Zcash Foundation
The Zcash Foundation is a public charity that builds financial privacy infrastructure for the public good, primarily serving the users of the Zcash protocol and blockchain. The Foundation also supports other applications of zero-knowledge cryptography, as well as other approaches to private cryptocurrency.
Zcash Foundation at a glance
In short: Zcash Foundation gave $900K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $150K), top state California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $900,398
- +9.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $150,066
- +46.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $94,509
- Total assets
- $23,362,496
- +44.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (42% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Zcash Foundation
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Zcash Foundation
Who Zcash Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Tor Project Inc ($321K). Together the top 6 received $900K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 29 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Zcash Foundation gives
- Giving fell 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $118K (2020) to $1.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $900K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Tor Project Inc Winchester, NH | Research & Development | $320,944 |
| 37 Laines Santa Monica, CA | Education | $300,000 |
| Vergara Technologies LLC Plymouth, MN | Research & Development | $109,700 |
| ZecHub Inc Cucamonga, CA | Research & Development | $79,318 |
| Red-Dev Inc Cheyenne, WY | Research & Development | $56,686 |
| FathomX Inc Wilmington, DE | Research & Development | $33,750 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $23,362,496 | $3,769,087 | $7,952,534 | $900,398 | 6 | $-661,418 |
| 2023 | $16,155,832 | $4,745,458 | $9,916,662 | $819,940 | 8 | $-881,468 |
| 2022 | $21,828,619 | $12,972,220 | $7,098,547 | $1,115,528 | 8 | $-1,988,177 |
| 2021 | $32,799,974 | $26,447,593 | $5,647,560 | $1,146,970 | 4 | $806,190 |
| 2020 | $15,535,732 | $4,321,617 | $2,818,733 | $117,702 | 3 | $13,389 |
About Zcash Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Zcash Foundation is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in McLean, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $23.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $900K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Zcash Foundation is led by Jack Gavigan, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 3 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jack Gavigan
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$142K (2021) → $202K (2024)
Andrew Miller
Chairman & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danika Delano
Operations Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$101K (2021) → $126K (2024)
Amber Baldet
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Van Valkenburgh
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marta Belcher
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Verret
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Bornstein
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$102K (2021) → $234K (2024)
Former officers (11)
- Former: Deirdre Connolly (2020–2023) — Cryptography Engineer
- Former: Daniel Wolande (2023) — Ecosystems Relations Manager
- Former: Ian Miers (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Matthew Green (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: JW Verret (2022) — Director
- Former: Antonie Hodge (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Chelsea Komlo (2020–2021) — Cryptography Researcher & Engineer
- Former: Josh Cincinnati (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: George Tankersley (2020) — Principal Cryptographic Researcher
- Former: Henry de Valence (2020) — Principal Cryptographic Researcher
- Former: Jane Lusby (2020) — Rust Systems Engineer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $234K, to Alex Bornstein (Chief Operating Officer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Zcash Foundation
How much does Zcash Foundation give each year?
Zcash Foundation gave $900K across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $820K across 8 grants.
What is Zcash Foundation's typical grant size?
Zcash Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $94,509, and its average grant was $150,066, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Zcash Foundation give grants?
Zcash Foundation's top state is California, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New Hampshire (36%) and Minnesota (12%).
Does Zcash Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Zcash Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research & Development" (5 grants).
Who are Zcash Foundation's largest grantees?
Zcash Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Tor Project Inc ($320,944), 37 Laines ($300,000) and Vergara Technologies LLC ($109,700), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Zcash Foundation?
Zcash Foundation reported $23.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What is Zcash Foundation?
Zcash Foundation is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in McLean, VA. It holds $23.4M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Zcash Foundation's EIN?
Zcash Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-0707962. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Zcash Foundation funds
Science & Technology Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Zcash Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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