PARAGON INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION

Cite this

Plain text PARAGON INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2021–2024. https://furp.org/org/paragon-institute-of-innovation-851216282. Retrieved 2026-11-01.

APA furp.org. (n.d.). PARAGON INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2021–2024]. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/paragon-institute-of-innovation-851216282

MLA “PARAGON INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION.” furp.org, tax years 2021–2024, https://furp.org/org/paragon-institute-of-innovation-851216282. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Retrieved 2026-11-01; covers tax years 2021–2024. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.

2024 · Form 990 · revenue $18K · expenses $35K · assets $1.1M

EIN
85-1216282
Address
1401 21ST STREET SUITE R, SACRAMENTO, CA 95811-5226
NTEE code
U99
Exempt type
501(c)(3): charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary (corporation)
Ruling date
December 2020 (when the IRS recognized its exemption)
IRS status
Exempt (unconditional) (IRS Business Master File) IRS data ↗
Tax-deductible donations
Yes: listed in IRS Publication 78 (public charity) Pub 78 ↗
Foundation status
Public charity supported by the public (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))
Principal officer
Michelle Gonzalez (its 2020 Form 990-N)
Form 990-N e-postcards
1 filed, 2020 (organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less file this instead of a full Form 990) IRS data ↗
Cross-check
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Mission

THE CORPORATION IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION AND IS NOT ORGANIZED FOR THE PRIVATE GAIN OF ANY PERSON. IT IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION LAW FOR PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES.THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION IS TO CULTIVATE THE NEXT WAVE OF BRILLIANT MINDS THROUGH THINK TANK PROJECTS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).

People paid by the organization

None of the 6 people listed on these returns reported compensation from the organization. They are listed below.

Officers and directors, no compensation reported

6 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsHrs/wk (latest)CompensationOrganizations
Michelle Gonzalez Executive Dir.2021-2024 0 $0 reported 1
Pete Antico Secretary/TREAS2021-2024 0 $0 reported 1
Peipei Alena Yuan DIR COMM OUTREA2021-2024 0 $0 reported 1
Brian Hanford DIR COMMUNICATI2021-2024 0 $0 reported 1
Elie Daher DIR OPERATIONS2022-2024 0 $0 reported 1
Dr Valerie Thomas DIR INNOVATION2022-2024 0 $0 reported 1

People by year

2024 · 6 people listed · none paid · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
MICHELLE GONZALEZ Executive Dir.0 $0$0$0 $01
PETE ANTICO Secretary/TREAS0 $0$0$0 $01
PEIPEI ALENA YUAN DIR COMM OUTREA0 $0$0$0 $01
BRIAN HANFORD DIR COMMUNICATI0 $0$0$0 $01
ELIE DAHER DIR OPERATIONS0 $0$0$0 $01
DR VALERIE THOMAS DIR INNOVATION0 $0$0$0 $01
2023 · 6 people listed · none paid · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
MICHELLE GONZALEZ Executive Dir.0 $0$0$0 $01
PETE ANTICO Secretary/TREAS0 $0$0$0 $01
PEIPEI ALENA YUAN DIR COMM OUTREA0 $0$0$0 $01
BRIAN HANFORD DIR COMMUNICATI0 $0$0$0 $01
ELIE DAHER DIR OPERATIONS0 $0$0$0 $01
DR VALERIE THOMAS DIR INNOVATION0 $0$0$0 $01
2022 · 6 people listed · none paid · 0 employees · 10 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
PETE ANTICO SECRETARY &2 $0$0$0 $01
ELIE DAHER DIRECTOR-OPE10 $0$0$0 $01
MICHELLE GONZALEZ EXECUTIVE DI30 $0$0$0 $01
BRIAN HANFORD DIRECTOR-COM2 $0$0$0 $01
DR VALERIE THOMAS DIRECTOR-INN1 $0$0$0 $01
PEIPEI ALENA YUAN DIRECTOR-COM2 $0$0$0 $01
2021 · 4 people listed · none paid · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
PETE ANTICO SECRETARY &1 $0$0$0 $01
MICHELLE GONZALEZ EXECUTIVE DI30 $0$0$0 $01
BRIAN HANFORD DIRECTOR-COM1 $0$0$0 $01
PEIPEI ALENA YUAN DIRECTOR-COM1 $0$0$0 $01

Highest-paid independent contractors

No independent contractors reported.

Who the money went to

Grants this organization reported paying: Schedule I Part II of the Form 990, or the grants-paid list on the 990-PF. Open a year for every recipient. Recipients link to their own page when the grant names an EIN we have (990-PF grants list no EIN, so those link only on an exact, unique name and state). Grants to individuals are counted; their names are not shown.

