The Garabedian foundation prioritizes faith- and community-rooted education (especially Armenian institutions and K–12 schools) and student scholarships, while also supporting conservative public policy organizations, veterans/military-related causes, and local community development in the San Joaquin Valley. Grants are frequently repeat awards to the same institutions, mixing modest recurring gifts to local churches, schools, and university programs with larger single gifts to national policy and higher-education centers.
Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable gives some of its largest recent support to university-based policy and military research, including $45,000 to Stanford University’s Hoover Institute for “THE ROLE OF MILITARY” and $25,000 the prior year to Hoover Institution c/o Stanford University for the same purpose. That pattern sits alongside a long run of education-centered giving: scholarships at Brigham Young University, Pepperdine University, Hillsdale College, and San Joaquin College of Law; Armenian studies and church support in Fresno; and local school and youth-program awards in California’s Central Valley. The foundation’s mix is broad but not random. It supports Armenian community institutions such as Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, St Paul Armenian Church, and CSU Fresno Foundation–Armenian Studies, while also funding conservative public policy organizations including Prager University Foundation and Pacific Legal Foundation. It also extends to veterans’ education and services through Semper Fi Fund and to community development and school-based programming in Fresno, Clovis, Selma, and Madera. Across these areas, the giving combines modest recurring gifts with occasional larger awards to institutions that appear repeatedly in the recent grants list.
Education is a central thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $30,000 to Brigham Young University for scholarships for students and $30,000 to Pepperdine University for a scholarship fund, while also awarding $20,000 to Hillsdale College for scholarships for students. At the K-12 and local-school level, the foundation supported St Helen’s Catholic School with $18,000 for scholarships and financial aid and Selma Unified School District with $8,500 for Selma High School. Armenian studies and community institutions are another clear focus. CSU Fresno Foundation–Armenian Studies received $24,000 in 2024 and $12,000 in 2023 for support Armenian studies, and Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church received $29,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023 for unrestricted general support. The foundation also backs extracurricular and youth programs, including $22,500 to San Joaquin Memorial High School for soccer and rugby club support and $16,000 to Fresno Pacific University for youth soccer.
$0
$1.7M
$328K
$181K
Most grants fall between $1K and $6K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$6K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, repeat-focused giving: many mid-sized to small grants recurring to a core set of grantees (multiple 2x entries), with a mix of local California/Fresno-area beneficiaries and selective larger gifts to national conservative policy and higher-education institutions.
Notable grantees: CSU Fresno Foundation (Armenian Studies, Veterans, MESA engineering), Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church / St. Paul Armenian Church, Brigham Young University / Pepperdine University (scholarships), Hoover Institution / Stanford University, Prager University Foundation
Typical grants are modest: the foundation’s recent distribution shows a p25 of $1,000, a median of $3,000, and a p75 of $6,000. The recent list also shows repeat awards to the same recipients across years, including Brigham Young University, Pepperdine University, Hillsdale College, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, and CSU Fresno Foundation–Armenian Studies. That recurring pattern suggests relationship-based giving rather than one-off transactions only. The foundation funds both restricted purposes and unrestricted general support, and the recent grants include scholarships, program support, and operating support. It also makes grants to individuals, alongside institutional awards. The profile data does not describe an open application process or solicitation model.
Giving is national, but the recent grants cluster heavily in California. Fresno appears repeatedly, with awards to Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, CSU Fresno Foundation–Armenian Studies, St Paul Armenian Church, Fresno Pacific University, Boy Scouts of America – Sequoia Council, Armenian Technology Group Inc, and San Joaquin Memorial High School. Other California recipients include Stanford in Stanford, Prager University Foundation in Sherman Oaks, Pacific Legal Foundation in Sacramento, Claremont Institute in Upland, Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, and Summit Public Schools in Redwood City. Outside California, recent grants also went to recipients in Provo, Malibu, and Hillsdale.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on education and scholarships, Armenian institutions and Armenian studies, conservative public policy organizations, veterans-related education and services, and local youth or school programs. Examples include university scholarships, Armenian church and studies support, policy grants to think tanks, and school-based sports and STEM funding.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Brigham Young University, Pepperdine University, Hillsdale College, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, and CSU Fresno Foundation–Armenian Studies. That recurring pattern suggests the foundation often returns to familiar institutions rather than limiting itself to one-time gifts.
