Balay Ko Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,698,280 (2023)
• Total Assets: $139,417,162
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Varies significantly by project (ranging from matching gifts to multi-million dollar capital projects)
• Geographic Focus: California (primarily Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County, with some support in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Maine, and New Hampshire)

Contact Details

Website: https://balayko.org/

Phone: (805) 464-7148

Email: thebalaykofoundation@gmail.com

Mailing Address: Santa Barbara, CA

Overview

The Balay Ko Foundation (EIN: 87-3998943) was established following Scott Godfrey's historic $699.8 million Powerball jackpot win in October 2021—the largest lottery prize in California history. Godfrey, a Morro Bay resident, took a lump sum payout of $496 million and immediately announced plans to create a charitable foundation to scale his family's long-standing involvement in charitable activities. The foundation's name, "Balay Ko," means "My Home" in Tagalog, reflecting the foundation's core mission of creating safe homes and food security for vulnerable populations.

With total assets exceeding $139 million and annual grantmaking of approximately $6.7 million (15 grants awarded in 2023), the foundation has quickly become a transformative force in California's Central Coast region. The foundation focuses exclusively on supporting nonprofits in California that address housing and food insecurity for people experiencing homelessness and hunger. The foundation has funded major capital projects including multiple DignityMoves interim supportive housing communities, transitional housing programs, and food bank infrastructure.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Balay Ko Foundation does not operate traditional grant programs with application cycles or fixed grant amounts. Instead, they identify strategic opportunities through their own research and make grants ranging from:

• Major Capital Projects: Multi-million dollar investments in permanent and interim supportive housing infrastructure (e.g., DignityMoves communities, Transition House properties)
• Operational Support: Significant multi-year commitments to service providers and case management programs
• Matching Gift Campaigns: Time-limited matching programs ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 to amplify community giving to food banks and homeless services
• Equipment and Infrastructure: Vehicles, refrigeration equipment, and facilities for food rescue and distribution programs

Application Method: Invitation only—the foundation conducts its own research to identify grant recipients and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Priority Areas

Housing and Homelessness:

• Interim supportive housing (DignityMoves communities)
• Transitional housing programs for families with children
• Recuperative care and respite services
• Housing for specific populations including veterans, transition-age youth, and families
• Permanent supportive housing and affordable housing projects
• Homekey conversions (converting hotels/motels to permanent housing)

Food Security:

• Food bank operations and infrastructure
• Food rescue and distribution programs
• Farm-to-food bank initiatives
• Matching gift programs to encourage community support for hunger relief
• Equipment for food collection, storage, and distribution

Supportive Services:

• Case management programs integrated with housing initiatives
• Mental and physical health services for people experiencing homelessness
• Family resource centers providing comprehensive services

Geographic Focus: Primary focus on California's Central Coast, particularly:

• Santa Barbara County
• San Luis Obispo County
• Also supports projects in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and limited activities in Maine and New Hampshire

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's focus is exclusively on housing and food insecurity in California. Based on their stated mission, they do not fund:

• Projects outside their core focus areas of homelessness and hunger
• Organizations primarily located outside California (with rare exceptions)
• General operating support for organizations not directly addressing housing or food insecurity
• Individual assistance or direct services to individuals (they fund organizations, not individuals)

Governance and Leadership

Amie Godfrey - President As President, Amie Godfrey leads the foundation's strategic direction and grant-making activities alongside her husband Scott.

Scott M. Godfrey - Secretary Scott Godfrey, the $699.8 million Powerball winner who established the foundation in late 2021, serves as Secretary. At the time of his lottery win, he stated: "We've already set up a foundation that's going to receive quite a bit of the money for working on deliberate charitable things" and emphasized that his family had "for a long time, been involved in charitable activities and now we can really scale those efforts to take full appreciation of this blessing."

Karen Obert - Treasurer Karen Obert serves as Treasurer with compensation of $12,000 for her role, handling the foundation's financial management and compliance.

Leadership Philosophy: According to DignityMoves' Jack Lorenz, the Balay Ko Foundation has supported projects "not only financially but morally, spiritually and emotionally," indicating a deep personal commitment from the leadership team beyond just financial contributions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Balay Ko Foundation does not have a public application process. According to their official website: "We do our own research for grant recipients and do not return solicitations for grants by mail, telephone, or electronic means of communication."

Grants are awarded based on the foundation's proactive identification of strategic opportunities aligned with their mission. The foundation researches and approaches organizations directly rather than reviewing unsolicited applications.

Getting on Their Radar

The Balay Ko Foundation operates through trustee-initiated grants based on their own research and due diligence. Based on documented funding patterns, organizations that have received support share these characteristics:

Proven Track Record: The foundation has partnered with established organizations with demonstrated expertise in homeless services and food security, including DignityMoves, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, SLO Food Bank, 5Cities Homeless Coalition, ECHO (El Camino Homeless Organization), and Transition House.

Multi-Partner Collaborations: Many funded projects involve partnerships between multiple agencies, government entities, and nonprofits. The foundation appears to value collaborative approaches, such as the DignityMoves projects that bring together cities, counties, service providers, and philanthropic partners.

Capital Projects with Long-Term Impact: The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in funding infrastructure projects that create lasting solutions to homelessness, including new construction, property acquisitions, and facility conversions.

Central Coast Geographic Focus: Organizations operating in Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County appear to be the primary beneficiaries, though the foundation has supported some projects in other California regions.

