FUNDER SNAPSHOT: THE JOSEPH & MERCEDES MCMICKING FOUNDATION

For: Riverside Youth Coding Academy | Prepared: April 27, 2026

---

1. VERDICT: IDEAL FIT (Score: 87/100)

The McMicking Foundation is a high-priority prospect. Its grant history is overwhelmingly concentrated in San Francisco and Oakland (at least 55.9% of total dollars), and its documented priorities - STEM programs for children, school-based education, and Bay Area youth access - map directly onto Riverside Youth Coding Academy's in-school coding cohorts, summer intensives, and paid apprenticeship pipeline. The 100% new-grantee rate in available data signals that a first-time applicant is not a barrier to funding.

---

2. KEY STATS

---

3. STRONGEST ALIGNMENT POINTS

• Bay Area geographic lock-in. 93.1% of giving goes to California; San Francisco ($722,500) and Oakland ($336,500) alone account for the majority of documented grants - exactly where Riverside Youth Coding Academy operates within OUSD and SFUSD.
• STEM and technology education for youth. Foundation explicitly funds "STEM/science programs for children" and "high school students," matching the Academy's free coding cohorts and school-based delivery model.
• B20 (Elementary and Secondary Schools) is the funder's top NTEE category (24 grants, 16.3% of matched giving), and the Academy's NTEE codes (B25, B30) fall squarely within the B category.
• Apprenticeship pipeline differentiates the application. The paid teen tech apprenticeship model adds a practical youth advancement component that goes beyond a standard coding club - directly relevant to the foundation's college readiness and youth development priorities.

---

4. POTENTIAL DISCONNECTS

• Organizational scale gap. The foundation's typical grantee has a median budget of $5.9M and 34 employees. No budget or staffing data was provided for the Academy, creating uncertainty about fit at the organizational level. This is manageable given the 100% new-grantee rate, but the application should include clear financial context.
• Advocacy language is a friction risk. The Academy's strategic priorities include advocating for permanent CS course offerings in OUSD and SFUSD. The foundation explicitly avoids funding organizations primarily engaged in lobbying. Reframe district engagement as partnership and outcome-sharing, not policy advocacy.
• Catholic/faith-affiliated grantees dominate top recipients. Archbishop Riordan High School, Saint Elizabeth's Elementary, Moreau Catholic High School, and Dominican Sisters are among the largest multi-year recipients. The Academy should not assume a neutral playing field and should emphasize its school-district partnerships and community access mission clearly.

---

5. BOTTOM LINE

Submit a $10,000 single-year request through the General Grantmaking (Children's Education Grants) pathway, framed around direct STEM education access for Bay Area youth - not organizational growth or systems change. Lead with the number of Oakland and San Francisco students served, cohort completion rates, and apprenticeship placements, and strip advocacy language from the proposal entirely. Contact Miriam Dequadros directly to confirm the current application cycle and any submission requirements before drafting.

DEEP DIVE INTELLIGENCE MEMO

The Joseph & Mercedes McMicking Foundation

Prospect for: Riverside Youth Coding Academy

Prepared: April 27, 2026 | Verdict: IDEAL FIT (Score: 87/100)

---

1. FUNDER DNA

Mission and Vision Foundations

The Joseph & Mercedes McMicking Foundation is a California-based private family foundation with a clear, localized philanthropic identity. Its giving is anchored in the San Francisco Bay Area, with 93.1% of all grant dollars flowing to California and the majority concentrated in San Francisco and Oakland. The foundation's name reflects a family legacy, and its board composition (McMicking and McHugh family members) confirms this is a closely held, values-driven institution rather than a large institutional grantmaker.