2022 · 1 grant to organizations · $37K

Listed grants add up to $37,000; the return's “grants paid” expense line says $139,500. Returns can differ here (grants paid vs. accrued, items listed elsewhere); check the filing.

Negative amounts are returned or refunded grants; they are listed last and left out of the totals of grants paid.

Who gave

Contributor names are not public for this form type.

Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.

Finances

Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.

RevenueExpensesAssetsNet assetsContributionsProgram revenueOfficer payEmployeesVolunteers
2024 · Form 990 period ending 2024-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$18,089$35,094 $1,090,536$578,246 $0$0 $00-
2023 · Form 990 period ending 2023-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$313,627$402,661 $1,107,041$594,751 $0$0 $00-
2022 · Form 990 period ending 2022-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$475,154$550,701 $1,239,308$678,370 $0$0 -010
2021 · Form 990 period ending 2021-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$804,571$50,654 $753,917$753,917 $0$0 -0-

Funders of this organization

2 grantors reported grants to this organization, $4,867,094 in all, tax years 2021 to 2024. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV

GrantorTypeMatchYears givenGrantsTotalLatest yearLatest year's amountGrants
GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor Exact 2021-2024 4$4,867,000 2024$17,000
show
AMAZONSMILE FOUNDATION Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “PARAGON INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION” 2022-2023 2$94 2023$45
show

Nearby + Similar BETA

Organizations like this one: what they do and who they are linked to

Same category: NTEE code and revenue

Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)

OrganizationStateNTEELatest revenueLatest expensesTop-paid titleTop payWhy similar
CODE OF REALITY INCCAU99 $31,134$31,148 CEO$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x, same state
DIGITAL ECONOMY COLLABORATION INNOVATION LABCAU99 $20,387$163,692 CEO$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x, same state
GOLDEN GATE POLYMER FORUM INCCAU99 $36,014$39,865 President$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x, same state
CONEJO VALLEY MAKERSPACE INCCAU99 $17,215$15,269 CEO$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x, same state
BUTTERFLY FARMSCAU99 $24,886$60,758 Treasurer$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x, same state
WRIGHT PALEOHYDROLOGICAL INSTITUTECOU99 $17,087$7,339 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
OXFORD RESEARCH INSTITUTE INCMDU99 $24,095$17,473 President$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
THE CENTER FOR ADVANCING INNOVATION INCMDU99 $13,076$450,997 CEO$170,250 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
AEROAI GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INCFLU99 $25,411$25,161 PRES., SEC.,$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTAZU99 $16,500$26,641 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
HACK REDUCE INCMAU99 $29,575$12,110 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
KRESSWORKS FOUNDATIONMIU99 $16,304$19,925 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
NORTH AMERICAN STRAWBERRY GROWERS RESEARCH FOUNDATION INCOHU99 $14,792$28,291 CHAIR$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
INSTITUTE FOR LINGUISTIC EVIDENCE INCDEU99 $31,813$0 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
JUXTOPIA GROUP INCMDU99 $11,808$10,961 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
FOUNDATION FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIESFLU99 $19,350$54,848 DIRECTOR$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COMPUTERIZED ADAPTIVE TESTINGMNU99 $16,404$6,466 PRES EMERITUS$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
BEE PROJECTTXU99 $12,654$14,583 CO-FOUNDER$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
HAWAII STATE SCIENCE OLYMPIADHIU99 $26,050$54,021 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1980 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDNJU99 $10,334$8,530 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
ENZYME MECHANISMS CONFERENCE INCUTU99 $17,898$34,612 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
REPTILE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL INCTXU99 $33,924$59,703 President$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
METRO WEST BUILDING OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION INCMAU99 $11,475$18,334 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
GAUGE FOUNDATIONFLU99 $35,163$35,163 secretary$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x
SHAIBANI FAMILY FOUNDATIONTXU99 $10,620$2,982 DIRECTOR$0 Same NTEE code U99, revenue within 2x

Who funds organizations like this

Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).

