The HobsonLucas Family Foundation concentrates large, transformational gifts to elite higher-education institutions and a small set of national civic and cultural organizations. Their funding emphasizes campus capital and program infrastructure—especially film/media production facilities—and also includes high-profile civic leadership and racial-justice philanthropy. Grants are few and very large, often made repeatedly to the same institutions or routed through donor-advised vehicles.
Hobsonlucas Family Foundation’s recent giving is marked by repeated multimillion-dollar support for Princeton University’s residential college design and construction, including three $13 million payments across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern sits alongside other large commitments to higher education infrastructure, film and media production, and a small set of civic and civil-rights organizations. The foundation’s grants are few relative to its scale, but they are often structured as sizable multi-payment commitments or recurring support for the same institutions. University of Southern California appears as another recurring recipient, with grants for discretionary support endowment and general use investment portfolio support. New York University is also a major beneficiary, with funding tied to the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, the Department of Cinema Studies, and a scholarship fund. Beyond campuses, the foundation has supported organizations such as the Barack Obama Foundation, Ldf Legal Defense Fund, and The Film Foundation, showing a portfolio that combines elite higher education, cultural infrastructure, and selected public-interest giving.
Higher-education infrastructure is a major theme. Princeton University received $13 million in 2024 for design and construction of a residential college, and the same purpose appeared in a $13 million grant in 2023. The foundation also gave $5 million to the University of Southern California for USC discretionary support endowment, and another $5 million for support of the general use investment portfolio. Film and media education is another clear area. New York University received $5 million in 2024 and $5 million in 2023 for the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, plus $3.35 million in both 2024 and 2023 for the Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies. The foundation also supported The Film Foundation with $1 million in 2024. Its civic and legal giving includes $4.8 million to the Barack Obama Foundation and $4 million to Ldf Legal Defense Fund in 2024, along with $1 million grants to Aclu Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile, but recent filings also show a much larger upper tier of multimillion-dollar commitments. Its giving appears to be relationship-based and recurring: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Princeton University, New York University, the ACLU Foundation, and the Academy Foundation. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and it funds individuals as well as organizations. Recent grant descriptions also show multi-part payments, including entries labeled as payment installments rather than one-time awards.
$31.1M
$1.2B
$73.5M
$36.5M
Most grants fall between $1K and $25K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$25K
GEORGE W LUCAS JR
PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
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Highly concentrated giving: a small number of very large grants (many in the multi‑million to tens of millions), repeated support to select university beneficiaries and a few national civic organizations; occasional use of donor-advised/charitable fund vehicles.
Notable grantees: Trustees of Princeton University, New York University (Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center), University of Southern California, Barack Obama Foundation, LDF Legal Defense Fund
Grantmaking is national, but California receives the largest share of recipients, at 50% of grants. Recent California recipients include Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Berkeley, and San Rafael. Outside California, the foundation has made substantial grants to New York City institutions and to Princeton in New Jersey. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 1,029 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. countries listed.
The most visible pattern is support for higher-education institutions and related infrastructure, especially residential college construction, film and media production centers, cinema studies, and scholarship support. The recent grants list also includes civic organizations, civil-rights legal advocacy, and film/cultural institutions.
Yes. Princeton University appears with $13 million grants in 2023 and 2024, New York University appears with multiple grants across 2023 to 2025, and the ACLU Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Some grants are also structured as installment payments.
The typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent giving also includes much larger multimillion-dollar commitments, so the distribution is wide.
California is the top state by grant count, accounting for 50% of grants. Recent California recipients include organizations in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Berkeley, and San Rafael.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates that it funds individuals, alongside universities, foundations, and other nonprofit organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $13,000,000 | 2025 | 3/5 GRANT PAYMENT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000,000 | 2025 | GRANT PAYMENT 3/5 |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $8,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $7,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIONAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION 4 OF 5 PMT |
| NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIONAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GRANT DONATION |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | IMMIGRANTS RIGHT PROJECTS |
| APOLLO THEATER FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION | CENTER CITY, MN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE FILM FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $650,000 | 2025 | GRANT DONATION |
| THE FILM FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $621,882 | 2025 | FRIENDS OF THE CINETECA DI BOLOGNA |
| THE FAITH COMMUNITY OF SAINT SABINA | CHICAGO, IL | $539,007 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE ONE CAMPAIGN | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | COSTUME INSTITUTE EXHIBITION: BLACK DANDY: ELEMENTS OF STYLE |
| AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE FILM FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $374,172 | 2025 | REGENTS UNIVERSITY OF CA LOS ANGELES |
| THE FILM FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | BUSTER KEATON: A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW |
| THE FILM FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $256,946 | 2025 | FRIENDS OF THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE |
| COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS | RALEIGH, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| ARIEL EDUCATION INITIATIVE | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| WORLD TRADE CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | FLIGHT INTO EGYPT EXHIBITION |
| NORTHWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION | NEW HYDE PARK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGY FUND |
| THE CHICAGO PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE HAMLIN SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS | CHICAGO, IL | $210,734 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE FILM FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | NATIONAL FILM PRESERVATION FOUNDATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | 30TH ANNIVERSARY APPEAL CODE: SFIAFH30 |
| JOURNY TO LEAD | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| CHAPEL & YORK US FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE FILM FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $147,000 | 2025 | MUSEUM OF MODERN ART |
| TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| ROBERT F KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| COLLEGE TRACK | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| GIRLS WHO CODE | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| SMITHSONIAN - NMAAHC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| SMITHSONIAN - NMAAHC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE |
| START EARLY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIF SF | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | SYLVIA M BURWELL CHANGEMAKERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
| LURIE'S CHILDREN FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL DONATION |
TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$13,000,0003/5 GRANT PAYMENT
SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND
$8,500,000GENERAL DONATION
SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND
$7,000,000GENERAL DONATION
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIONAL FUND
$2,000,000GENERAL DONATION 4 OF 5 PMT
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIONAL FUND
$2,000,000GRANT DONATION
ACLU FOUNDATION
$1,000,000IMMIGRANTS RIGHT PROJECTS
ACLU FOUNDATION
$1,000,000GENERAL DONATION
THE FILM FOUNDATION
$650,000GRANT DONATION
THE FILM FOUNDATION
$621,882FRIENDS OF THE CINETECA DI BOLOGNA
THE FAITH COMMUNITY OF SAINT SABINA
$539,007GENERAL DONATION
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$500,000COSTUME INSTITUTE EXHIBITION: BLACK DANDY: ELEMENTS OF STYLE
THE FILM FOUNDATION
$374,172REGENTS UNIVERSITY OF CA LOS ANGELES
THE FILM FOUNDATION
$350,000BUSTER KEATON: A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW
THE FILM FOUNDATION
$256,946FRIENDS OF THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE
COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS
$250,000GENERAL DONATION
WORLD TRADE CENTER
$250,000GENERAL DONATION
THE FILM FOUNDATION
$200,000NATIONAL FILM PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$150,00030TH ANNIVERSARY APPEAL CODE: SFIAFH30
THE FILM FOUNDATION
$147,000MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$100,000GENERAL DONATION
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA INC
$100,000GENERAL DONATION
CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND
$100,000GENERAL DONATION
ROBERT F KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS
$100,000GENERAL DONATION
SMITHSONIAN - NMAAHC
$50,000GENERAL DONATION
UNIVERSITY OF CALIF SF
$50,000GENERAL DONATION