Values and Priorities

The foundation's documented focus areas reveal a coherent set of values:

• Access to quality education for children and youth, including K-8 and high school tuition support
• STEM and science programming for children
• College readiness and scholarship pathways
• Literacy, arts, music, and cultural enrichment
• Pre-school and after-school support
• Support for Bay Area communities, with particular attention to San Francisco, Oakland, the East Bay, and Visitacion Valley

The presence of Catholic school recipients (Archbishop Riordan, Saint Elizabeth's, Moreau Catholic, St. Peter Elementary) suggests the foundation has roots in Catholic philanthropy, though it clearly funds secular organizations as well. Educational equity and youth access are the through-lines across its portfolio.

Decision-Making Style

This is a small, family-governed foundation with a lean staff structure. Miriam Dequadros serves as Executive Director and Secretary, making her the primary operational gatekeeper. The board is composed of family members across two generations (McMicking and McHugh surnames), suggesting decisions are made collaboratively within a tight family circle. The foundation accepts unsolicited proposals, which is a meaningful signal of accessibility. Grant sizes are modest and consistent, indicating a disciplined, systematic approach to grantmaking rather than opportunistic or relationship-driven large awards.

---

2. GRANT HISTORY PATTERNS

Typical Grant Sizes and Trends

• Total grants analyzed: 208 grants, $1,896,500 total
• Average grant: $9,118 | Median grant: $10,000
• Grant range: $2,000 (smallest) to $25,000 (largest)
• 25th percentile: $7,500 | 75th percentile: $10,000
• Annual giving has been consistent: $739,500 (2023), $605,000 (2024), $552,000 (2025)
• The tight clustering between $7,500 and $10,000 signals a highly predictable grant size band

Geographic Preferences

• California dominates: 198 of 208 grants (95.2%) and $1,766,500 of total giving
• San Francisco and Oakland together account for at least $1,059,000 (55.9% of total)
• Out-of-state giving is minimal and likely relationship-driven (NC, OR, MD, DC)
• Riverside Youth Coding Academy's OUSD and SFUSD footprint places it in the foundation's highest-priority geography

Types of Initiatives Funded

• Direct service programs (in-school, after-school, enrichment)
• Tuition assistance and scholarship support
• STEM and science programming for children
• Literacy and book access programs
• Arts, music, and cultural programming
• Youth development and college readiness
• The foundation funds program-specific grants, general operating support, and scholarships - a flexible portfolio that accommodates different organizational needs

Top Recipient Patterns

Repeat grantees (3 grants each) include Catholic schools, international aid organizations, and community foundations. The 100% new-grantee rate in the available dataset is a standout finding: the foundation is demonstrably open to first-time recipients, which removes a common barrier for organizations without prior relationship history.

---

3. NTEE CODE ALIGNMENT

Funder's NTEE Profile

• Funder's primary NTEE code: Y12
• Inferred primary giving code: B20 (Elementary & Secondary Schools) - the single largest documented category at 24 grants (16.3%) and $225,000 (11.9% of total)
• NTEE diversity is very high (HHI: 0.041), meaning the foundation funds across many categories rather than concentrating in one

Riverside Youth Coding Academy's NTEE Codes

• B25 (Secondary/High School) - 100% relevance
• B30 (Vocational/Technical Schools) - 100% relevance

Alignment Analysis

Both of Riverside Youth Coding Academy's NTEE codes fall within the B category (Education), which is the foundation's single strongest documented giving category. The B20 (Elementary & Secondary Schools) category - the foundation's top funded NTEE code - is the direct parent category for B25 (Secondary/High School). This is category-level overlap at the highest tier.

