Tahoe Blue Foundation

Tahoe Blue Foundation was established in 2021 by Cherity and C. Jason Payne, a Bay Area couple based in Mill Valley, California (with their registered foundation address at 314 Lytton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301). Cherity Payne has a background in technology public relations and community engagement, and serves on the board of Youth in Arts, a Marin County arts education nonprofit. The foundation's stated mission is to provide grants and assistance to organizations supporting the environment and social equity. The name "Tahoe Blue" reflects an affinity for Lake Tahoe, aligning the foundation with environmental conservation values associated with that region. The foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation (NTEE T20) with no paid employees — both trustees serve without compensation. The strategy appears to be a hybrid of relationship-driven philanthropy and impact-oriented giving: grants go to institutions where the founders have personal connections (e.g., Marin Academy, Youth in Arts, Urban School of San Francisco) alongside mission-aligned scientific research institutions like the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The foundation received its 501(c)(3) status in July 2022 and has rapidly scaled its grantmaking, distributing $157,000 in FY2022, $332,000 in FY2023, and $310,000 in FY2024.

Tahoe Blue Foundation has grown significantly since its founding. In FY2021 (first year), it received a $1.99 million founding contribution and made no grants. By FY2022, it disbursed $157,339 across grants with zero compensation expenses. In FY2023, it significantly increased activity — spending $332,078 on charitable disbursements out of $1.02M total expenses (the high expenses relative to revenue of $427K resulted in a net loss of $588K, drawing down assets). FY2024 showed a stabilization: revenue rebounded to $828,014, expenses fell to $210,605, with $310,261 in charitable disbursements. The foundation has 103 grants in its record with $828K total, reflecting an average grant of approximately $8,000. Known 2024 grantees include Marin Academy ($80,000 annual fund), Smithsonian Institution/Tropical Research Institute ($50,000), and Urban School of San Francisco ($33,333 for performing arts/community center). An additional 25 grants totaling $255,680 were also made in 2024. Total assets as of FY2024 are $4.59 million with $602,000 in liabilities (likely investment leverage). Primary revenue comes from contributions ($630K in 2024), dividends ($55K), investment sales ($46K), and miscellaneous income ($96K).

Tahoe Blue Foundation is a young, growing private foundation in the Bay Area philanthropy ecosystem. Here is how it compares to peer foundations:

Tahoe Blue Foundation is larger than most family foundations of its age (founded 2021), reflecting the initial $1.99M founding gift and strong continued contributions. Its giving profile — blending elite private school support with scientific institutions and equity-focused community organizations — is typical of tech-adjacent Bay Area philanthropy. It differs from Keep Tahoe Blue (the League to Save Lake Tahoe), which is a public charity focused on environmental advocacy, not grantmaking.

Tahoe Blue Foundation has been actively expanding its grant portfolio since 2022. Key 2024 grantees include Marin Academy ($80,000), Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute ($50,000), and Urban School of San Francisco ($33,333). The foundation filed its FY2024 990-PF on November 16, 2025. Revenue grew substantially in FY2024 to $828,014, up from $427,135 in FY2023, driven by increased contributions ($630,392 vs. $292,181). Cherity Payne serves as President/Director and C. Jason Payne as Secretary/CFO/Director, both without compensation. The foundation's official website (tahoeblue.org) is not currently functioning — it redirects to an unrelated running forum — meaning there is no public-facing information about applying. Youth in Arts board bio confirms Cherity Payne's interest in environmental and social equity causes that shaped the foundation's mission. The foundation's physical address (314 Lytton Ave, Palo Alto) is a professional services address in downtown Palo Alto.

Tahoe Blue Foundation does not have a public grant application portal, and its website is non-functional. Applicants should treat this as a relationship-driven foundation requiring a warm introduction or direct outreach. Specific guidance: (1) Environmental and social equity alignment is essential — organizations focused on Lake Tahoe conservation, environmental education, or social equity programs will resonate most with the founders' stated mission. (2) Bay Area geographic focus is strong — grantees include Marin County and San Francisco institutions; national or Lake Tahoe-region organizations with strong reputations (like the Smithsonian) can also attract support. (3) Education and arts are supported alongside environment — the foundation consistently funds schools, performing arts programs, and community engagement initiatives. (4) Grant sizes vary widely — from small ($2,000 median) to major grants ($80,000 to Marin Academy), suggesting tiered giving based on relationship depth and institutional prominence. (5) Direct outreach to Cherity Payne is the recommended approach — given her background in community engagement and PR, a well-crafted letter of inquiry or introduction via a shared board member is most appropriate. (6) Timing appears to be December fiscal year-end, so grant decisions are likely finalized in Q3-Q4. Submit requests by September-October.