The Westly Foundation is a philanthropic organization headquartered in Menlo Park, California, established in 2000. Operating as a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation, the organization focuses on supporting initiatives that improve outcomes for children and youth across California and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.1M
-22.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+24.9% YoY
Grant Count
55
+34.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-6.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Westly Foundation reported a distributable amount of $322K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Westly Foundation believes that investment in children and youth creates pathways to future success. The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Education: Improving the quality of education for children at risk in California
- Youth Development: Enhancing opportunities and skills for youth
- Healthcare Access: Finding new ways for children and youth to gain better access to health care
- Community Improvement: Supporting organizations that make communities and the state better for families
The foundation supports innovation and demonstrates a commitment to excellence in these areas.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded approximately $928,000 in grants in the most recent fiscal year, with an average grant size of $88. The foundation made 11,335 total grants in the previous year, indicating a high volume of smaller grants alongside larger awards.
Grant Range
of $88. The foundation made 11,335 total grants in the previous year, indicating a high volume of smaller grants alongside larger awards.
Average Grant
of $88. The foundation made 11,335 total grants in the previous year, indicating a high volume of smaller grants alongside larger awards.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While the foundation's activities are primarily concentrated in California, it also supports projects in other states including Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington D.C. The foundation funds initiatives across various U.S. cities and states, with particular emphasis on major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of the most recent fiscal year (2023):
- Total Assets: $5,245,960
- Total Expenses: $1,191,468
- Revenue: $99,805
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since August 2000
- EIN: 94-3368338
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,085,283 | $5,245,960 | $6,337,623 |
| Revenue | $253,697 | $99,805 | $604,101 |
| Expenses | $1,414,374 | $1,191,468 | $1,316,041 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,350,346 | $1,129,275 | $1,222,736 |
| Net Investment Income | $223,265 | $84,484 | $597,385 |
| Distributable Amount | $322,478 | $340,228 | $366,067 |
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
213 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Westly Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of California Berkeley Foundation ($200,000), Kqed Inc ($75,000), Kind Inc ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALAMEDA EMERGENCY FOOD ALAMEDA, CA | General & Unrestricted | $100 |
| BEYOND BARRIERS ATHLETIC FOUNDATION REDWOOD CITY, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FRESNO, CA | Funding to Support Two "Little-Bigs" Programs | $25,000 |
| BREAKING THE CHAINS 23 FRESNO, CA | Crisis intervention and support for trafficked juveniles | $25,000 |
| Brittan Acres Elementary San Carlos, CA | Teacher Art Grant: Creativity Through TK Art | $500 |
| Brittan Acres Elementary San Carlos, CA | Bringing Art Outside TK | $500 |
| CALIFORNIA HEALTH COLLABORATIVE FRESNO, CA | KITT PROJECT: Youth Testing & Treatment | $25,000 |
| CAREERVILLAGE INC PALO ALTO, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| CENTRAL VALLEY LATINO LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FRESNO, CA | General & Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| Clifford Elementary Redwood City, CA | 4th Grade Art Program: Shannon Cody & Stephanie Eaton's class | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Steven P. Westly: Chairman, Director, and President (serves without compensation)
- Anita W. Yu: Secretary, Director, and Treasurer (serves without compensation)
- Jessica García-Kohl: Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven P Westly | Chairman, Dir, Pres | 1 | — |
| Anita W Yu | Sec, Dir, Treas | 20 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Westly Foundation announced winners of the 2025 Westly Prize for Young California Innovators. The foundation has also awarded grants to support health research initiatives, including funding for asthma studies in California's Central Valley.
The Westly Group Closes $100 Million Seed Fund to Transform the World\u2019\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Westly Foundation fund?
The Westly Foundation believes that investment in children and youth creates pathways to future success. The foundation's primary focus areas include: • **Education**: Improving the quality of education for children at risk in California • **Youth Development**: Enhancing opportunities and skills for youth • **Healthcare Access**: Finding new ways for children and youth to gain better access to health care • **Community Improvement**: Supporting organizations that make communities and the state…
How do I apply for a grant from Westly Foundation?
The foundation awarded approximately $928,000 in grants in the most recent fiscal year, with an average grant size of $88. The foundation made 11,335 total grants in the previous year, indicating a high volume of smaller grants alongside larger awards. Recent grant activity includes awards such as $25,000 to the Global Health Research Foundation to study asthma in California's Central Valley. The foundation also administers the Westly Prize for Young California Innovators, which has awarded $14…
Where does Westly Foundation make grants?
While the foundation's activities are primarily concentrated in California, it also supports projects in other states including Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington D.C. The foundation funds initiatives across various U.S. cities and states, with particular emphasis on major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
What size grants does Westly Foundation award?
In 2024, Westly Foundation awarded 55 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Westly Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Westly Foundation reported a distributable amount of $322K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Westly Foundation's EIN?
Westly Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3368338. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Westly 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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