Why Not Foundation
Why Not Foundation is a private foundation, based in Orange, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $5K. Net investment income was $124K.
Why Not Foundation at a glance
In short: Why Not Foundation gave $5K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,000
- -75.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,000
- -27.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,955,483
- +6.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Why Not Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 7 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Why Not Foundation gives
- Giving fell 83% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 11% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2025) to $267K (2020). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $5K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Other Redwood City, CA | Donation | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,955,483 | $126,590 | $12,558 | $5,000 | 1 | $9,475 | $123,507 | $83,526 |
| 2024 | $1,843,444 | $146,158 | $33,531 | $20,650 | 3 | $26,960 | $139,587 | $84,248 |
| 2023 | $1,730,817 | $131,151 | $38,576 | $20,000 | 1 | $30,654 | $123,229 | $81,198 |
| 2022 | $1,638,242 | $-46,840 | $75,798 | $30,000 | 2 | $75,798 | — | — |
| 2021 | $1,760,880 | $219,412 | $16,845 | — | — | $2,559 | $152,050 | — |
| 2020 | $1,558,313 | $52,231 | $314,295 | $266,650 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | $1,820,377 | $55,177 | $123,694 | $69,040 | 8 | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Why Not Foundation reported a distributable amount of $84K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Why Not Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kevin Steckler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Steckler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Why Not Foundation
How much does Why Not Foundation give each year?
Why Not Foundation gave $5K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $21K across 3 grants.
How large is Why Not Foundation?
Why Not Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $84K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Why Not Foundation operate?
Why Not Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, California, Colorado, Mississippi, Ohio.
What is Why Not Foundation's EIN?
Why Not Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-6556291. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 3, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Why Not Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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