Igniting a Radical Hospitality Revolution
Lava Mae’s grantmaking centers on mobile hygiene and shower services for people experiencing homelessness, with 2023 awards concentrated in direct service grants of $10,000 and one larger grant of $20,000. The foundation’s giving reflects a narrow operating model: it supports local organizations that provide showers, hygiene access, and related street-level care rather than broad program portfolios. In the recent grant list, Cloud Covered Streets received $20,000, while Restoration Community Develop, Lighter Loads ATX, and Shower Power Inc. each received $10,000. The pattern is consistent with the foundation’s stated focus on homeless services, mobile hygiene and showers, direct service grants, and community partnerships. Its 2022 partner announcements show the same structure, with funded organizations presented as recipients of partner-supported grants rather than through an open grant competition. That approach aligns with Lava Mae’s identity as a funder of practical service delivery: grants go to groups operating showers or mobile hygiene programs in local communities across the United States. The foundation’s work is defined less by a wide thematic spread than by repeated support for a specific service model tied to basic needs and homelessness response.
In mobile hygiene work, Lava Mae gave $20,000 to Cloud Covered Streets for grants paid, and it gave $10,000 to Shower Power Inc. for grants paid. Both awards fit the foundation’s focus on shower services and street-level care. The foundation also supported local homelessness response through direct service grants. Lighter Loads ATX received $10,000, and Hearts of Rescue received $10,000, both listed under grants paid in 2023. These awards show a preference for organizations delivering tangible services to people experiencing homelessness. Community-based shower programs appear throughout the recent grant list as well. Streetside Showers received $10,000, and Showering Love Inc. received $10,000, reinforcing Lava Mae’s emphasis on mobile hygiene access through local nonprofit partners.
Lava Mae’s typical grant size is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are all $10,000. In the 2023 list, most awards match that amount, with one $20,000 grant at the top of the distribution. The foundation is a public charity, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The active program notes show a mix of direct grants and partner-supported grants, including named funding channels tied to specific partner announcements. The 2022 pages indicate recipients were publicly announced as funded partners, and one program description says it accepted unsolicited requests.
$140K
$1.2M
$17K
$48K
Most grants fall between $10K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Lava Mae gives nationally, and all recent grants in the supplied data went to U.S. recipients. Texas appears most often by grant count, even though the foundation is headquartered in Alameda, California. California recipients include Los Angeles, Brentwood, and Fallbrook, while other award locations include New York, Milwaukee, Spring Hill, and McKinney. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 13 grants and 100% of the listed total.
Lava Mae funds organizations working in homeless services, mobile hygiene and showers, direct service grants, and community partnerships. The recent awards show a consistent focus on local nonprofits that operate shower or hygiene programs for people experiencing homelessness.
The foundation’s grant sizes are clustered at $10,000. Its p25, median, and p75 are all $10,000, with one recent award at $20,000.
The supplied recipient-country distribution shows all listed grants went to U.S. recipients: 13 grants, or 100% of the total shown.
Yes. The active program notes describe partner-supported grants, including Kohler-funded grants and 2022 funding partner announcements. Those pages present awarded grants as part of Lava Mae’s programs and partner-funded channels.
The recent list shows repeated support for the same service model rather than one-off thematic variety. Awards in 2023 consistently went to organizations delivering shower, hygiene, or street-level homelessness services, with most grants set at $10,000.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Current and upcoming funding from Lava Mae that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to people and organizations at all stages of bringing mobile showers and other care services to the street; the site describes it as a global community.
Deadline: No deadline stated; free sign-up is available on an ongoing basis.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Covered Streets | Waddell, AZ | $20,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Restoration Community Develop | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Lighter Loads ATX | Volente, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Shower Power Inc | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Hearts of Rescue | Spring, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| SHARE Community | Brentwood, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| ShowerUP | Spring Hill, TN | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Street Angels Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Humanity ShowersApostolic As | Fallbrook, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Merrimack Valley Dream Center | Lawrence, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| WAVE Project | ClintonTownshiP, MI | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Showering Love Inc | Davie, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
| Streetside Showers | McKinney, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | Program:Grants Paid |
Restoration Community Develop
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
Lighter Loads ATX
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
Shower Power Inc
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
Hearts of Rescue
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
SHARE Community
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
Humanity ShowersApostolic As
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
Merrimack Valley Dream Center
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
WAVE Project
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
Showering Love Inc
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
Streetside Showers
$10,000Program:Grants Paid