GrantorTypeTotal givenGrantsOrganizations fundedYearsWhich ones
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$2,222,0007 42016–2022 THE CENTER FOR ADVANCING INNOVATION INC; AT THE EPICENTER; WIRELESS EDUCATION ACTION; FORCE 11
PAYPAL CHARITABLE GIVING FUND DAF sponsor$492,2062 12020–2021 ART SCIENCE RESEARCH LABORATORY INC
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY DAF sponsor$470,9238 12015–2024 SLING HEALTH
VF FOUNDATION Private foundation$403,0003 12021–2023 AT THE EPICENTER
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND DAF sponsor$393,23510 62018–2024 HACK REDUCE INC; ICAK INC; OCEANGATE FOUNDATION; LEMUR LOVE INC and 2 more
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC DAF sponsor$289,34414 62022–2025 NORTHWEST TECHFUTURE FOUNDATION; AI4LIFE INSTITUTE; DIGITAL ECONOMY COLLABORATION INNOVATION LAB; BOUNDLESS THINKING AND EXPERIMENTING BTE INC and 2 more
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE DAF sponsor$219,5306 12019–2024 CRAIGHEAD BERINGIA SOUTH
THE MIAMI FOUNDATION INC DAF sponsor$208,0004 12015–2022 FOUNDATION FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$200,3252 12021–2022 BEE PROJECT
SEEDLINGS FOUNDATION Private foundation$180,0003 12021–2023 ART SCIENCE RESEARCH LABORATORY INC
OAK HILL FUND Private foundation$180,0002 12020–2021 VIRGINIA PACE AUTHORITY
PROTEUS FOUNDATION Private foundation$100,0001 12024–2024 CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF MACHINE CONSCIOUSNESS
DAVID AND LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION Private foundation$100,0001 12011–2011 CRAIGHEAD BERINGIA SOUTH
HOWE FOUNDATION 45871100 Private foundation$90,0003 12022–2024 SIERRA NEVADA BIGHORN SHEEP FOUNDATION
ONE JUDGE Private foundation$84,1005 12021–2025 MISSION H2O

The full list · all similar organizations

Where the money went

Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.

2024 · Form 990 · $35,094 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Depreciation and depletion $15,993-$15,993- 45.6%
Fees: legal $5,021-$5,021- 14.3%
All other expenses $3,234-$3,234- 9.2%
Other (as described)MARKETING SOCIAL MEDIA $2,067-$2,067- 5.9%
Other (as described)ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SPENDING $1,952$1,952-- 5.6%
Other (as described)GRANT WRITING $1,575-$1,575- 4.5%
Office expenses $1,558-$1,558- 4.4%
Other (as described)GAS $1,503-$1,503- 4.3%
Fees: accounting $1,500-$1,500- 4.3%
Travel $691-$691- 2.0%
Fundraising events Eventdirect expenses; gross income $18,089-reported apart
Total$35,094100%

View the filing

2023 · Form 990 · $402,661 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $115,488
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SPENDING $326,907$326,907-- 81.2%
Fees: other services $19,860$1,580-$18,280 4.9%
Other (as described)PROGRAM SERVICES $17,777$17,777-- 4.4%
Depreciation and depletion $11,141-$11,141- 2.8%
All other expenses $9,147$3,571$3,995$1,581 2.3%
Advertising and promotion $5,040--$5,040 1.3%
Other (as described)FOREIGN FEES $4,042$4,042-- 1.0%
Other (as described)RESEARCH MATERILAS $3,596$3,596-- 0.9%
Office expenses $2,744-$2,744- 0.7%
Fees: accounting $2,095$2,095-- 0.5%
Travel $312$312-- 0.1%
Fundraising events Eventdirect expenses; gross income $326,137$115,488reported apart
Total$402,661100%

View the filing

2022 · Form 990 · $550,701 spent · pay $0 · grants $139,500 · events $1,546,357
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Fees: other services $304,927$192,949$111,978- 55.4%
Grants outside the US $100,000$100,000-- 18.2%
Grants to US organizations and governments $39,500$39,500-- 7.2%
Fees: legal $33,154-$33,154- 6.0%
Advertising and promotion $23,235--$23,235 4.2%
Office expenses $19,709-$19,709- 3.6%
Interest $14,015$12,313$1,702- 2.5%
Depreciation and depletion $5,950$5,950-- 1.1%
Other (as described)TAXES - PROPERTY $5,705$5,705-- 1.0%
Other (as described)CIRCULAR ECON PROGRAM $3,070$3,070-- 0.6%
Travel $1,416-$1,416- 0.3%
Other (as described)TAXES - SOS $20-$20- 0.0%
Fundraising events Eventdirect expenses; gross income $2,021,430$1,546,357reported apart
Total$550,701100%

View the filing

2021 · Form 990 · $50,654 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $1,910,429
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Advertising and promotion $48,263--$48,263 95.3%
Office expenses $1,384-$1,384- 2.7%
Fees: legal $1,007-$1,007- 2.0%
Fundraising events Eventdirect expenses; gross income $2,715,000$1,910,429reported apart
Total$50,654100%

View the filing

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