The Lodestar Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in Arizona in 1999 and based in Phoenix, AZ. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding the capacity of the social sector through philanthropic support and collaborative initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$510K
+26.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-13.2% YoY
Grant Count
52
+15.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-24.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to maximize the leverage of philanthropic dollars, time, and effort through two primary strategies:
Increasing philanthropic resources by supporting organizations, programs, and projects that encourage philanthropy, public service, and volunteerism
Increasing philanthropic impact by encouraging long-term collaborations among nonprofits working in the same or complementary areas to increase efficiency and impact, reduce duplication of efforts, and promote the adoption of sound business practices
The foundation's philosophy is grounded in five interrelated sequential principles: that human happiness is a basic goal; that happiness comes from identifying meaningful purpose; that helping others is one meaningful purpose; that resources are limited; and that leveraging philanthropic tools can maximize impact and opportunity for achieving happiness.
The foundation's tagline reflects its evolution: originally "Seeking happiness in philanthropy," it has evolved to "Seeking meaning from philanthropy," recognizing that meaning—rather than happiness alone—is the ultimate reward of philanthropic work.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 49 grants in 2023, with total giving of $1,570,590. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Range
is approximately $20,000, with an average grant amount in the $23,500 range. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on organizations, projects, and programs that further its mission of promoting philanthropy and nonprofit collaboration.
Average Grant
amount in the $23,500 range. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on organizations, projects, and programs that further its mission of promoting philanthropy and nonprofit collaboration.
Ready to take the next step with The Lodestar Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $402,285
- Total Revenue: $2,109,752
- Total Expenses: $1,889,083
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $1,570,590
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $1,639,934
- Investment income and dividends: $13,646
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $456,172
The foundation experienced significant growth in 2023, with total grants and contributions increasing 134.8% compared to 2022.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $510,298 | $402,285 | $181,616 |
| Revenue | $1,722,402 | $2,109,752 | $663,994 |
| Expenses | $1,614,389 | $1,889,083 | $1,131,979 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,597,628 | $1,877,611 | $1,120,194 |
| Net Investment Income | $820,641 | $1,350,722 | $463,823 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,837 | $5,921 | $8,515 |
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
224 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Lodestar Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jerry Hirsch – Chairman
- Lois Savage – President
- Jerome Hirsch – Director, Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Jerome Hirsch | Dir, Sec | 5 | — |
| Lois Savage | Pres | 20 | $110,000 |
Contact Information
- Address: 4455 E Camelback Rd Ste C250, Phoenix, AZ 85018-2894
- Phone: 602-956-2699
- Website: www.lodestarfoundation.org
- Email: info@lodestarfoundation.org
- EIN: 20-4480084
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Running River School Inc
SEDONA, AZ
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Revelation Wellness Foundation
PHOENIX, AZ
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
3
Total Given
$40K
Dennis Evans Charitable Foundation
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
Assets
$33K
Grants
4
Total Given
$4K
Along Side Ministries Inc
PHOENIX, AZ
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$6K
Arizona Western College Foundation
YUMA, AZ
Assets
$8.0M
Grants
1
Total Given
$25K
Sulphur Springs Valley Electric
WILLCOX, AZ
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
105
Total Given
$610K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Lodestar Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities