Waking up Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Encino, CA EIN: 26-1643643

Waking up Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Encino, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $705K. Net investment income was $17K.

Key facts about Waking up Foundation

EIN: 26-1643643
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $704,700
Grants made (2024): 5
Average grant: $140,940
Median grant: $100,000
Total assets: $1,326,329
Primary geography: California (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Waking up Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Waking up Foundation's 5 itemized 2024 grants were California (50%) and New York (50%). None of its 5 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

How Waking up Foundation gives

Giving fell 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Next steps with Waking up Foundation

How to evaluate Waking up Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3M

+96.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$705K

-46.8% YoY

Grant Count

-44.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$141K

-4.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Waking up Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Waking up Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Education

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

California $350K (50%)

New York $350K (50%)

Colorado $5K (1%)

Share of all 5 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Colorado District of Columbia Massachusetts Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Cities

New YorkWashingtonBostonSan FranciscoBaltimoreBoulderBrooklynCambridgeHermitageSanta MonicaSherman OaksWellesleyWoodbury

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$1,326,329	$673,495	$655,179
Revenue	$1,367,273	$1,350,000	$1,775,000
Expenses	$714,439	$1,331,684	$1,792,616
Qualifying Distributions	$714,439	$1,331,684	$1,792,616
Net Investment Income	$17,273	—	—
Distributable Amount	$25,742	$10,928	$1,381

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

31 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Safe Artificial Intelligence Forum Institute ($300,000), The Rand Corporation ($250,000), Effective Ventures Foundation USA Inc ($100,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
SAFE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FORUM INSTITUTE Brooklyn, NY	TO SUPPORT MISSION OF MINIMIZING EXTREME AI RISKS.	$300,000
THE RAND CORPORATION Santa Monica, CA	TO SUPPORT RESEARCH THAT DEVELOPS SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC POLICY CHALLENGES TO HELP MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER, MORE SECURE, HEALTHIER, AND MORE PROSPEROUS.	$250,000
EFFECTIVE VENTURES FOUNDATION USA INC San Francisco, CA	RESEARCH TO INFORM AI POLICY, TRAINING AI POLICY RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS.	$100,000
GIVEDIRECTLY INC New York, NY	IN SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN POVERTY.	$50,000
LOTUS TREASURE Boulder, CO	IN SUPPORT OF THE TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE DZOGCHEN COMPILATION PROJECT.	$4,700

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Sam Harris	President	5	—
Annaka Harris	Secretary	5	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Waking up Foundation?

Waking up Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Encino, CA. It holds $1.3M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Waking up Foundation?

As of 2024, Waking up Foundation holds $1.3M in total assets with $1.4M in annual revenue. It awarded 5 grants totaling $705K in 2024.

Where does Waking up Foundation operate?

Waking up Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania.

What size grants does Waking up Foundation award?

In 2024, Waking up Foundation awarded 5 grants totaling $705K — an average of about $141K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Waking up Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Waking up Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.