Strongest Alignment Categories

Strategic Framing Recommendations

• Lead with B25 (Secondary/High School) framing: position RYCA as a school-linked education provider serving OUSD and SFUSD students
• Layer in B30 (Vocational/Technical Schools) framing for the apprenticeship pipeline as a practical youth advancement track
• Avoid framing the organization primarily as a technology company, workforce development intermediary, or policy advocacy group
• The strongest NTEE narrative is: "We are an education nonprofit that brings high-quality STEM instruction into Bay Area secondary schools and connects students to real-world career pathways"

---

4. DECISION-MAKER INSIGHTS

Key Personnel

• Miriam Dequadros, Executive Director / Secretary - Primary operational contact and likely the first reader of any proposal. She manages the grantmaking process and is the recommended point of contact for all correspondence.
• Alaistair C.H. McHugh, President - Family board member, likely holds significant decision-making authority alongside the chair.
• Consuelo H. McHugh, Chairperson of the Board - Senior family leader; likely sets the philanthropic vision and tone.
• Kate Trevelyan-Hall, Vice-President - Board member with formal governance role.
• Bennett B. McMicking, Trustee - McMicking family representative on the board.
• Robert McHugh and Joseph CM Hall, Trustees/Treasurer - Additional family governance members.

Decision-Making Process

Given the family foundation structure and lean staff, decisions are likely made through a combination of staff screening (Miriam Dequadros) and board review by family members. The consistent grant sizes and high volume (67-74 grants per year) suggest a systematic review process rather than lengthy deliberation on individual grants. Proposals that are clear, concise, and directly tied to documented priorities are likely to move efficiently through review.

What Matters Most to Them

• Bay Area geography, specifically Oakland and San Francisco
• Direct service to children and youth
• Educational access and equity
• STEM and science programming
• Concrete, measurable outcomes for students
• Clean separation from lobbying or legislative advocacy
• Organizations that serve the communities the foundation's founders cared about

Data Gap: No personal or institutional connections between RYCA leadership and foundation board or staff were identified. Research into whether any RYCA board member, mentor, or donor has ties to Bay Area Catholic education or McMicking/McHugh family networks is recommended before submission.

---

5. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Foundation's Giving Volume and Selectivity

• 67 grants awarded in 2025 across a $552,000 annual budget
• Average of roughly 5-6 grants per month suggests active, ongoing grantmaking
• The open application process and high new-grantee rate indicate this is not a closed or invitation-only portfolio
• Competition comes primarily from other Bay Area youth education and STEM nonprofits, Catholic schools, and community organizations already in the foundation's network

RYCA's Competitive Position

• Strong: Geographic match is near-perfect (OUSD, SFUSD, East Bay)
• Strong: STEM/technology focus aligns with documented foundation priorities
• Strong: Free, school-linked programming matches the foundation's direct-service orientation
• Moderate: Organizational scale data is unavailable; the foundation's typical grantee has a $5.9M median budget and 28-year median age, which may be larger and older than RYCA
• Manageable: The 100% new-grantee rate in available data neutralizes the "no prior relationship" disadvantage

Key Differentiator

The paid teen apprenticeship pipeline is RYCA's most distinctive program element. Most coding clubs and after-school STEM programs stop at instruction. RYCA's model connects students to real Bay Area employers with stipends, which is a concrete, measurable youth advancement outcome that goes beyond enrichment and into economic mobility. This differentiates RYCA from the typical school enrichment grantee.

---

6. APPLICATION INTELLIGENCE

Best Program Pathway

General Grantmaking (Children's Education Grants) - specifically framed around STEM access and school-linked enrichment for Bay Area youth. Do not apply through tuition assistance or scholarship categories, as RYCA's model is program-based rather than individual tuition support.

Eligibility Confirmation Checklist

• 501(c)(3) public charity status: Confirmed
• Bay Area service footprint (OUSD, SFUSD, East Bay): Confirmed through program description
• Not primarily a lobbying organization: Manageable - requires careful framing
• Headquarters location: Not formally documented - confirm and state explicitly in application
• Budget and organizational scale: Not provided - include in application to allow comparison

Key Application Considerations

• State the number of Bay Area students served, by city and school district, in the first paragraph
• Quantify outcomes: cohort completion rates, apprenticeship placements, student demographics (% low-income, % BIPOC, % first-generation)
• Separate direct service language from advocacy language; describe district engagement as "partnership" and "outcome sharing" rather than "advocacy" or "systems change"
• If middle school students are served, highlight this explicitly - the foundation funds K-8 as well as high school, and middle school students strengthen the children's education framing
• Keep the proposal concise and outcome-focused; this foundation reviews dozens of grants per cycle

