Waking up Foundation
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.
Waking up Foundation at a glance
In short: Waking up Foundation gave $705K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $141K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $704,700
- -46.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- -44.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $140,940
- -4.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $1,326,329
- +96.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Waking up Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Safe Artificial Intelligence Forum Institute ($300K). Together the top 5 received $705K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 11 grants of 31 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $705K (2024) to $1.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $705K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,326,329 | $1,367,273 | $714,439 | $704,700 | 5 | $714,439 | $17,273 | $25,742 |
| 2023 | $673,495 | $1,350,000 | $1,331,684 | $1,325,000 | 9 | $1,331,684 | — | $10,928 |
| 2022 | $655,179 | $1,775,000 | $1,792,616 | $1,785,000 | 10 | $1,792,616 | — | $1,381 |
| 2021 | $672,795 | $975,000 | $1,010,986 | $1,000,000 | 7 | $1,010,986 | — | $1,455 |
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.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Waking up Foundation is led by Sam Harris, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sam Harris
President
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annaka Harris
Secretary
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Waking up Foundation
How much does Waking up Foundation give each year?
Waking up Foundation gave $705K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 9 grants.
What is Waking up Foundation's typical grant size?
Waking up Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $140,940, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Waking up Foundation give grants?
Waking up Foundation gives mostly in California: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (50%).
Does Waking up Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Waking up Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Waking up Foundation's largest grantees?
Waking up Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Safe Artificial Intelligence Forum Institute ($300,000), The Rand Corporation ($250,000) and Effective Ventures Foundation USA Inc ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Waking up Foundation?
Waking up Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $714K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
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.
What is Waking up Foundation's EIN?
Waking up Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1643643. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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