Zuest Family Foundation
Zuest Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Bonsall, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $280K. Net investment income was $131K.
Zuest Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Zuest Family Foundation gave $280K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $93K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $280,000
- -31.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $93,333
- -31.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $1,049,097
- -13.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arizona (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 Zuest Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Center for Biological Diversity ($200K across 2 grants). Together the top 2 received $280K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 6 grants of 15 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Zuest Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 394% of 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $105K (2021) to $407K (2024). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $280K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Center for Biological Diversity Tucson, AZ | Red Wolf Wildlife Crossing Fund | $100,000 |
| The Center for Biological Diversity Tucson, AZ | Jaguar Defense Corridors | $100,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, AZ | Honduras Indigenous-Led MPA Project | $80,000 |
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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 | $1,049,097 | $140,345 | $301,604 | $280,000 | 3 | $283,562 | $131,454 | $71,882 |
| 2024 | $1,207,786 | $50,486 | $420,533 | $407,000 | 3 | $409,689 | $42,437 | $66,346 |
| 2023 | $1,576,152 | $601,367 | $266,834 | $250,000 | 3 | $256,525 | $92,317 | $74,800 |
| 2022 | $1,235,171 | $101,697 | $266,450 | $244,102 | 2 | $255,320 | $90,567 | $78,548 |
| 2021 | $1,400,056 | $115,877 | $132,704 | $105,000 | 4 | $110,716 | $103,268 | $89,462 |
| 2020 | $1,414,843 | $1,998,649 | $137,190 | $133,000 | 2 | — | $400,495 | $72,001 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zuest Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $72K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Zuest Family Foundation is led by Paul Zuest, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul Zuest
President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle James
Foundation Manager
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$1K (2021) → $7K (2025)
Garrett Zuest
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Zuest
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $7K, to Danielle James (Foundation Manager).
Frequently asked questions about Zuest Family Foundation
How much does Zuest Family Foundation give each year?
Zuest Family Foundation gave $280K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $407K across 3 grants.
What is Zuest Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Zuest Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $93,333, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Zuest Family Foundation give grants?
Zuest Family Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (2 grants).
Does Zuest Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Zuest Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Zuest Family Foundation?
Zuest Family Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $284K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $72K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Zuest Family Foundation's EIN?
Zuest Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4405220. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
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