The Archie Tonge Education Fund primarily finances Seventh‑day Adventist educational institutions across the United States, with an emphasis on higher education and K–12 Adventist academies. Most support is directed to institutions and regional conferences tied to the SDA church, and the foundation appears mission‑driven toward sustaining denominational schools and related programs. Giving is concentrated among a small set of recurring grantees, with both multi‑year/larger gifts to colleges and smaller awards to local academies and elementary schools.
Archie Tonge Education Fund’s recent giving is defined by sustained support for Seventh-day Adventist education, with Pacific Union College receiving three of the largest awards in the file: $329,770 in 2023, $220,000 in 2024, and $241,350 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that backs institutions over time rather than making isolated gifts. The portfolio centers on Adventist colleges, universities, academies, and elementary schools, alongside a smaller set of conference grants tied to denominational infrastructure. Named beneficiaries include Union College, Loma Linda University, Fletcher Academy, Walla Walla University, Southern Adventist University, and several California academies and schools. The grant descriptions are consistently framed as assistance to Seventh-day Adventist work, suggesting a broad operating or institutional-support approach rather than project-specific philanthropy. Recipients range from higher-education institutions in California, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Washington to local K–12 schools and regional church bodies. Taken together, the fund favors organizations embedded in the Adventist educational system and appears to distribute resources across both flagship campuses and smaller schools that serve local church communities.
In higher education, Archie Tonge Education Fund backed Pacific Union College, Union College, and Southern Adventist University with repeated awards across 2023-2025, showing a sustained commitment to Adventist colleges. The fund also supported graduate and professional training through Loma Linda University in 2023 and Walla Walla University in 2023, 2024, and 2025. On the K–12 side, grants reached Monterey Bay Academy, Rio Lindo Adventist Academy, Redding Adventist Academy, Paradise Adventist Academy, and Bakersfield Adventist Academy, all described as Seventh-day Adventist assistance. Conference-level support appeared as well, including Hawaii Conference of SDA and Central Ca Conf of SDA, indicating that the fund also works through denominational organizations that help administer regional school networks and church operations.
Typical grant size is $26,000 at the 25th percentile, $44,552 at the median, and $92,800 at the 75th percentile, with a few much larger awards at the top end. The grant list shows recurring support rather than one-off gifts: Pacific Union College, Union College, Southern Adventist University, Walla Walla University, Central Valley Christ, and La Sierra University each appear more than once across the recent records. The fund is not giving to individuals and does not make program-related investments. The available records point to institutional and denominational support, with awards often described simply as assistance to Seventh-day Adventist work.
$586K
$17.1M
$1.4M
$861K
Most grants fall between $26K and $93K, with a median of $45K.
25th Percentile
$26K
Median
$45K
75th Percentile
$93K
Larry M Ballew
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Concentrated, denomination‑specific giving: repeat, often sizable grants to a handful of core Adventist colleges and frequent smaller awards to regional academies and conference bodies; mix of multi‑grant relationships and one‑off operational or program support.
Notable grantees: Pacific Union College, Union College, Walla Walla University, Southern Adventist University, Hawaii Conference of SDA
Grants are entirely U.S.-based in the recent sample, with 29 grants to U.S. recipients. California receives the majority of awards, including recipients in Angwin, Loma Linda, Orangevale, Los Altos, Ceres, Watsonville, Oceanside, Healdsburg, Redding, Arroyo Grande, Chico, Bakersfield, and Riverside. Outside California, the foundation also gave in Lincoln, NE; Collegedale, TN; College Place, WA; Fletcher, NC; and Honolulu, HI. Tennessee stands out as the top state by grant count, even though the headquarters is in California.
The fund supports Seventh-day Adventist educational institutions and related denominational organizations. Recent grants went to colleges such as Pacific Union College, Union College, and Southern Adventist University, plus academies, elementary schools, and conferences tied to the Adventist church.
The typical award sits in the middle tens of thousands of dollars: p25 is $26,000, the median is $44,552, and p75 is $92,800. The recent list also includes several larger institutional grants above $200,000.
Yes. Pacific Union College appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Union College in 2023 and 2024; Southern Adventist University in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Walla Walla University in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and La Sierra University in 2023 and 2025.
California receives the largest share of awards in the recent grant list, with recipients in cities including Angwin, Loma Linda, Orangevale, Los Altos, Ceres, Watsonville, Oceanside, Healdsburg, Redding, Arroyo Grande, Chico, Bakersfield, and Riverside. Tennessee is the top state by grant count overall.
No. The fund does not give to individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | $158,028 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Central Valley Christ | Ceres, CA | $102,025 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Central Ca Conf of SDA | Clovis, CA | $62,920 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Walla Walla University | College Place, WA | $56,000 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Union College | Lincoln, NE | $54,528 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Pleasant Hill Adventist | Pleasant Hill, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Pine Hills Adventist Academy | Auburn, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN | $27,500 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Paradise Adventist Academy | Chico, CA | $24,605 | 2026 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | $241,350 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Central Valley Christ | Ceres, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Walla Walla University | College Place, WA | $44,602 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Central Ca Conf of SDA | Clovis, CA | $42,500 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN | $32,000 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Monterey Bay Academy | Watsonville, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Oceanside Adventist Elem | Oceanside, CA | $24,750 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Valley View Adventist School | Arroyo Grande, CA | $10,500 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Paradise Adventist Academy | Chico, CA | $9,900 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Bakersfield Adventist Academy | bakersfield, CA | $8,500 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| La Sierra University | Riverside, CA | $5,333 | 2025 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | $220,000 | 2024 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Fletcher Academy | Fletcher, NC | $100,000 | 2024 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Union College | Lincoln, NE | $71,200 | 2024 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Orangevale Adventist School | Orangevale, CA | $66,924 | 2024 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Central Valley Christ | Ceres, CA | $39,104 | 2024 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Walla Walla University | College Place, WA | $32,000 | 2024 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Redding Adventist Academy | Redding, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN | $8,000 | 2024 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | $329,770 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Union College | Lincoln, NE | $155,750 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA | $110,400 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Miramonte Christian School | Los Altos, CA | $64,574 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Hawaii Conference of SDA | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Central Valley Christ | Ceres, CA | $37,674 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Walla Walla University | College Place, WA | $32,000 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN | $24,000 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Rio Lindo Adventist Academy | Healdsburg, CA | $20,900 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
| La Sierra University | Riverside, CA | $8,000 | 2023 | Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist |
Central Valley Christ
$102,025Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Central Ca Conf of SDA
$62,920Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Union College
$54,528Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Pleasant Hill Adventist
Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Pine Hills Adventist Academy
$50,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Southern Adventist University
$27,500Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Paradise Adventist Academy
$24,605Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Central Valley Christ
$50,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Central Ca Conf of SDA
$42,500Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Southern Adventist University
$32,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Monterey Bay Academy
$30,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Oceanside Adventist Elem
$24,750Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Valley View Adventist School
$10,500Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Paradise Adventist Academy
$9,900Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Bakersfield Adventist Academy
$8,500Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
La Sierra University
$5,333Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Fletcher Academy
$100,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Union College
$71,200Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Orangevale Adventist School
$66,924Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Central Valley Christ
$39,104Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Redding Adventist Academy
$20,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Southern Adventist University
$8,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Union College
$155,750Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Miramonte Christian School
$64,574Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Hawaii Conference of SDA
$50,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Central Valley Christ
$37,674Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Southern Adventist University
$24,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
Rio Lindo Adventist Academy
$20,900Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist
La Sierra University
$8,000Assistance to Seventh-Day Adventist