The Parrhesia Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker San Rafael, CA EIN: 92-1309810

The Parrhesia Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in San Rafael, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $192K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $13K. Net investment income was $8K.

Key facts about The Parrhesia Foundation

In short: The Parrhesia Foundation gave $13K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
92-1309810
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$12,959
Grants made (2025)
5
Average grant
$2,592
Median grant
$750
Total assets
$191,747
Primary geography
New York (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$192K

-6.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$13K

+12125.5% YoY

Grant Count

5

+400.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

+2345.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Parrhesia Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Parrhesia Foundation gives

  • In 2025 it paid out 206% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of all 5 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

San FranciscoBerlinHarlanKansas CityNew YorkSan DiegoWashington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5K$10K$15K0 grants20223 grants20231 grants20245 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2025

CF Europe: $10KCF Europe$10KArchdiocese of San Francisco: $2KArchdiocese of San Francisco$2KCNEWOrg: $750CNEWOrg$750Homeless Prenatal Program: $261Homeless Prenatal Program$261National Catholic Reporter: $100National Catholic Reporter$100

Grant Size Distribution

9 grants across all recorded years

9<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
CF Europe New York, NYGeneral Fund$10,187
Archdiocese of San Francisco San Francisco, CAGeneral Fund$1,661
CNEWOrg Berlin, MAGeneral Fund$750
Homeless Prenatal Program San Francisco, CAGeneral Fund$261
National Catholic Reporter Kansas City, MOGeneral Fund$100

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K2022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$191,747$204,913$202,511
Revenue$11,117$9,915$7,520
Expenses$24,283$7,513$4,339
Qualifying Distributions$21,984$5,498$4,338
Net Investment Income$7,583$6,220$7,520
Distributable Amount$10,683$10,441$9,711

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 9, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 8, 2025)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 13, 2026)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Parrhesia Foundation is led by Nels Thygeson, CEO on every filing since 2022; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Nels Thygeson

    CEO

    On filings since 2022

    No compensation reported

  • Megan Thygeson

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Parrhesia Foundation

How much does The Parrhesia Foundation give each year?

The Parrhesia Foundation gave $13K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $106 across 1 grant.

What is The Parrhesia Foundation's typical grant size?

The Parrhesia Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $750, and its average grant was $2,592, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Parrhesia Foundation give grants?

The Parrhesia Foundation gives mostly in New York: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (15%) and Massachusetts (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).

Does The Parrhesia Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Parrhesia 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 Parrhesia Foundation's largest grantees?

The Parrhesia Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include CF Europe ($10,187), Archdiocese of San Francisco ($1,661) and CNEWOrg ($750), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Parrhesia Foundation?

The Parrhesia Foundation reported $192K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $22K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is The Parrhesia Foundation?

The Parrhesia Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in San Rafael, CA. It holds $192K in total assets as of 2025.

What is The Parrhesia Foundation's EIN?

The Parrhesia Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-1309810. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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