Point Foundation

The Point Foundation is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for LGBT people and works to train left-of-center activists through its mentorship and leadership development programs. 1

At-A-Glance

Issue Areas: LGBT Policy
Formation:

2001

Executive Director:

Jorge Valencia

Location: Los Angeles, CA View on map
Tax ID: 84-1582086
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $24,207,626 Revenue: $10,043,390 Expenses: $6,741,374

Contents

    Finances

    In 2018, the Point Foundation received $3,590,366 in contributions and an additional $350,640 in investment income. 2 The organization also reported $9,052,720 in net assets. 3

    In 2018, the Point Foundation received contributions from several left-of-center grantmaking organizations, including the Calamus Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust. 4 5 The Point Foundation has also received donations from several personal trusts and family foundations, including the Barbara Epstein Foundation,5 the Mathew Marks Charitable Trust,5 and the Yampolsky Foundation. 6

    Funding

    In December 2025, the Point Foundation was one of multiple organizations that received a grant from Yield Giving, the philanthropic initiative started by MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. In 2025 alone, Scott, through Yield Giving, donated over $7.16 billion to philanthropies and other charity organizations around the world. 7

    Activism Training

    The Point Foundation operates a leadership development program which includes the Foundation’s biennial National Leadership Conference, smaller regional forums, and access to Leadership Education and Affinities Development (LEAD) conferences for its members. 8

    The National Leadership Conference has featured speakers including U.S. Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) and transgender activist Our Lady J. Rep. Cicilline cosponsored the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act, legislation to prevent defense attorneys from arguing for a lesser sentence for clients who commit assault or battery after an individual who they believe to be gay or transgender makes a nonviolent sexual advance on the defendant. 9 Rep. Cicilline also frequently advocates for the expansion of government-funded abortion services and has received a 100% rating from the pro-abortion organization NARAL Pro-Choice America. 10

    Scholarships

    The Point Foundation also organizes a scholarship program for LGBT youth, taking into consideration an applicant’s history of LGBT activism before accepting them into the program. 11 The Point Foundation also provides internship funding for LGBT individuals through grants provided by the Palette Foundation.

    In an article for the Point Foundation’s blog, program alumnus Andrew Ntim program stated that the Point Foundation’s program ignited his interest in activism. Ntim also reported using funding from the organization to spend a summer as an activist opposing legislation in North Carolina that sought to prevent individuals who identify as transgender women from using female restrooms. 12

    Leadership

    Jorge Valencia has been executive director of the Point Foundation since 2007. Valencia has a background in nonprofit development and was formerly president of the left-of-center LGBT interest group Trevor Project before joining the Point Foundation. 13

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $24,207,626 $10,043,390 $6,741,374 View
    2023 $20,236,201 $10,563,939 $5,696,160 View
    2022 $15,200,510 $5,979,243 $4,873,686 View
    2021 $15,285,214 $8,735,569 $4,314,373 View
    2020 $10,217,046 $4,398,098 $3,585,561 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 26

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Jorge ValenciaEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO$338,386
    Edwin PeltoCHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER$237,592
    Scott ArnesonCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER$201,537
    Margaux CowdenCHIEF OF PROGRAM$167,531
    Kevin WrightCHIEF OF STAFF$155,428
    William DeversSR DIR OF DEVELOPMENT$130,155
    Darrin J WilstedDIR OF EXECUTIVE AFFAIRS/BOARD RELATIONS$113,007
    Susan L FerrisDIR OF HR AND FINANCE$107,648

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $15,874,482
    • Number of Grants: 806
    • Number of Funders: 233

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $2,010,2502021 National Philanthropic TrustEDUCATION
    $316,6132025 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $289,4302023 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $259,1732024 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $206,0002023 Arizona Community FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $200,0002022 Coach Foundation IncFURTHER 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE
    $181,9092024 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.EDUCATION
    $163,8072023 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $162,2622022 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $150,2502022 The Columbus FoundationEDUCATION
    $150,0002023 The Columbus FoundationEDUCATION
    $141,4142021 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $126,9692020 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $125,0002021 The Sallie Mae Fund IncGENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
    $125,0002020 The Sallie Mae Fund IncGENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
    $107,9562022 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $107,7002020 Arizona Community FoundationProgram support
    $100,0002023 Coach Foundation IncPRIDE – FURTHER 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE
    $100,0002023 Ulta Beauty Charitable FoundationCHILDREN'S EDUCATION
    $100,0002021 Dbj FoundationCONTRIBUTION TO TAX-EXEMPT ORG GENERAL FUND
    $80,0002020 The Barbara Epstein Foundation Inc C/o Lewis EpsteinGENERAL SUPPORT OF RECEIPENT'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
    $75,0002022 Synchrony FoundationFUNDING SUPPORTS GENERAL OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING.
    $75,0002021 Synchrony FoundationFUNDS WILL BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
    $70,0002024 The Louis L Borick Foundation
    $70,0002023 The Louis L Borick FoundationCharitable Donation

    References

    1. “Mission” Point Foundation. https://pointfoundation.org/thepoint/mission/
    2. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed October 12, 2020. Part I, Lines 8-10.
    3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed October 12, 2020. Part I, Line 22.
    4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed October 12, 2020. Schedule I. Part II.
    5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed October 12, 2020. Part XV.
    6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed October 12, 2020. Part IX-A.
    7. Scott, MacKenzie. “We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For.” Yield Giving, December 5, 2025. https://yieldgiving.com/essays/we-are-the-ones-we-ve-been-waiting-for
    8. “Programs – Leadership” Point Foundation. https://pointfoundation.org/thepoint/leadership/
    9. “Bill seeks to end use of so-called “gay panic” defense” Associated Press. July 14, 2018. Accessed October 12, 2020. https://apnews.com/article/83d0d88e64c045d890d7aa4dfdab9149
    10. “David Cicilline’s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)” Vote Smart.  https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/7349/david-cicilline/
    11. “Eligibility Requirements and FAQs” Point Foundation. https://pointfoundation.org/point-apply/application-faqs/
    12. “QUEER LEGAL ACTIVISM IN NEW HAVEN” Point Foundation. https://pointfoundation.org/queer-legal-activism-in-new-haven/
    13. “Staff: Jorge Valencia.” Point Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2020. https://pointfoundation.org/thepoint/jorge-valencia/.