The Pocket Foundation
The Pocket Foundation is a private foundation, based in Santa Barbara, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $21K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $92K. Net investment income was $71K.
The Pocket Foundation at a glance
In short: The Pocket Foundation gave $92K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state Montana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $92,000
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,222
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $21,072
- -57.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Montana (46% 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 Pocket Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Expedition Inspiration ($20K). Together the top 9 received $92K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 43 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Pocket Foundation gives
- Giving fell 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $65K (2021) to $146K (2022). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $92K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Expedition Inspiration Boise, ID | Program Support | $20,000 |
| Santa Barbara AGG and Farm Fdn San Rafael, CA | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Guide Dogs for the Blind San Rafael, CA | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Haven Bozeman, MT | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Sage Gardeners Bozeman, MT | Program Support | $8,000 |
| The Montana Land Reliance Helana, MT | Program Support | $8,000 |
| Gallatin Valley Land Trust Bozeman, MT | Program Support | $8,000 |
| Crosscut Mountain Sports Center Bozeman, MT | Program Support | $8,000 |
| Ali Cat Rescue Wellington, FL | Program Support | $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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,072 | $152,904 | $105,323 | $92,000 | 9 | $97,306 | $70,716 | $1,073 |
| 2024 | $49,413 | $99,710 | $117,469 | $115,000 | 9 | $115,484 | $97,451 | $677 |
| 2023 | $67,172 | $104,106 | $80,100 | $78,000 | 8 | $79,050 | $98,327 | $886 |
| 2022 | $43,166 | $99,027 | $147,600 | $146,000 | 10 | $146,320 | — | $3,155 |
| 2021 | $91,739 | $1,491 | $66,475 | $65,000 | 7 | $65,295 | — | $7,586 |
| 2020 | $156,723 | $2,022 | $87,903 | $86,000 | 10 | — | — | $11,776 |
| 2019 | $242,604 | $5,135 | $119,280 | $116,000 | 13 | — | — | $16,683 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pocket Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Pocket Foundation is led by Helen Deborah Van Dyke, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Helen Deborah Van Dyke
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Powell
Director
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Krueger
Director
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joseph E Tierney III (2019–2020) — Secretary
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 Pocket Foundation
How much does The Pocket Foundation give each year?
The Pocket Foundation gave $92K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $115K across 9 grants.
What is The Pocket Foundation's typical grant size?
The Pocket Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $10,222, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Pocket Foundation give grants?
The Pocket Foundation's top state is Montana, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (27%) and Idaho (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bozeman, MT (4 grants) and San Rafael, CA (2 grants).
Does The Pocket Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on The Pocket Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (9 grants).
Who are The Pocket Foundation's largest grantees?
The Pocket Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Expedition Inspiration ($20,000), Santa Barbara AGG and Farm Fdn ($15,000) and Guide Dogs for the Blind ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Pocket Foundation?
The Pocket Foundation reported $21K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $97K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Pocket Foundation's EIN?
The Pocket Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2205056. 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 February 18, 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
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