Timing Considerations

• The foundation awarded 67 grants in both 2024 and 2025, suggesting consistent year-round or cycle-based grantmaking
• No specific deadline data is available; contact Miriam Dequadros directly to confirm application windows and submission format
• Given the open application process, submitting in Q2 or Q3 2026 (May-September) would allow time for review before year-end grantmaking cycles

---

7. POSITIONING STRATEGY

How to Frame RYCA's Work

Lead with the educational equity and access narrative, not the technology narrative. The foundation funds children's education; RYCA happens to deliver that education through computer science. The frame is: "We bring high-quality STEM education into Bay Area public schools so that low-income students in Oakland and San Francisco have the same access to computer science pathways as students in wealthier districts."

Key Differentiators to Emphasize

1. School-linked delivery - RYCA operates inside OUSD and SFUSD schools, not as a standalone program students must seek out. This is a direct-service, access-building model.
2. Free participation - No cost to students or families removes the economic barrier entirely.
3. Paid apprenticeship pipeline - Students earn stipends and gain real work experience, creating measurable economic advancement, not just enrichment.
4. Bay Area employer connections - 100+ industry mentors and real tech internship placements connect students to the local economy.
5. Measurable outcomes - 85%+ of graduates report increased confidence pursuing CS in college; cohort alumni network of 600+ students.

Potential Objections and How to Address Them

---

8. OPPORTUNITY FRAMING

The Transformation Story

The McMicking Foundation's giving history tells a story of a family that believes every Bay Area child deserves access to quality education, regardless of zip code or income. RYCA's work is the STEM chapter of that same story. A student in a Title I Oakland school who has never written a line of code, who completes a RYCA cohort, earns a stipend through the apprenticeship program, and enrolls in a CS course in college - that is the transformation the foundation has been funding for decades, just in a new form.

Connecting to Foundation Priorities

• Children's education: RYCA serves grades 7-12 in public schools
• Technology and STEM: Computer science instruction is the core program
• Bay Area youth: OUSD and SFUSD students are the primary beneficiaries
• Educational access: Free participation and school-based delivery remove barriers
• Youth advancement: Paid apprenticeships and college readiness outcomes close the loop

The Specific Request Narrative

"A $10,000 grant from the McMicking Foundation will support direct program costs for one cohort of 15 Bay Area students - covering curriculum materials, instructor time, and apprenticeship coordination - ensuring that students in Oakland and San Francisco public schools have access to the same computer science education available to students in the region's most resourced schools."

---

9. ASK STRATEGY

Recommended Ask: $10,000

• Conservative floor: $7,500
• Primary ask: $10,000
• Stretch ceiling: $10,000-$15,000 (only if RYCA can document unusually strong district partnerships and measurable outcomes)
• Do not exceed $15,000 for a first request; the foundation's grant ceiling is $25,000 and most awards cluster at $10,000

Grant Structure

• Request a single-year, program-specific grant for direct service costs
• Do not lead with a multi-year request for a first-time relationship
• Frame the grant as support for a defined deliverable: "one cohort of 15 Bay Area students" or "summer intensive seats for 30 Oakland and San Francisco youth" or "apprenticeship placements for 10 graduating seniors"
• Tie the ask to a concrete, countable outcome rather than general operating support, even if the foundation does fund general operating support

990-Based Insights

• The foundation's total assets are $15,609,066 with annual grants of $1,896,500 and total revenue of $706,110
• Annual payout ($552,000 in 2025) is modest relative to assets, suggesting the foundation is managing for long-term sustainability rather than aggressive distribution
• A $10,000 grant represents approximately 1.8% of annual giving - a realistic, proportionate ask
• Renewal potential exists (top recipients have received 3 grants each), but should not be assumed or requested in the first application

