The Strong Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Lafayette, CA EIN: 94-1167412
EducationEnvironmentCommunity and economic development

The Strong Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Lafayette, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 1 grant totaling $152K.

The Strong Foundation at a glance

In short: The Strong Foundation gave $152K across 1 grant in 2023 (avg $152K), mostly in California. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2023)
$152,353
+19.0% vs 2022
Grants made (2023)
1
-66.7% vs 2022
Average grant
$152,353
+257.1% vs 2022
Median grant
$152,353
Primary geography
California (100% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026.

Who The Strong Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2023

28 Various 501(c)(3) Organizations: $152K28 Various 501(c)(3)Organizations$152K

The largest 2023 recipient was 28 Various 501(c)(3) Organizations ($152K).

Grant Size Distribution

7 grants across all recorded years

2<$50K$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 5 grants of 7 (71%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of the 2023 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

States

Cities

BerkeleyLafayette

How The Strong Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 27% from 2020 to 2023. Method
  • In 2023 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

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K1 grant2019 1 grant2020 1 grant2021 3 grants2022 1 grant2023

From 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $102K (2019) to $152K (2023). In 2023 it made 1 grant totaling $152K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
28 Various 501(c)(3) Organizations Various, CAprograms for environmental stewardship and conservation efforts$152,353
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2023—$-1,111$180,356$152,3531$171,595—$508
2022$168,577$-2,477$151,344$128,0003$139,798—$11,936
2021$334,543$12,019$137,261$118,5001—$4,346$18,896
2020$463,723$13,084$140,110$120,0001—$2,941$25,570
2019$595,225$96,883$129,155$102,0001—$78,465$31,369

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Strong Foundation reported a distributable amount of $508 for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Strong Foundation is led by John Wise, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 9 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.

Officers on the 2023 filing

  • John Wise

    President

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Cathy Pardieck

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Eri Glans-Suzuki

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Mary O'Meara

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Porter

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Anne Bade

    Director

    New on the 2023 filing

    No compensation reported

  • David Howekamp

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Derek Heins

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Marily Howekamp

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Ann Bade (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Steve Pardieck (2019–2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "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 Strong Foundation

How much does The Strong Foundation give each year?

The Strong Foundation gave $152K across 1 grant in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $128K across 3 grants.

What is The Strong Foundation?

The Strong Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Lafayette, CA.

Where does The Strong Foundation operate?

The Strong Foundation has awarded grants in California.

How much is The Strong Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Strong Foundation reported a distributable amount of $508 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Strong Foundation's EIN?

The Strong Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-1167412. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.

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

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS December 14, 2019)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Strong 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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