The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation is a private foundation based in Torrance, California. Founded in 2006, it supports science-based research aimed at advancing a healthy and sustainable future for humans.
Key facts about The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation
In short: The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation gave $11.5M across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $261K), mostly in California. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 35-2554499
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,494,657
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- Average grant
- $261,242
- Median grant
- $231,558
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (3 of 24, 2024)
- Total assets
- $104,172,964
- Primary geography
- California (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$104.2M
+13.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.5M
+30.1% YoY
Grant Count
44
+7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$261K
+21.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 24 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $46K; repeat grants $541K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $525K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 205% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 265% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to advance basic science in service to humanity, supporting research for a healthy and sustainable future. Its stated research areas include neuroscience and brain science, regenerative medicine, cell biology including stem cells, cancer, and nanotechnology and nanoscience. It also supports basic research addressing fundamental scientific questions that may lead to advances in medicine or scientific knowledge, and directs funds toward efforts intended to benefit all or a large portion of humanity.
Recipients include universities and research organizations. For example, the University of San Francisco describes its mission as educating leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world; Georgia Tech Research Corporation says it supports Georgia Institute of Technology research, technical assistance, and economic development; and the University of California Berkeley Foundation says it advances the interests and welfare of UC Berkeley, including by providing funding for scholarships and student assistance.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 44 grants totaling $11,494,657. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $944,116, with a median grant of $231,558. The largest awards included $944,116 each to the University of Utah and the University of Colorado for Ph.D. Scholars Programs; $916,618 each to the University of Washington and UC San Diego for Ph.D. Scholars Programs; and $891,156 to the University of California Berkeley for a Ph.D. Scholars Program. Other notable awards included $625,000 to the Innovative Genomics Initiative for its “IGI-Genomic Discover Toll Fund,” and $250,000 awards for research at several institutions, including UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology.
Ready to take the next step with The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in California (58%), followed by Washington (9%), Utah (8%), Colorado (8%), and Georgia (7%). The foundation’s listed research-grant and fellowship processes involve institutions in California, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.8M (2021) to $11.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $11.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Regents of the University of CA ($1.6M across 7 grants). Together the top 10 received $9.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
145 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 145 (38%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT | PH.D Scholars Program | $944,116 |
| University of Colorado Boulder, CO | PH.D Scholars Program | $944,116 |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | PH.D Scholars Program | $916,618 |
| University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA | PH.D Scholars Program | $916,618 |
| University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA | PH.D Scholars Program | $891,156 |
| University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | PH.D Scholars Program | $874,182 |
| Innovative Genomics Initiative Berkeley, CA | IGI-Genomic Discover Toll Fund | $625,000 |
| University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA | PH.D Fellowship Program | $330,025 |
| The Regents of the University of CA San Francisco, CA | Support research on genetically targeted bioelectonics to map brain-body pathways | $250,000 |
| The Regents of the University of CA Berkeley, CA | Support research on dopaminergic modulation of synaptic plasticity for dynamic spatial learning | $250,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $104,172,964 | $6,985,588 | $12,652,006 | $11,494,657 |
| 2023 | $91,503,438 | $5,858,315 | $9,751,529 | $8,833,932 |
| 2022 | $98,706,117 | $26,767,410 | $5,745,565 | $4,959,392 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $104,172,964 | $91,503,438 | $98,706,117 |
| Revenue | $6,985,588 | $5,858,315 | $26,767,410 |
| Expenses | $12,652,006 | $9,751,529 | $5,745,565 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,184,917 | $8,997,044 | $5,050,720 |
| Net Investment Income | $956,948 | $581,103 | $19,599,565 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,599,805 | $4,392,487 | $4,685,960 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are Ronald V. Rosequist, President and Director; E. Davisson Hardman, Treasurer and Director; Kay Curci, Director; James G. Mitchell, Director; Amy E. Fuermann, Secretary; and Robert Tjian, Director.
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation is led by Ronald V. Rosequist, President & Director on every filing since 2021; 2 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ronald V. Rosequist
President & Director
On filings since 2021
16 hrs/week
$48K (2021) → $100K (2024)
E. Davisson Hardman
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James G. Mitchell
Director
On filings since 2021
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kay Curci
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Robert Tjian
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy E. Fuermann
Secretary
On filings since 2021
25 hrs/week
$6K (2023) → $35K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: John E. Huguenard (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Roberta P. Irish (2021–2023) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Thomas G. Irish (2021–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $100K, to Ronald V Rosequist (Pres / Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 21250 Hawthorne Blvd 350, Torrance, CA 90503
Phone: (310) 618-3645
Website: https://curcifoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation
How much does The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation give each year?
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation gave $11.5M across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $8.8M across 41 grants.
What is The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation's typical grant size?
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $231,558, and its average grant was $261,242, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation that year got $46K on average.
Where does The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation give grants?
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation gives mostly in California: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Washington (9%) and Utah (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Berkeley, CA (8 grants), Atlanta, GA (5 grants), San Francisco, CA (4 grants) and Pasadena, CA (4 grants).
Does The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "PH.D Scholars Program" (6 grants), "Support Scientific Research" (3 grants) and "PH.D Fellowship Program" (3 grants).
Who are The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation's largest grantees?
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Regents of the University of CA ($1,612,515 across 7 grants), University of California Berkeley ($1,221,181 across 2 grants) and University of California San Diego ($1,082,398 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation?
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation reported $104.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to advance basic science in service to humanity, supporting research for a healthy and sustainable future. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation's EIN?
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2554499. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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