The William G Irwin Charity Foundation
The William G. Irwin Charity Foundation is a private foundation established in 1942 and based in San Francisco, California. The foundation makes capital grants to nonprofit organizations, with a primary focus on the physical improvement of humanity.
Key facts about The William G Irwin Charity Foundation
- EIN
- 94-6069873
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,840,417
- Grants made (2024)
- 117
- Average grant
- $92,653
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 75% first-time grantees (71 of 95, 2024)
- Total assets
- $115,150,685
- Primary geography
- California (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts applications exclusively through an online application portal. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Friday, May 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
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.
Who The William G Irwin Charity Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The William G Irwin Charity Foundation's 117 itemized 2024 grants were California (90%) and Hawaii (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (40 grants), Oakland, CA (11 grants), San Jose, CA (7 grants) and Concord, CA (7 grants). 7% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Annual Funding - Food Bank Grants" (21 grants), "Annual Grant" (5 grants) and "Discretionary Grant" (3 grants).
Is The William G Irwin Charity Foundation open to new grantees?
75%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 71 of 95 grantees (75%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $109K; repeat grants $129K. How we count
Medians: $96K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 16% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 34% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 200% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The William G Irwin Charity Foundation
- How to evaluate The William G Irwin Charity Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$115.2M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.8M
-13.3% YoY
Grant Count
117
+36.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$93K
-36.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William G Irwin Charity Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for the physical improvement of humanity. It supports a wide range of organizations addressing:
- Children and youth
- Education
- Health
- Human services
- Arts and culture
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
Friday, May 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The William G Irwin Charity Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation makes capital grants in California (with particular focus on the Bay Area) and Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 117 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $115,150,685
- Total revenue: $6,113,050
- Total expenses: $14,569,918
- Total liabilities: $6,980,000
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $111,000,000
- Total revenue: $8,170,000
- Total expenses: $14,600,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $115,150,685 | $111,448,347 | $109,869,635 |
| Revenue | $6,113,050 | $8,173,053 | $6,713,898 |
| Expenses | $14,569,918 | $14,575,206 | $16,479,469 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,100,729 | $12,810,006 | $10,257,041 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,686,925 | $7,717,649 | $6,265,522 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,549,289 | $5,361,507 | $5,709,418 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
436 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include San Francisco University High School ($500,000 across 2 grants), Lumen Christi Academies of the Roman Catholic Dio ($400,000), St Anthony Foundation ($380,000 across 5 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LUMEN CHRISTI ACADEMIES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIO Oakland, CA | IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLANT TO ENSURE SAFETY AND SECURITY AT ST. ELIZABETH SCHOOL | $400,000 |
| CHILDREN'S DAY SCHOOL San Francisco, CA | BUILDING DREAMS TOGETHER: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDRENS DAY SCHOOL | $300,000 |
| ST MARY'S MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION San Francisco, CA | SMMC ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ANTI-LIGATURE PROJECT | $275,000 |
| THE CERES COMMUNITY PROJECT Sebastopol, CA | THE CENTER FOR FOOD, YOUTH & COMMUNITY | $250,000 |
| DYNAMIC COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS Waianae, HI | 200 DWELLING UNITS - PUUHONUA O WAIANAE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $250,000 |
| SAN FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL San Francisco, CA | UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL CALIFORNIA STREET CAMPUS | $250,000 |
| SAN FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL San Francisco, CA | UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL CALIFORNIA STREET CAMPUS | $250,000 |
| A BETTER WAY INC Berkeley, CA | HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR A BETTER WAY HQ | $200,000 |
| CHILD START INCORPORATED Napa, CA | VALLEJO EARLY LEARNING CENTER | $200,000 |
| COMMUNITY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP DBA HOMERISE San Francisco, CA | RENOVATIONS TO THE SAN CRISTINA AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRUCTURE | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Staff Contacts:
Eunice Valentine, Senior Program Officer
- Email: evalentine@pfs-llc.net
- Phone: 415-561-6540 x228
Rachel Murch Watters, Grants Manager
- Email: rmurchwatters@pfs-llc.net
- Phone: 415-561-6540 x284
Board Members (as of 2023):
- Anthony O Zanze, President
- James F Zanze, Vice President
- Michelle Sauger, Treasurer
- William L Olds III, Audit Committee Chair
- Jane Olds Bogart, Trustee
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane Olds Bogart | Trustee | 2 | — |
| William L Olds III | Audit Committee Chair | 2 | — |
| Anthony O Zanze | President | 2 | — |
| James F Zanze | Vice President | 2 | — |
| Michelle Sauger | Treasurer | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: William G. Irwin Charity Foundation 1660 Bush Street, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415-561-6540
Website: williamgirwinfoundation.org
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation EIN: 94-6069873 Tax-exempt since: September 1942
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The William G Irwin Charity Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for the physical improvement of humanity. It supports a wide range of organizations addressing: • Children and youth • Education • Health • Human services • Arts and culture
How do I apply for a grant from The William G Irwin Charity Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications exclusively through an online application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The William G Irwin Charity Foundation make grants?
The foundation makes capital grants in California (with particular focus on the Bay Area) and Hawaii.
What size grants does The William G Irwin Charity Foundation award?
In 2024, The William G Irwin Charity Foundation awarded 117 grants totaling $10.8M — an average of about $93K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The William G Irwin Charity Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The William G Irwin Charity Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The William G Irwin Charity Foundation's EIN?
The William G Irwin Charity Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6069873. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.