Service-Enriched Models: Projects that combine housing with comprehensive supportive services (case management, mental health services, meals, transportation) have received significant support.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the foundation's proactive approach, decision timelines vary based on the foundation's research process and strategic priorities rather than fixed application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the foundation identifies and approaches potential grant recipients rather than reviewing competitive applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the foundation's invitation-only model. Organizations that have received one grant from the foundation have demonstrated success in receiving additional support for new projects (e.g., DignityMoves received funding for multiple communities across different years).

Application Success Factors

Since the Balay Ko Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, "success factors" relate more to organizational characteristics that appear to attract the foundation's attention:

1. Direct Alignment with Core Mission: Organizations must work directly on housing or food insecurity for people experiencing homelessness or hunger in California. The foundation's focus is narrow and deep—they are not broadly funding social services but are laser-focused on these two interconnected issues.

2. Scalable, High-Impact Projects: The foundation has gravitated toward projects with significant reach. For example:

• DignityMoves communities serving 30-94 individuals per site
• Food bank matching campaigns amplifying hundreds of thousands of dollars in community donations
• Multi-unit housing acquisitions creating long-term solutions

3. Innovative or Proven Models: The foundation has supported both innovative approaches (DignityMoves' modular interim housing model) and proven models (established transitional housing programs like Transition House's Balay Ko on Anapamu).

4. Integration of Services: Funded projects typically combine basic needs (shelter, food) with supportive services (case management, health care, job training). The foundation appears to value comprehensive approaches that address root causes, not just symptoms.

5. Collaborative Partnerships: Many funded projects involve multiple stakeholders including government entities, service providers, and community partners. The foundation appears to value initiatives that leverage multiple resources and expertise.

6. Financial Stewardship: The foundation has made multi-year commitments to organizations, suggesting they value strong financial management and organizational sustainability. They've also funded both capital projects and ongoing operations, indicating attention to the full spectrum of organizational needs.

7. Community Multiplier Effect: The foundation has shown interest in matching gift campaigns that engage broader community support, suggesting they value projects that build community investment and don't rely solely on foundation funding.

8. Geographic Accessibility: Being based in Santa Barbara with a clear focus on the Central Coast, organizations in this region appear to have stronger access to funding, though the foundation has demonstrated willingness to support projects elsewhere in California when they align with mission and impact criteria.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Do not submit unsolicited proposals to the Balay Ko Foundation—they explicitly state they do not review or respond to grant requests submitted by mail, phone, or email
• Focus on building excellence in your work rather than pursuing this funder through direct outreach; the foundation identifies and approaches organizations with strong track records
• If approached by the foundation, be prepared to discuss significant capital projects, multi-year operational commitments, or strategic matching campaigns rather than modest program grants
• Collaborative projects involving multiple partners, government support, and comprehensive service models appear most aligned with the foundation's funding interests
• Organizations in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties addressing homelessness and hunger should ensure their work is visible through strong community presence, partnerships with local government, and participation in regional homeless services networks
• The foundation values both innovation and proven models—they've funded cutting-edge interim housing approaches and established programs with decades of track record
• Long-term sustainability matters—the foundation has made multi-year commitments and funded infrastructure projects, suggesting interest in lasting solutions over short-term interventions
• Geographic focus is real—while the foundation states it supports California nonprofits, the overwhelming majority of identified grants have gone to Central Coast organizations; organizations outside this region should have exceptional alignment with mission and significant scale to attract attention

References

1. Balay Ko Foundation Official Website - https://balayko.org/ - Accessed January 2026
2. Balay Ko Foundation 990 Report, Instrumentl - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/balay-ko-foundation - Accessed January 2026
3. Balay Ko Foundation Profile, Grantable - https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/balay-ko-foundation-us-foundation-873998943 - Accessed January 2026
4. "Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Donations Matched by The Balay Ko Foundation," Edhat - https://www.edhat.com/news/foodbank-of-santa-barbara-county-donations-matched-by-the-balay-ko-foundation - Accessed January 2026
5. "ECHO breaks ground on Balay Ko Family Resource Center," Atascadero News - https://atascaderonews.com/nonprofit/echo-breaks-ground-on-balay-ko-family-resource-center/ - Accessed January 2026
6. "Balay Ko On Barca Ribbon Cutting," 5Cities Homeless Coalition - https://5chc.org/news/balay-ko-on-barca-ribbon-cutting - Accessed January 2026
7. "$699.8 million Powerball Winner Already Helping Others," Lottery24 - https://www.lottery24.com/news/6998-million-powerball-winner-already-helping-others - Accessed January 2026
8. "Morro Bay Powerball® Jackpot Winner Comes Forward," California Lottery Press Release, December 2021 - Accessed January 2026
9. "EXCLUSIVE: Dignity Moves tours News Channel 3 at its third interim supportive housing La Posada in Santa Barbara," KEYT News - https://keyt.com/news/santa-barbara-s-county/2024/01/10/exclusive-dignity-moves-tours-news-channel-3-at-its-third-interim-supportive-housing-la-posada-in-santa-barbara/ - Accessed January 2026
10. "2024 Annual Report," Transition House - https://www.transitionhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TH-Annual-Report-2024.pdf - Accessed January 2026
11. "Matching gift challenge doubles donations to SLO Food Bank in December," KSBY - https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/matching-gift-challenge-doubles-donations-to-slo-food-bank-in-december - Accessed January 2026
12. Balay Ko Foundation GuideStar Profile - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/87-3998943 - Accessed January 2026