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.
Key facts about The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation
- EIN
- 76-0721677
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $955,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 89
- Average grant
- $10,736
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Primary geography
- California (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation's 89 itemized 2025 grants were California (93%). The most frequent recipient cities were Palm Springs, CA (26 grants), Los Angeles, CA (13 grants), Palm Desert, CA (9 grants) and Rancho Mirage, CA (6 grants). 1% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Community Services" (30 grants), "To Promote Arts and Cultural Programs" (21 grants) and "To Promote Improved Health and Wellness" (4 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$956K
+9.6% YoY
Grant Count
89
-1.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+10.8% YoY
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:
Ready to take the next step with The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation?
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 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
504 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 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Eisenhower Health (medical Center) ($64,000), Dap Health ($45,000), Do the Right Thing Greater Palm Springs ($45,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EISENHOWER HEALTH (MEDICAL CENTER) RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | TO SUPPORT HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN THE REGION | $64,000 |
| DAP HEALTH PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO ADVOCATE FOR HEALTHCARE FOR ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS | $45,000 |
| DO THE RIGHT THING GREATER PALM SPRINGS PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES | $45,000 |
| THE JOSLYN CENTER PALM DESERT, CA | TO ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF ALL ADULTS 50+ THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES | $35,100 |
| CATHEDRAL CITY SENIOR CENTER CATHEDRAL CITY, CA | TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES TO SENIORS | $35,000 |
| PALM SPRINGS CULTURAL CENTER PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO PROMOTE ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS | $35,000 |
| THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS PALM DESERT, CA | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES | $35,000 |
| THE DESERT SYMPHONY PALM DESERT, CA | TO BRING PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS TO THE DESERT CITIES | $30,100 |
| AAP-FOOD SAMARITANS PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES | $30,000 |
| THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER PALM SPRINGS, CA | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES | $30,000 |
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 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN TOBIN | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 40 | $180,275 |
| DIRK ETCHISON | DIRECTOR | 2 | $2,000 |
| 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 2025, The Grace Helen Spearman Foundation awarded 89 grants totaling $956K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2019–2025.
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.