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.
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
Notable grants include:
Review Cycle
Friday, May 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST
How to Apply
**
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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
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 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Day School ($300,000), The Ceres Community Project ($250,000), Dynamic Community Solutions ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER WAY INC BERKELEY, CA | HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR A BETTER WAY HQ | $200,000 |
| A SAFE PLACE OAKLAND, CA | TO SUPPORT A COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER FOR BAY AREA FAMILIES FACING VIOLENCE AT HOME | $150,000 |
| AGEWELL PACE ROHNERT PARK, CA | AGEWELL PACE CLINIC EQUIPMENT | $187,805 |
| THE ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC OAKLAND, CA | ANNUAL FUNDING - FOOD BANK GRANTS | $50,000 |
| THE ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| THE ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC OAKLAND, CA | ANNUAL FUNDING - FOOD BANK GRANTS | $50,000 |
| THE ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC OAKLAND, CA | ANNUAL FUNDING - FOOD BANK GRANTS | $50,000 |
| ALOHA UNITED WAY INC HONOLULU, HI | ANNUAL GRANT | $55,000 |
| ARCHBISHOP MITTY HIGH SCHOOL SAN JOSE, CA | FOUR-ACRE FIELD RENOVATION PROJECT | $100,000 |
| ART WORKS DOWNTOWN INC SAN RAFAEL, CA | REPAIRS TO BUILDING DAMAGE FOLLOWING A STATE OF EMERGENCY | $50,000 |
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,000–$1,000,000 • Median grant amount: $100,000 • Maximum grant amount: $1,000,000 **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** Notable grants include: • Children's Day School: $300,000 (Building Dreams Together: the Campaign for Children's Day School) • St. Mary's Medical Center Foundation: $275,000 (SMMC Adolescent Behavioral Health Anti-Ligature Project) • The Ceres Community Project: $250,000 (The Center for Food, Youth & Community) Total giving in 2…
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William G Irwin Charity Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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