The Don and Barbara Chapin Foundation focuses on local, direct-service charities in the Salinas area, prioritizing hands-on youth vocational training and basic health supports for low-income families. The bulk of their funding goes to a single partner that provides construction trades education for disadvantaged youth, with a smaller allocation to home health care for low-income households. Their giving emphasizes practical, workforce-oriented outcomes and community-level impact.
The Don and Barbara Chapin Foundation gives repeatedly to a small circle of local organizations serving Salinas-area youth, families, and animals, with Rancho Cielo receiving the largest recent grants for tool belts and tools used in construction education. That pattern points to a funder centered on practical, direct-service support rather than broad institutional grantmaking. In the recent grants list, the foundation also backed Coastal Kids Homecare for home health care for low-income families and Yosal for music programs for kids, showing attention to both basic needs and youth enrichment. Additional grants to SPCA Monterey County, Monterey Jr Cycling Development, and North County Youth Recreation Assoc. suggest a mix of hands-on youth development, recreation, and animal care within the same local network. The foundation’s giving is highly concentrated in California and especially around Salinas, with most grants going to recipients in the same region as its headquarters. Its recent record shows a pattern of multi-year support for several organizations rather than isolated one-off awards, with recurring grants visible across 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Vocational training is one of the clearest through-lines in the foundation’s recent awards. Rancho Cielo received $15,000 in 2023, $11,000 in 2024, and $10,000 in 2025 for tool belts and tools for construction education. Youth arts and recreation also appear in the record: Yosal received $7,500 in 2024 and $5,000 in both 2023 and 2025 for music programs for kids, while Monterey Jr Cycling Development received $5,000 in 2025 to promote youth cycling and physical fitness. The foundation also supports basic services. Coastal Kids Homecare received $7,500 in 2023, $5,000 in 2024, and $10,000 in 2025 for home health care for low-income families. In health-related youth work, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society received $2,500 in 2023 for leukemia and lymphoma research.
Typical grants are small: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,000, and the 75th percentile is $3,500. The recent record also includes larger recurring awards in the $5,000 to $15,000 range, but most gifts cluster below that level. Several recipients appear in multiple years, which indicates repeat support rather than isolated one-time grants. The foundation is not a funder of individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grants are predominantly restricted, direct-service awards tied to specific projects or services.
$85K
$926K
$236K
$205K
Most grants fall between $1K and $4K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$4K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated and local: a small number of relatively modest grants, with repeated, large share of funding directed to one core grantee (Rancho Cielo) and occasional support to other nearby service providers.
Notable grantees: Rancho Cielo, Coastal Kids Homecare
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local. California recipients account for 96% of grants, and the country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Salinas appears repeatedly among recipient locations, including Salinas, Castroville, Monterey, Hollister, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and Santa Rosa. The giving pattern shows a Monterey County core with some neighboring Central Coast reach, but not a broader regional or national spread.
The foundation backs local direct-service organizations, with recent grants in construction education, home health care, music programs for kids, youth recreation, animal care and rescue, literacy, and youth advocacy. Several awards are tied to specific programs or equipment rather than general operating support.
Its grant sizes are modest. The 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,000, and the 75th percentile is $3,500. Recent awards also include larger repeat grants such as $10,000 and $15,000.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including Rancho Cielo, Coastal Kids Homecare, Yosal, SPCA Monterey County, and Casa of Monterey County. That pattern suggests ongoing support for a core group of local partners.
The foundation gives mainly in California, where 96% of grants go to recipients in the state. Recipient cities in the recent list include Salinas, Castroville, Monterey, Hollister, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and Santa Rosa.
No. The foundation does not fund 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RANCHO CIELO | SALINAS, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | TOOL BELTS AND TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION |
| KEY FOR A CURE FOUNDATION | Salinas, CA | $12,300 | 2026 | PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH |
| COASTAL KIDS HOMECARE | SALINAS, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | HOME HEALTH CARE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES |
| HARMONY AT HOME | CARMEL, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| YOSAL | SALINAS, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR KIDS |
| SPCA MONTEREY COUNTY | Salinas, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | ANIMAL CARE & RESCUE |
| UNITED FOR SAN BENITO | HOLLISTER, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support |
| YOUTH ON COURSE | Monterey, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT YOUTH ON COURSE PROGRAM |
| CASA OF MONTEREY COUNTY | Salinas, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | YOUTH ADVOCACY |
| SALINAS VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | Salinas, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | Community development and program support |
| SALINAS AREA RIF PROGRAM | SALINAS, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | BOOKS FOR CHILDREN |
| SALINAS REGIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY | Salinas, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | Support Youth Sports & Activities |