Timing

• Submit in Q2 2026 (May-June) to align with likely mid-year review cycles
• Contact Miriam Dequadros by email first to confirm submission format, deadlines, and any letter of inquiry requirements before submitting a full proposal

---

10. RELATIONSHIP PLAN

Immediate Actions (April-May 2026)

• Confirm RYCA's formal headquarters address and include it in all foundation communications
• Compile organizational data to include in proposal: founding year, annual budget, staff count, and board composition
• Draft a one-page program summary focused on Bay Area student reach, OUSD/SFUSD school partners, and measurable outcomes
• Contact Miriam Dequadros to introduce RYCA, confirm application process, and ask about submission windows
• Research whether any RYCA board member, mentor, donor, or advisor has connections to the McMicking or McHugh family networks or Bay Area Catholic education philanthropy

Application Phase (May-July 2026)

• Submit a concise, outcome-focused proposal through the General Grantmaking (Children's Education Grants) pathway
• Lead with Bay Area geography and student demographics in the first paragraph
• Include a clear budget showing how $10,000 will be used for direct program costs
• Separate all advocacy language from direct service language; describe district engagement as partnership and outcome dissemination
• Attach or reference any available outcome data: cohort completion rates, apprenticeship placements, student demographics

Stewardship Phase (Post-Award)

• Send a brief impact update 6 months after award, even if not required, showing student outcomes tied to the grant
• Invite Miriam Dequadros or a board member to a cohort showcase or apprenticeship graduation event
• Position the first grant as the beginning of a multi-year relationship by demonstrating accountability and transparency in reporting
• Reapply in the following cycle with updated outcomes and a renewal or modest increase request

Long-Term Relationship Goal

Build toward a recurring annual grant of $10,000-$15,000 by demonstrating consistent Bay Area student impact, strong outcome documentation, and organizational reliability. The foundation's top recipients have sustained 3-grant relationships; RYCA's goal should be to earn that same standing within 2-3 grant cycles.

---

This memo is based on IRS 990 data, foundation grant history, and structured intelligence analysis current as of April 27, 2026. Organizational data gaps for Riverside Youth Coding Academy (budget, founding year, staff count, formal headquarters) should be resolved before submission. All strategic recommendations are based on documented funder behavior and should be validated against any updated foundation guidelines or direct communications with Miriam Dequadros.

Conversation Guide: Meeting with The Joseph & Mercedes McMicking Foundation

Riverside Youth Coding Academy | April 27, 2026 Presenter: Single Speaker | Contact: Miriam Dequadros, Executive Director / Secretary

---

1. AUTHENTIC OPENING

"Thank you so much for making time today. I want to start with something personal, because I think it gets at why this work matters so much to me.

When I think about the students we serve in Oakland and San Francisco, I keep coming back to one image: a seventh grader sitting in front of a laptop for the first time in a structured coding environment, realizing that the thing she thought was only for other people, for kids at different schools in different zip codes, is actually something she can do. That moment of recognition is what Riverside Youth Coding Academy is built around. And it happens, over and over, in Title I classrooms across the East Bay and San Francisco."

---

2. HIGH-LEVEL VISION

"Our mission is straightforward: we expand access to high-quality computer science education for low-income middle and high school students in Oakland, San Francisco, and the East Bay, completely free of charge.

We run in-school and after-school coding cohorts, summer intensives, and a paid teen apprenticeship pipeline that places students into mentored tech internships with Bay Area employers. Right now, we serve roughly 120 cohort students and 30 apprentices each year, with more than 14,000 instructional hours delivered annually. Eighty-five percent of our graduating cohort students report increased confidence pursuing computer science in college.

The bigger picture is this: the Bay Area is the center of the global technology economy, and the young people growing up in its most under-resourced neighborhoods are largely locked out of it. We are here to change that, one cohort at a time."

