The Palo Alto Community Fund
The Palo Alto Community Fund (PACF) is a community foundation established in 1998 and designated as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Based in Palo Alto, California, the organization serves as a catalyst for positive change and an enduring community resource. PACF raises and stewards funds from donors and invests in the local nonprofit ecosystem to empower the community as a whole.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.3M
+9.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+5.3% YoY
Grant Count
69
+4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+0.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Palo Alto Community Fund focuses on the unique needs of the community and channels charitable giving of local donors to effective organizations that improve the quality of life for everyone in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
Vision: A thriving, collaborative, just community committed to compassion, generosity and opportunity for all.
Core Values:
- Responsibility and Accountability: Conducting activities professionally, ethically, responsibly and transparently
- Perpetuity: Stewarding the endowment to benefit present and future generations
- Local Needs & Knowledge: Understanding the interrelated needs and opportunities of the nonprofit ecosystem
- Equity: Committing to the health and equity of the region
- Collaboration: Valuing collaborative giving to amplify impact
- Trust-based Philanthropy: Trusting the nonprofit community to fulfill their missions and create positive change
Funding Focus Areas: Education, human services, workforce development, and early childhood development.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $150,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
PACF serves three primary communities:
- Palo Alto
- East Palo Alto
- Menlo Park
All grantmaking is focused on these local areas in California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $12.26 million (as of 2024)
Annual Revenue: $3.31 million (2024)
Annual Expenses: $2.2 million (2024)
Total Liabilities: $18,900 (2024)
Endowment: PACF thoughtfully stewards a permanent endowment to ensure it can benefit present and future generations.
Financial Transparency: The organization provides IRS Form 990 filings dating back to 2009 and maintains a commitment to financial responsibility and transparency. Donors and the public can contact the Executive Director at 650-690-0370 with questions about financials, policies, or use of funds.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,260,382 | $11,175,831 | $9,114,646 |
| Revenue | $2,448,553 | $3,309,146 | $2,750,605 |
| Expenses | $2,318,139 | $2,199,392 | $2,140,770 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $418,285 | $326,101 | $189,888 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Palo Alto Community Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Lisa Van Dusen
Governance: The organization is run by a volunteer, working Board of Directors and a CEO. The Fund also has an Advisory Board.
Staff: The organization employs approximately 3-7 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRENE WONG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 24 | $93,654 |
| LISA VAN DUSEN | OUTGOING ED | 30 | $60,840 |
| MATTHEW CASPARI | Secretary | 10 | — |
| GEORGIA FAROOQ | Director | 1 | — |
| YAEL GOSHEN | Director | 1 | — |
| STEVE EMSLIE | Director | 1 | — |
| SUSAN FIELDS BAILEY | President | 10 | — |
| BECKY BEACOM | Vice President | 1 | — |
| DIANE DOWNEND | Treasurer | 10 | — |
| TIMOTHY TOMLINSON | Director | 1 | — |
| SHERYL KLEIN | Director | 1 | — |
| MEGAN SWEZEY FOGARTY | Director | 1 | — |
| SALLY HEWLETT | Director | 1 | — |
| THEIVANAI PALANIAPPAN | Director | 1 | — |
| JANE RYTINA | Director | 1 | — |
| FRED MONDRAGON | Director | 1 | — |
| COLLEEN GORMLEY | Director | 1 | — |
| CINDY TRAUM | Director | 1 | — |
| DAVE MCQUARRIE | Director | 1 | — |
| PETER O'RIORDAN | Director | 5 | — |
| ANNA WARING | Director | 1 | — |
| MIKE ALCHECK | Director | 1 | — |
| LAUREN WILLIAMS | Director | 1 | — |
| SEJAL KAMANI | Director | 1 | — |
| BARBARA SIH KLAUSNER | Director | 1 | — |
| MIRIAM YUPANQUI | Director | 1 | — |
| LIGIA MURILLO | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
PACF announced 2024 grants, with the organization investing $1.8 million in community strength and resilience during that year. Recent grantees have included AbilityPath, which received a $100,000 grant to provide innovative programs and services for children and adults with disabilities.
Grantees - Palo Alto Community FundThe organization maintains an active grantmaking program and regularly announces grant awards to local nonprofit organizations serving the Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, and Menlo Park communities.
Weekly announces 2025 Holiday Fund grantsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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