The Fred R Muhs Family Foundation concentrates on general operating support for arts, cultural heritage, and community-serving organizations, with a secondary emphasis on food security and higher education. Grants are given to both Bay Area institutions (e.g., Stanford, Society of California Pioneers) and community arts/food organizations outside the region, suggesting interest in supporting local culture, artists, and basic needs. Awards are mid-sized and unrestricted, indicating trust in grantee leadership and a preference for flexible funding.
A $45,000 general grant to Stanford University stands out in the Fred R Muhs Family Foundation’s recent record, and it sets the tone for a funder that backs institutions with flexible support. The foundation’s giving also reaches cultural and civic groups such as the Junior Center of Art Science, the Society of California Pioneers, and San Francisco Symphony, showing a sustained interest in arts, heritage, and education. Recent awards include both larger and smaller unrestricted grants, with support extending from Bay Area organizations to groups in Asheville, North Carolina, and Beaufort, South Carolina. The foundation appears to favor general operating support rather than project-specific funding, which gives recipients room to direct dollars where they are most needed. Its portfolio includes museums and history organizations, music and performing arts groups, food security nonprofits, animal rescue, and higher education institutions. The pattern points to a family foundation that supports community-serving organizations across several public-benefit fields while keeping a particular emphasis on California-based grantees.
Arts and cultural heritage are central in the Fred R Muhs Family Foundation’s recent grants. The foundation gave $35,000 to the Junior Center of Art Science in Oakland for general support, $15,000 to the Society of California Pioneers in San Francisco for general support, and $3,000 to the San Francisco Symphony for general support. Education also appears in the mix. Stanford University received $45,000 for general support, while the University of California Regents in Berkeley received $10,000 in both 2023 and 2024. U C Davis Foundation also appears twice, with $5,000 grants in 2023 and 2024. Beyond arts and education, the foundation supported food-related and community needs in Asheville, including $30,000 to Manna Food Bank and $30,000 to Beloved Asheville, both for general support. It also made a $10,000 grant to Eblen Charities in Beaufort, South Carolina.
The typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards show a mix of one larger outlier and many smaller general grants, suggesting a flexible but relatively steady check-writing pattern. Recipients do repeat across years: Stanford University, University of California Regents, U C Davis Foundation, Society of California Pioneers, San Francisco Symphony, American Red Cross, and Junior Center of Art Science each appear more than once. The foundation is a family foundation and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals.
$103K
$922K
$57K
$107K
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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A small portfolio of mid-sized, mostly one-time general operating grants rather than many small gifts or very large multi-year commitments; funding is concentrated in arts/culture and community service groups with flexible, unrestricted purposes.
Notable grantees: Stanford University, Junior Center of Art & Science, Manna Food Bank, River Arts District Artists, Society of California Pioneers
The Fred R Muhs Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 82% of its grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and California is also the top state by grant count. Bay Area recipients include Stanford in Stanford, Junior Center of Art Science in Oakland, Society of California Pioneers and San Francisco Symphony in San Francisco, and University of California Regents in Berkeley. Outside California, recent grants reached Asheville, North Carolina; Beaufort, South Carolina; and Brevard, North Carolina. All recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. organizations.
Recent grants show support for arts and cultural heritage organizations, higher education institutions, food security groups, and community-serving nonprofits. Examples include Stanford University, Junior Center of Art Science, Society of California Pioneers, Manna Food Bank, and Beloved Asheville.
Yes. Every recent grant listed is labeled general support, including awards such as $35,000 to Junior Center of Art Science, $30,000 to Manna Food Bank, and $45,000 to Stanford University.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution centers on smaller awards: $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile.
Yes. Recent grants went to recipients in Asheville, North Carolina; Beaufort, South Carolina; and Brevard, North Carolina, alongside a larger concentration of California-based grantees.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Stanford University, University of California Regents, U C Davis Foundation, Junior Center of Art Science, Society of California Pioneers, San Francisco Symphony, and American Red Cross.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manna Food Bank | Asheville, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | General |
| Beloved Asheville | Asheville, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | General |
| River Arts District Artists | Asheville, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | General |
| Brother Wolf Animal Rescue | Asheville, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | General |
| Eblen Charities | Beaufort, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | General |
| Brevard Music Center | Brevard, NC | $3,000 | 2025 | General |
| Junior Center of Art Science | Oakland, CA | $35,000 | 2024 | General |
| Society of California Pioneers | San Francisco, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | General |
| University of California Regents | Berkeley, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | General |
| U C Davis Foundation | Davis, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | General |
| Asheville Symphony Society | Asheville, NC | $5,000 | 2024 | General |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | General |
| San Francisco Symphony | San Francisco, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | General |
| Phillips Academy | Andover, MA | $3,000 | 2024 | General |
| American Red Cross | San Francisco, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | General |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | $45,000 | 2023 | General |
| Junior Center of Art Science | Oakland, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | General |
| University of California Regents | Berkeley, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | General |
| U C Davis Foundation | Davis, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | General |
| Phillips Academy | Andover, MA | $3,000 | 2023 | General |
| Society of California Pioneers | San Francisco, CA | $3,000 | 2023 | General |
| San Francisco Symphony | San Francisco, CA | $3,000 | 2023 | General |
| American Red Cross | San Francisco, CA | $2,500 | 2023 | General |
River Arts District Artists
$20,000General
Eblen Charities
$10,000General
General
Junior Center of Art Science
$35,000General
University of California Regents
$10,000General
Asheville Symphony Society
$5,000General
Stanford University
$5,000General
Stanford University
$45,000General
Junior Center of Art Science
$10,000General
University of California Regents
$10,000General
American Red Cross
$2,500General