINGS USD PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL | $1,200 |
| FRIENDS OF PALM SPRINGS PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL CARE AND ADVOCACY | $17,000 |
| GREATER PALM SPRINGS PRIDE INC PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO PROMOTE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a board of directors that includes:
- Steven Tobin - President and Director
- Alma Banuelos
- Dirk H. Etchison
- Ken Randman
- John Ostler
The foundation operates with one employee.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN TOBIN | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 40 | $170,309 |
| DIRK ETCHISON | DIRECTOR | 2 | $1,500 |
| KEN RANDMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $2,000 |
| ALMA BANUELOS | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 4283 Arcada Street Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: 818-970-0286
Email: grants@gracehelenspearman.foundation
Website: gracehelenspearman.foundation
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to honor Ms. Spearman's legacy by providing funds to organizations and individuals to help improve the lives of the needy and less fortunate in the community. The foundation maintains a consistent mandate aligned with Ms. Spearman's vision, with special emphasis in the following fields: • Education • Medical research • Cultural arts • Assistance to the impoverished and disabled • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with the following characteristics: **Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $60,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $872,200 in grants based on its most recent filing. **Recent Grants:** Recent grant recipients have included: • Cathedral Center / Cathedral City Senior Center ($50,000) - to provide social services to seniors • Mizell Senior Center Endowment Fund ($30,100) - to enhance the lives and welfare of adults • DAP Healt…
Where does The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Oregon, with a particular emphasis on serving needy communities.
What size grants does The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation award?
In 2024, The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation awarded 90 grants totaling $872K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $928K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation's EIN?
The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0721677. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Grace Helen Spearman 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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