The Unicorn Foundation
The Unicorn Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in San Diego, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $82K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $71K. Net investment income was $5K.
The Unicorn Foundation at a glance
In short: The Unicorn Foundation gave $71K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $70,500
- -6.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,500
- +24.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $81,534
- -40.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (86% 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 Unicorn Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rancho Coastal Humane Society ($60K). Together the top 3 received $71K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 23 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Unicorn Foundation gives
- Giving grew 30% 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 $54K (2022) to $87K (2020). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $71K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rancho Coastal Humane Society Encinitas, CA | Other Grants | $60,000 |
| International Campaign for Tibet Washington, DC | Other Grants | $10,000 |
| Palm Springs Art Museum Palm Springs, CA | Other Grants | $500 |
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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 | $81,534 | $9,507 | $82,875 | $70,500 | 3 | $78,593 | $5,225 | $6,336 |
| 2024 | $136,311 | $23,864 | $79,874 | $75,532 | 4 | $77,895 | $20,885 | $8,392 |
| 2023 | $198,347 | $17,268 | $92,494 | $84,182 | 3 | $89,729 | $14,503 | $11,062 |
| 2022 | $275,843 | $31,211 | $65,280 | $54,340 | 3 | $61,583 | $27,514 | $15,715 |
| 2021 | $383,675 | $31,113 | $83,285 | $73,537 | 10 | — | $26,872 | $18,407 |
| 2020 | $392,078 | $26,177 | $95,658 | $87,228 | 4 | — | $22,696 | $20,821 |
| 2019 | $475,099 | $18,444 | $75,879 | $64,320 | 6 | — | $14,112 | $24,025 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Unicorn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Unicorn Foundation is led by Jerry Cesak, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jerry Cesak
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pam Cesak
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Unicorn Foundation
How much does The Unicorn Foundation give each year?
The Unicorn Foundation gave $71K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $76K across 4 grants.
What is The Unicorn Foundation's typical grant size?
The Unicorn Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $23,500, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Unicorn Foundation give grants?
The Unicorn Foundation gives mostly in California: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (14%).
Does The Unicorn Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Unicorn Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Other Grants" (3 grants).
How large is The Unicorn Foundation?
The Unicorn Foundation reported $82K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $79K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Unicorn Foundation?
The Unicorn Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in San Diego, CA. It holds $82K in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Unicorn Foundation's EIN?
The Unicorn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0443137. 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
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 23, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work The Unicorn Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Unicorn Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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