| SACRED HEART SCHOOL PARENTS CLUB | SALINAS, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | Support Student and School Programs |
| MADONNA DEL SASSO SCHOOL | SALINAS, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | Support Student and School Programs |
| ERNIE CAMACHO ED FOUNDATION | SALINAS, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | BASEBALL CAMP |
| MANZANITA LITTLE LEAGUE | PRUNEDALE, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | BASEBALL GEAR |
| GEN GIAMMANCO FOUNDATION | Monterey, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | YOUTH ATHLETICS |
| THE BLAZIN GATORS | MARINA, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| MAX'S HELPING PAWS FOUNDATION | Carmel, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | ANIMAL HEALTHCARE AND WELLBEING |
| LIVE FOR ROSS | SALINAS, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| BRIGHTER BITES | Salinas, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | TO PROMOTE HEALTHY NUTRITION |
| HIDDEN HILLS RANCH | Salinas, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SALINAS HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTERS | Spreckels, CA | $800 | 2026 | Support student athletic endeavors |
| ANZAR HS SWIM TEAM | San Juan Bautista, CA | $500 | 2026 | Promote youth athletics |
| SALINAS CONTINENTAL LITTLE LEAGUE | Salinas, CA | $500 | 2026 | BASEBALL GEAR |
| G STYLE WRESTLING | Salinas, CA | $500 | 2026 | Promote youth athletics |
| PALMA SCHOOL | Salinas, CA | $500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| SALINAS SOCCER LEAGUE ACADEMY | Salinas, CA | $500 | 2026 | Provide Youth Support through Sports |
| CARSON VALLEY YOUTH DAY | Gardnerville, NV | $500 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY STUFF THE BUS | Salinas, CA | $500 | 2026 | Program Support |
| ECFC | Salinas, CA | $500 | 2026 | Promote youth soccer |
| NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY HS BOOSTERS | Salinas, CA | $400 | 2026 | Program Support |
| SAFE KIDS COALITION OF SAN BENITO C | Hollister, CA | $300 | 2026 | Youth Advocacy |
| COASTAL KIDS HOMECARE | SALINAS, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | HOME HEALTH CARE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES |
| RANCHO CIELO | SALINAS, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TOOL BELTS AND TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION |
| SPCA MONTEREY COUNTY | Salinas, CA | $5,500 | 2025 | ANIMAL CARE & RESCUE |
| NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | Castroville, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| YOSAL | SALINAS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR KIDS |
| UNITED FOR SAN BENITO | HOLLISTER, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| CANINE COMPANIONS | SANTA ROSA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| HARMONY AT HOME | CARMEL, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| MONTEREY JR CYCLING DEVELOPMENT | Pacific Grove, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | PROMOTE YOUTH CYCLING & PHYSICAL FITNESS |
| NORTH COUNTY BULLDOGS | CASTROVILLE, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | YOUTH PROGRAMS |
| THE AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL | Salinas, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | Promote Leadership in Agriculture |
| SALINAS REGIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY | Salinas, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | Support Youth Sports & Activities |
| DOOR TO HOPE | SALINAS, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | Program Support |
| CASA OF MONTEREY COUNTY | Salinas, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | YOUTH ADVOCACY |
| YOUTH ON COURSE | Monterey, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT YOUTH ON COURSE PROGRAM |
| BRIGHTER BITES | Salinas, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HEALTHY NUTRITION |
| SACRED HEART SCHOOL PARENTS CLUB | SALINAS, CA | $1,500 | 2025 | Support Student and School Programs |
RANCHO CIELO
$15,000TOOL BELTS AND TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION
KEY FOR A CURE FOUNDATION
$12,300PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH
YOSAL
$5,000MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR KIDS
ANIMAL CARE & RESCUE
UNITED FOR SAN BENITO
$2,500Program Support
CASA OF MONTEREY COUNTY
$2,500YOUTH ADVOCACY
SALINAS VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$2,500Community development and program support
SALINAS AREA RIF PROGRAM
$2,500BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
SACRED HEART SCHOOL PARENTS CLUB
$2,000Support Student and School Programs
MADONNA DEL SASSO SCHOOL
$1,500Support Student and School Programs
ERNIE CAMACHO ED FOUNDATION
$1,500BASEBALL CAMP
MANZANITA LITTLE LEAGUE
$1,500BASEBALL GEAR
GEN GIAMMANCO FOUNDATION
$1,000YOUTH ATHLETICS
THE BLAZIN GATORS
$1,000Program Support
MAX'S HELPING PAWS FOUNDATION
$1,000ANIMAL HEALTHCARE AND WELLBEING
LIVE FOR ROSS
$1,000Program Support
BRIGHTER BITES
$1,000TO PROMOTE HEALTHY NUTRITION
HIDDEN HILLS RANCH
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
SALINAS HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTERS
$800Support student athletic endeavors
ANZAR HS SWIM TEAM
$500Promote youth athletics
SALINAS CONTINENTAL LITTLE LEAGUE
$500BASEBALL GEAR
G STYLE WRESTLING
$500Promote youth athletics
PALMA SCHOOL
$500EDUCATION
SALINAS SOCCER LEAGUE ACADEMY
$500Provide Youth Support through Sports
UNITED WAY STUFF THE BUS
$500Program Support
ECFC
$500Promote youth soccer
NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY HS BOOSTERS
$400Program Support
SAFE KIDS COALITION OF SAN BENITO C
$300Youth Advocacy
RANCHO CIELO
$10,000TOOL BELTS AND TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION
NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATION SUPPORT
YOSAL
$5,000MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR KIDS
UNITED FOR SAN BENITO
$5,000Program Support
MONTEREY JR CYCLING DEVELOPMENT
$5,000PROMOTE YOUTH CYCLING & PHYSICAL FITNESS
NORTH COUNTY BULLDOGS
$2,500YOUTH PROGRAMS
THE AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
$2,500Promote Leadership in Agriculture
DOOR TO HOPE
$2,500Program Support
CASA OF MONTEREY COUNTY
$2,500YOUTH ADVOCACY
BRIGHTER BITES
$2,500TO PROMOTE HEALTHY NUTRITION
SACRED HEART SCHOOL PARENTS CLUB
$1,500Support Student and School Programs