The Margaret Liu Foundation
The Margaret Liu Foundation is a private foundation, based in Novato, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $784K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $1.5M. Net investment income was $802K.
The Margaret Liu Foundation at a glance
In short: The Margaret Liu Foundation gave $1.5M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $295K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,473,333
- +5175.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +150.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $294,667
- +2010.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $783,820
- +957.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Margaret Liu Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UCSF Foundation ($1.3M). Together the top 5 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 13 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Margaret Liu Foundation gives
- Giving grew 73567% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2022) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UCSF Foundation San Francisco, CA | General | $1,333,333 |
| San Francisco Opera San Francisco, CA | General | $100,000 |
| San Franciso Symphony San Francisco, CA | General | $25,000 |
| U Channel Foundation Santa Clara, CA | General | $10,000 |
| Meri Crouley Ministry Westlake Village, CA | General | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $783,820 | $802,393 | $1,474,553 | $1,473,333 | 5 | $1,473,333 | $802,393 |
| 2024 | $74,143 | $14,780 | $29,176 | $27,930 | 2 | $27,930 | $7,780 |
| 2023 | $88,539 | $40,831 | $22,054 | $22,000 | 2 | $22,000 | $40,489 |
| 2022 | $25,151 | $212 | $3,688 | $2,000 | 1 | $2,000 | $1 |
| 2021 | $28,627 | $16,946 | $17,245 | $16,200 | 3 | $16,200 | $16,946 |
| 2020 | $28,926 | $1,218 | $1,201 | — | — | — | $1,218 |
| 2019 | $30,156 | $17,049 | $68,778 | $67,500 | 2 | — | $17,049 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Margaret Liu Foundation is led by Margaret Liu, President on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Margaret Liu
President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Margaret Liu Foundation
How much does The Margaret Liu Foundation give each year?
The Margaret Liu Foundation gave $1.5M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $28K across 2 grants.
What is The Margaret Liu Foundation's typical grant size?
The Margaret Liu Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $294,667, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Margaret Liu Foundation give grants?
The Margaret Liu Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants).
Does The Margaret Liu Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Margaret Liu Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Margaret Liu Foundation's largest grantees?
The Margaret Liu Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include UCSF Foundation ($1,333,333), San Francisco Opera ($100,000) and San Franciso Symphony ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Margaret Liu Foundation?
The Margaret Liu Foundation reported $784K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $802K.
What is The Margaret Liu Foundation's EIN?
The Margaret Liu Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3269896. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Margaret Liu Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Margaret Liu Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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More similar funders
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