The J&S Song Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on higher education and faith-based scholarship programs, frequently supporting theological training and university-level scholarships. Grants are often sizable and directed to a small set of recurring beneficiaries, with an ancillary interest in Korean-American community strengthening and community foundations that serve that population. The foundation favors institutional education partners over single-project or grassroots operating grants.
Concentrated giving: few, relatively large grants totaling most of annual giving; repeated multi-year support to the same institutions (United Board, Haven University); primary emphasis on institutional scholarship and program support rather than many small or one-off grants.
J&s Song Foundation’s largest recent grant went to California Graduate School of Theology for a scholarship program, pointing to a grantmaker that consistently backs higher education and theological training. The foundation’s giving is centered on institution-based support rather than broad operating grants, with scholarship funds and education programs appearing repeatedly in the recent record. That pattern includes multi-year support for Haven University, which received scholarship grants in both 2024 and 2025, and United Board, which received education-program grants in consecutive years as well. Beyond higher education, the foundation has also supported Korean-American community philanthropy through a community foundation intermediary. The mix suggests a funder that favors structured educational channels, often through institutions serving students and faith-based learning communities. Its grants are concentrated in California and other U.S. recipients, aligning with a regional scope and a relatively small set of recurring beneficiaries.
In scholarship support, the foundation backed Haven University with $100,000 in 2024 and another $100,000 in 2025, both for scholarship programs. It also awarded $10,000 to Happy Village in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for scholarship programming, showing sustained support for student aid. In theological education, California Graduate School of Theology received $200,000 in 2023 for a scholarship program. For education-program funding outside a single campus, United Board received $100,000 in 2023, $100,000 in 2024, and $100,750 in 2025. The foundation also gave $50,000 to Korean American Foundation for community foundation work tied to Korean-American philanthropy.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $100,000, with the 25th percentile at $20,000 and the 75th percentile also at $100,000. That distribution points to a pattern of several substantial awards, plus smaller scholarships at the lower end. The recent record also shows repeat recipients across multiple years: Haven University, United Board, and Happy Village all received grants in more than one year. The foundation appears to make direct grants and individual-level scholarship awards, and it also funds through a community foundation intermediary. It is not described as making program-related investments.
$781K
$6.2M
$1.5M
$256K
Most grants fall between $20K and $100K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 70% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Notable grantees: United Board, California Graduate School of Theology, Haven University, Korean American Foundation
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States in the recent sample, with California accounting for 70% of grants. Los Angeles appears in the recipient list through Korean American Foundation and Happy Village, while Garden Grove appears through California Graduate School of Theology and Haven University. New York is represented by United Board. The giving pattern is regional rather than national, with most awards landing in California.
The foundation supports scholarship programs, education programs, theological training, and Korean-American community philanthropy. Recent grants went to California Graduate School of Theology for a scholarship program, United Board for an education program, and Korean American Foundation for community foundation work.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years: Haven University received scholarship grants in 2024 and 2025, United Board received education-program grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Happy Village received scholarship grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The typical grant size is $100,000 at the median, with the 25th percentile at $20,000 and the 75th percentile also at $100,000. That indicates many grants are at or near the $100,000 level, alongside some smaller awards.
Its grants are regional, and California is the top state by grant count, with 70% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. In the recent grants list, California recipients include organizations in Los Angeles and Garden Grove.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED BOARD | NEW YORK, NY | $100,750 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| HAVEN UNIVERSITY | GARDEN GROVE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| HAPPY VILLAGE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| HAVEN UNIVERSITY | GARDEN GROVE, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| UNITED BOARD | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| KOREAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY FOUNDATION |
| HAPPY VILLAGE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| CALIFORNIA GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY | GARDEN GROVE, CA | $200,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| UNITED BOARD | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| HAPPY VILLAGE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
UNITED BOARD
$100,750EDUCATION PROGRAM
HAVEN UNIVERSITY
$100,000SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
HAPPY VILLAGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
HAVEN UNIVERSITY
$100,000SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
UNITED BOARD
$100,000EDUCATION PROGRAM
KOREAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$50,000COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
HAPPY VILLAGE
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
CALIFORNIA GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
$200,000SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
UNITED BOARD
$100,000EDUCATION PROGRAM
HAPPY VILLAGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM