Girard Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Girard Foundation's stated areas are early impact, innovative learning and career readiness, and it prioritises underserved and low-income communities, so work in those areas fits best, especially where it serves young people in Greater San Diego or San Diego County, which it names as a priority.
- Its website says it does not accept unsolicited requests and works through community partners and advisers, so an organisation that has not been invited should not send one; a better route is to connect through those partners and build a relationship before asking.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $1,500 and $105,000, and half are $7,500 or less, so a request near that scale is typical, although its largest grant has been about $560,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- Repeat funding is common, with 67% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a first-time applicant should expect relationships to matter and should be ready to show the success measures and evaluation approach the foundation says it works on with grantees.
Overview
Girard Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Diego, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Girard Foundation supports innovative education solutions and systemic change intended to improve student outcomes. Its vision is that young people, especially those facing the greatest obstacles, obtain the education and training needed for economic opportunity and a fulfilling life. It takes a venture-philanthropy approach, funding scalable innovations and a range of nonprofit organisations, including public K-12 schools, universities, service organisations and educational start-ups. Its stated areas include early impact, innovative learning and career readiness: preschool learning options, personalised education that combines educational best practice and emerging technology, and active career exploration and hands-on work. It prioritises underserved and low-income communities, supports teachers and partnerships among students, parents, schools and the wider community, and looks for projects with potential to benefit young people in San Diego and inform educational innovation more broadly. The foundation works collaboratively with grantees on success measures and project evaluation.
Themes
- Early impact
- Innovative learning
- Career readiness
Geographic Focus
Priority: Greater San Diego area; San Diego County.
How to apply
Grants are by invitation only. The foundation works with community partners and advisers to identify organisations aligned with its funding priorities; the site gives no applicant-initiated first step.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 67% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 146 grants to organisations were $7,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation seeks grantees with innovative ideas who clearly articulate their vision and solutions, and who use technology to advance learning and education.
- It seeks student-centric, personalised projects that support academic and social-emotional growth.
- It prioritises projects serving students from low-income families and supporting teachers and educators.
- It works with grantees to set success measures and jointly evaluate each project’s efficacy.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 67% of grant dollars went to organisations Girard Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 49 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $7,500 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Ucsd Foundation · General$558,0002025 tax year
- Transcend · General$250,0002025 tax year
- Junior Achievement of San Diego · General$250,0002025 tax year
- YMCA of San Diego County · General$186,7122025 tax year
- California Charter Schools Association · General$100,0002025 tax year
- Digital Promise · General$90,0002025 tax year
- Magnolia Science Academy · General$75,0002025 tax year
- Parent Institute for Quality Education · General$70,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elizabeth Robitaille — Board Member
- Deirdre W Alpert — Assistant Secretary & Board Member
- Scott Woolley — Treasurer & Board Member
- Michele Hansen — Vice Chair & Board Member
- Mary Lindenstein Walshok — Secretary & Board Member
- RB Woolley JR — Board Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $1,866,412 | $1,705,410 | $22,322,875 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,921,137 | $1,614,845 | $23,809,439 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $2,523,026 | $2,153,906 | $23,962,401 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to Girard Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@girardfoundation.org
- San Diego, CA
- girardfoundation.org
Applying to Girard Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@girardfoundation.org
- San Diego, CA
- girardfoundation.org