---

3. DISCOVERY QUESTION

"Before I go further, I'd love to hear your perspective. When the McMicking Foundation thinks about supporting youth education in the Bay Area, what kinds of outcomes or program models feel most meaningful to you right now? I want to make sure I'm speaking to what matters most to you."

(Listen carefully. Note any emphasis on direct service, school-based delivery, STEM access, or student advancement. Reflect it back in the priorities section.)

---

4. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

"With that in mind, let me share the three areas where we are focused right now.

First, expanding our reach in the East Bay and San Francisco. We are adding two new school sites and a second annual summer intensive within the next 24 months, which will grow our cohort from 120 to 200-plus students per year. Every new site means more students in OUSD and SFUSD who have a structured, free pathway into computer science.

Second, deepening the apprenticeship pipeline. Our paid teen apprenticeship program is one of the things that sets us apart. Students do not just learn to code; they are placed with Bay Area tech employers, matched with industry mentors, and paid a stipend. We are working to double that cohort from 30 to 60 apprentices per year. For a first-generation student, that first paid tech experience can be genuinely life-changing.

Third, building the infrastructure to sustain this work. We are hiring a full-time program operations lead and a part-time apprenticeship coordinator, and we are formalizing our curriculum review process with a volunteer board of industry mentors. These are the internal investments that allow us to grow responsibly and maintain quality as we scale."

---

5. PERMISSION TO DISCUSS SPECIFIC FUNDING

"I would love to share a specific funding opportunity with you, if that feels like a natural next step. Would it be all right if I walked you through what a partnership with the McMicking Foundation could look like?"

(Pause and wait for affirmation before continuing.)

---

6. FUNDING RATIONALE (BUDGET AND ASK)

"We are requesting $10,000 in direct program support, tied specifically to our Bay Area student cohorts and apprenticeship placements in Oakland and San Francisco.

At that level, your investment helps us sustain instructional hours for a defined group of students, cover stipends for apprentices who would otherwise go unpaid, and support the site expansion that brings our program into additional Title I schools. Every dollar goes directly to the students and the program infrastructure that serves them.

We see this as an opportunity to build a relationship with the McMicking Foundation, demonstrate our outcomes clearly, and grow together over time. The ask is modest and concrete, and the impact is measurable."

---

7. ANTICIPATING POTENTIAL CONCERNS

If the funder raises questions about organizational scale or budget: "That is a fair question, and I want to be transparent. We do not have a large organizational footprint, but our program model is lean by design. Our dollars go to students, not overhead. We are happy to share whatever documentation would be helpful."

If the funder raises questions about advocacy or district engagement: "I want to be clear about how we engage with school districts. Our primary work is direct service: instruction, mentorship, and apprenticeship placements. When we share outcomes with OUSD and SFUSD, we are doing so as a program partner, not as a policy advocate. We are not a lobbying organization. Our goal is to put data in front of decision-makers that helps them invest in STEM education for their students."

If the funder asks about prior relationship with the foundation: "We have not had the opportunity to work together before, and that is exactly why this conversation matters so much to me. The McMicking Foundation's commitment to Bay Area youth education is exactly the kind of partnership we have been looking for."

---

8. CLOSING AT HIGH-LEVEL VISION

"I want to come back to where I started. There are thousands of young people in Oakland and San Francisco who are curious, capable, and ready, but who have never had a structured, free, high-quality pathway into computer science. Riverside Youth Coding Academy exists to be that pathway.

The McMicking Foundation has a long history of investing in Bay Area youth, in education, in STEM, and in the communities where this work is most needed. I believe we are doing exactly the kind of work you care about, and I would be honored to have you as a partner in it."

---

9. FINAL INVITATION FOR NEXT STEPS

"Before we close, I want to make sure I have given you everything you need. What else would be helpful for you to see from us as you consider this?"

(Listen, take notes, and confirm any follow-up materials, timeline, or contacts requested.)