The recent grant-size distribution is small-to-midsize overall: p25 is $1,000, median is $3,000, and p75 is $6,000. The recent list also includes larger awards, such as $45,000 to Stanford University’s Hoover Institute and $30,000 grants to Brigham Young University and Pepperdine University.
Its grants are national, with the highest concentration in New York by grant count, while the recent grants list shows a strong California presence. Among specific recipient cities, Fresno appears especially often, along with Stanford, Malibu, Provo, and other California locations.
It funds both churches and Armenian studies programs. Recent grants include $29,000 to Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, $14,000 to St Paul Armenian Church, and $24,000 to CSU Fresno Foundation–Armenian Studies. Those awards show support for religious, educational, and cultural institutions connected to the Armenian community.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY - HOOVER INSTITUTE | STANFORD, CA | $45,000 | 2024 | THE ROLE OF MILITARY |
| PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY | MALIBU, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | FDN SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR |
| BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY | PROVO, UT | $30,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| HOLY TRINITY ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH | FRESNO, CA | $29,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CSU FRESNO FDN - ARMENIAN STUDIES | FRESNO, CA | $24,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT ARMENIAN STUDIES |
| SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL | FRESNO, CA | $22,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT SOCCER & RUGBY CLUB |
| SAN JOAQUIN COLLEGE OF LAW | CLOVIS, CA | $21,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR US |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $20,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| ST HELEN'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL | FRESNO, CA | $18,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL |
| FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITY | FRESNO, CA | $16,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT YOUTH SOCCER |
| SUMMIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $14,000 | 2024 | MATH INSTRUCTION AT SUMMIT |
| ST PAUL ARMENIAN CHURCH | FRESNO, CA | $14,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PRAGER UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $12,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SEQUOIA COUNCIL | FRESNO, CA | $11,000 | 2024 | CAMP CHAWANKEE IMPROVEMENTS |
| SEMPER FI FUND | OEANSIDE, CA | $10,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION & CAREER |
| CSU FRESNO FDN - MESA ENGINEERING | FRESNO, CA | $9,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT MESA ENGINEERING |
| VALLEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | MADERA, CA | $9,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT PCAR NURSE |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $9,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIA |
| SOUTHEAST FRESNO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSN | FRESNO, CA | $9,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ARMENIAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC | FRESNO, CA | $8,750 | 2024 | CENTRAL DIAGNOSTIC LAB FOR |
| SELMA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT | SELMA, CA | $8,500 | 2024 | SUPORT SELMA HIGH SCHOOL |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - BERKELEY | BERKELEY, CA | $8,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT AILEYCAMP - CAL |
| CALIFORNIA POLICY CENTER | TUSTIN, CA | $8,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CLAREMONT INSTITUTE | UPLAND, CA | $8,000 | 2024 | CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL |
| CALIFORNIA HOME FOR THE AGED INC | FRESNO, CA | $7,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DAVID HOROWITZ FREEDOM CENTER | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $7,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CSU FRESNO FDN - VETERANS EDUCATION | FRESNO, CA | $7,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT VETERANS' EDUCATION |
| CSU FRESNO FDN - CLASSICAL STUDIES | FRESNO, CA | $7,000 | 2024 | CLASSICAL STUDIES FACULTY |
| DOWN SYNDROME ASSN OF CENTRAL CA | FRESNO, CA | $6,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CSU FRESNO FDN - SCHOLARSHIPS | FRESNO, CA | $6,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR STUDENT |
| CHARLIE KEYAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL | CLOVIS, CA | $6,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HUME LAKE CHARTER SCHOOL | HUME, CA | $5,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DAN DEVEREAUX MEMORIAL TRUST INC | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| CSU FRESNO FDN - KFSR 907 RADIO | FRESNO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | FOR KFSR 90 MORNING JAZZ / |
| CSU FRESNO FDN - COLLEGE OF THE ARTS | FRESNO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | JAMES WINTER BRASS MEMORIAL |
