The Starseed Foundation
The Starseed Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Oregon. It supports exempt organizations in the arts, environment, literacy, hunger relief, social services, education, culture, and community improvement, with its website emphasizing Oregon-based programs.
The Starseed Foundation at a glance
In short: The Starseed Foundation gave $301K across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Oregon. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $301,467
- +4.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- -20.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,933
- +32.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,187
- Total assets
- $10,011,615
- +26.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (14 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Starseed Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website says organizations may submit a Letter of Inquiry by mail. The filing says an application is available on the foundation’s website to print, complete, and mail or email. The Letter of Inquiry should discuss the project, the people it will serve, the grant’s transformative effect and administration, and possible matching support. An invited full request should include verification of tax-exempt status; information about the community served, project activities, collaborators, expected beneficiaries, and measures of success; the amount requested and other funding sources; a budget and financial information; organizational history, mission, governance, qualifications, and accomplishments; and the submitter’s information.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states there are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- The filing states there are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Kenneth Edwards
Mailing address: PO Box 1001, Sandy, OR 97055
Phone: (503) 668-8662
Website: https://starseedfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Starseed Foundation
Who The Starseed Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Portland Art Museum ($34K). Together the top 10 received $170K.
Grant Size Distribution
213 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 211 grants of 213 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports exempt organizations throughout the United States, with an emphasis on Oregon-based programs. In 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon, 9% to Louisiana, 2% to Iowa, and 1% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Starseed Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 38 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 38% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 75% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $288K (2023) to $611K (2022). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $301K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Portland Art Museum Portland, OR | Cultural Support | $33,500 |
| Scrap Portland, OR | Environmental Report | $25,000 |
| Dancing Ground New Orleans, LA | Cultural Support | $19,500 |
| Pear Portland, OR | Community Support | $17,700 |
| Superkid Power Ashland, OR | Community Support | $16,500 |
| White Bird Dance Portland, OR | Cultural Support | $15,500 |
| Portland Columbia Sympathy Portland, OR | Cultural Support | $13,000 |
| Clackamas County Children Comm Milwaukie, OR | Community Support | $12,000 |
| Empowered Movement Aerial Hood River, OR | Community Support | $9,000 |
| Oregon Coasts Childrens Theater Newport, OR | Cultural Support | $8,530 |
Ready to take the next step with The Starseed Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,011,615 | $1,057,238 | $364,546 | $301,467 | 38 | $322,427 | $246,537 | $428,165 |
| 2023 | $7,930,286 | $445,653 | $341,017 | $287,748 | 48 | $288,850 | $255,181 | $359,318 |
| 2022 | $6,561,765 | $372,409 | $671,485 | $611,199 | 27 | $622,442 | $119,196 | $363,863 |
| 2021 | $8,532,647 | $460,326 | $536,158 | $484,816 | 42 | $486,572 | $410,648 | $406,309 |
| 2020 | $7,960,208 | $490,012 | $346,920 | $293,078 | 58 | — | $397,492 | $341,300 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Starseed Foundation reported a distributable amount of $428K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide opportunities and exposure to the arts and environment, improve quality of life for people in need, and support social programs offering cultural and lasting benefit. Its website lists support for performing and visual arts through education and public performance; environmental education and protection; literacy; hunger relief and social services; educational institutions advancing those goals; and culture and community improvement, subject to board approval.
The foundation says it primarily focuses on art, music, drama, and environmental education, and supports organizations that provide exposure to those fields of performance and study. It describes grants that can support endowments, capital campaigns, and multi-use materials. It makes grants only to organizations that qualify as nonprofit organizations under IRS rules or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a qualifying nonprofit.
Grantee missions illustrate the types of organizations supported. The Portland Art Museum describes its mission as engaging diverse communities through art and film, and collecting, preserving, and educating for present and future generations. p:ear says it mentors Portland’s homeless youth. Empowered Movement Aerial describes expanding access to the arts for children facing economic, geographic, or cultural barriers. Oregon Repertory Singers describes adult choir performances and a youth music education and performance program.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $301,467. Grants ranged from $577 to $33,500, with a median of $6,186. Major awards included $33,500 to Portland Art Museum for cultural support, $25,000 to SCRAP for an environmental report, $19,500 to Dancing Ground in New Orleans for cultural support, $17,700 to p:ear for community support, and $16,500 to Superkid Power for community support.
The foundation’s filing also describes direct charitable activities, including support for the Portland Art Museum campus expansion and renovation, reuse education through SCRAP, and tote bags, art supplies, winter supplies, clothing, and food items distributed through programs in Oregon.
The foundation’s website asks prospective applicants to begin with a Letter of Inquiry. If approved, applicants are invited to submit a full grant request. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and that awards must align with its mission.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kenneth Edwards as Executive DI, Ann Edwards as Vice President, Tom Schaefer as Secretary, and Jodee Keegan and Sean Berry as Directors.
The Starseed Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jodee Keegan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Berry
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Edwards
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Edwards
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Schaefer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Starseed Foundation
How much does The Starseed Foundation give each year?
The Starseed Foundation gave $301K across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $288K across 48 grants.
What is The Starseed Foundation's typical grant size?
The Starseed Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,187, and its average grant was $7,933, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Starseed Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Starseed Foundation give grants?
The Starseed Foundation gives mostly in Oregon: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Louisiana (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (23 grants), New Orleans, LA (2 grants) and Ashland, OR (2 grants).
Does The Starseed Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on The Starseed Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cultural Support" (27 grants) and "Community Support" (10 grants).
Who are The Starseed Foundation's largest grantees?
The Starseed Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Portland Art Museum ($33,500), Scrap ($25,000) and Dancing Ground ($19,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Starseed Foundation?
The Starseed Foundation reported $10.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $322K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $428K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Starseed Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide opportunities and exposure to the arts and environment, improve quality of life for people in need, and support social programs offering cultural and lasting benefit. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Starseed Foundation?
The website says organizations may submit a Letter of Inquiry by mail. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Starseed Foundation's EIN?
The Starseed Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1243038. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Starseed Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Starseed Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-starseed-foundation-morg_41c0b6628bb943d88fda760fff1e078b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_931243038_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Starseed Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-starseed-foundation-morg_41c0b6628bb943d88fda760fff1e078b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Starseed Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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