| FRIENDS OF ROOSEVELT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | FRESNO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CENTRAL SIERRA HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM | SHAVER LAKE, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT PEP & SIERRA VOICES |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL CA | FRESNO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT 'KIDS WITH |
| ST STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH | SAN FRANSISCO, CA | $4,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT MUSIC PROGRAMS |
| ARMENIA FUND INC | GLENDALE, CA | $4,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CSU FRESNO FDN - SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM | FRESNO, CA | $4,000 | 2024 | SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM |
| TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAMS INC | PRATHER, CA | $4,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR FOOTHILL |
| CENCAL YOUTH SPORTS | FRESNO, CA | $4,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SAN JOAQUIN RIVER PKWY & CONSERVATION TRUST INC | FRESNO, CA | $3,500 | 2024 | YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS & |
| CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER | SHAVER LAKE, CA | $3,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT WINTER PROGRAMS |
| ST JOHN GARABED ARMENIAN CHURCH | SAN DIEGO, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SHIN ZEN FRIENDSHIP GARDEN INC | FRESNO, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT CLARK BONZAI |
| THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE | SANTA PAULA, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF FRESNO COUNTY | FRESNO, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SMART MOVES PROGRAM |
| JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE | FRESNO, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
STANFORD UNIVERSITY - HOOVER INSTITUTE
$45,000THE ROLE OF MILITARY
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
$30,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
HOLY TRINITY ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
$29,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CSU FRESNO FDN - ARMENIAN STUDIES
$24,000SUPPORT ARMENIAN STUDIES
SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
$22,500SUPPORT SOCCER & RUGBY CLUB
ST HELEN'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$18,000SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL
ST PAUL ARMENIAN CHURCH
$14,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SEQUOIA COUNCIL
$11,000CAMP CHAWANKEE IMPROVEMENTS
SEMPER FI FUND
$10,500EDUCATION & CAREER
CSU FRESNO FDN - MESA ENGINEERING
$9,500SUPPORT MESA ENGINEERING
SOUTHEAST FRESNO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSN
$9,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ARMENIAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC
$8,750CENTRAL DIAGNOSTIC LAB FOR
SELMA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
$8,500SUPORT SELMA HIGH SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - BERKELEY
$8,000SUPPORT AILEYCAMP - CAL
CLAREMONT INSTITUTE
$8,000CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL
CALIFORNIA HOME FOR THE AGED INC
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DAVID HOROWITZ FREEDOM CENTER
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CSU FRESNO FDN - VETERANS EDUCATION
$7,000SUPPORT VETERANS' EDUCATION
CSU FRESNO FDN - CLASSICAL STUDIES
$7,000CLASSICAL STUDIES FACULTY
DOWN SYNDROME ASSN OF CENTRAL CA
$6,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CSU FRESNO FDN - SCHOLARSHIPS
$6,000SUPPORT FOR STUDENT
CHARLIE KEYAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
$6,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HUME LAKE CHARTER SCHOOL
$5,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DAN DEVEREAUX MEMORIAL TRUST INC
$5,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
CSU FRESNO FDN - KFSR 907 RADIO
$5,000FOR KFSR 90 MORNING JAZZ /
CSU FRESNO FDN - COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
$5,000JAMES WINTER BRASS MEMORIAL
FRIENDS OF ROOSEVELT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CENTRAL SIERRA HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM
$5,000SUPPORT PEP & SIERRA VOICES
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL CA
$5,000SUPPORT 'KIDS WITH
ST STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$4,500SUPPORT MUSIC PROGRAMS
ARMENIA FUND INC
$4,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CSU FRESNO FDN - SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM
$4,000SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM
TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAMS INC
$4,000SUPPORT FOR FOOTHILL
CENCAL YOUTH SPORTS
$4,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER PKWY & CONSERVATION TRUST INC
$3,500YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS &
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER
$3,500SUPPORT WINTER PROGRAMS
ST JOHN GARABED ARMENIAN CHURCH
$3,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SHIN ZEN FRIENDSHIP GARDEN INC
$3,000SUPPORT CLARK BONZAI
THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE
$3,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR
JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS