The John Jewett & Helen Chandler Garland Foundation makes a small number of very large, targeted grants focused on experiential/outdoor leadership, local cultural heritage, and private K–12 education capital projects. Their giving favors capital and program support for established institutions—particularly well‑known regional organizations—rather than many small awards. They show a preference for transformational, one‑time investments (facility moves, major infrastructure, general endowment or program support).
A defining feature of the John Jewett & Helen Chandler Garland Fou Ndation is its pattern of large, targeted grants for capital projects and institution-building. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to the National Outdoor Leadership School for general support, showing that outdoor leadership is a major part of its portfolio. It also made repeated six-figure commitments to the Huntington Library for the Japanese House Relocation and to Polytechnic School for the Gym Air Conditioning and Solar Project, both at $500,000 in the recent record. Its giving reaches beyond one sector, but the common thread is support for established organizations with concrete projects: historic preservation, school facilities, conservation, health care, and youth-serving institutions. The foundation’s recent grants also include repeated support for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, as well as gifts to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, National Parks Conservation Association, and the Nature Conservancy. That mix suggests a donor that favors focused investments in specific programs, facilities, or campaigns rather than many small discretionary awards.
Outdoor leadership and conservation education appear together in the recent record. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to the National Outdoor Leadership School for general support, then backed California conservation work through $175,000 to National Parks Conservation Association for the Securing the Future of Vital Landscapes in California National Parks and Beyond Campaign. It also supports cultural heritage and historic preservation. The Huntington Library received $500,000 for Japanese House Relocation, and the Arboretum Foundation was granted $100,000 for the Visitor Plaza Project. In education, the foundation funded private school facilities projects with $500,000 to Polytechnic School for the Gym Air Conditioning and Solar Project and $100,000 to Mayfield Senior School for its Transformation Campaign. Health and youth services also show up in the record, including $235,778 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for Research and Fellow and $100,000 to Jay Nolan Community Services for Summer Camp and Services for Transition Age Youth.
$6.5M
$11.4M
$7.2M
$6.7M
Most grants fall between $15K and $50K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Highly concentrated: very few grants but large dollar amounts, with repeat support of established regional institutions; favors capital projects and general/transformational support over many small grants.
Notable grantees: National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, Polytechnic School
Typical grant size clusters around a median of $30,000, with the 25th percentile at $15,000 and the 75th percentile at $50,000. The recent record also shows a small number of much larger awards, including multiple $500,000 grants and a $1,000,000 grant. Several recipients appear across multiple years, which points to recurring support rather than purely one-time giving. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and funds individuals. Its recent grantmaking is dominated by grant support rather than program-related investments.
The foundation gives locally, and 85% of its grants go to recipients in California. Recent California recipients include Pasadena, San Marino, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Carson, Mission Hills, Arcadia, and San Francisco. Outside California, the record includes Lander, Wyoming; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Sweet Briar, Virginia; and Washington, DC. All recorded grants in the data went to U.S. recipients.
The recent record emphasizes established institutions with defined projects: outdoor education, conservation, cultural heritage, private K–12 school facilities, health care, and youth-serving organizations. Examples include a $1,000,000 general grant to National Outdoor Leadership School, $500,000 to The Huntington for Japanese House Relocation, and $500,000 to Polytechnic School for a gym air conditioning and solar project.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. The Huntington Library received $500,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for Japanese House Relocation, Polytechnic School received $500,000 in 2024 and 2025 for the Gym Air Conditioning and Solar Project, and the Nature Conservancy received three consecutive grants for Bixby Ranch from 2023 through 2025.
The stated distribution centers on $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows a handful of much larger commitments, including $250,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000 awards.
California is the main recipient state, with 85% of grants going to recipients in CA. The city list in the recent record is concentrated in Pasadena, San Marino, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Carson, Mission Hills, Arcadia, and San Francisco.
Yes. The foundation is identified as funding individuals, alongside organizational grants in areas such as education, health care, conservation, and youth services.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polytechnic School | Pasadena, CA | $500,000 | 2026 | Gym Air Conditioning and Solar Project |
| National Outdoor Leadership School | Lander, WY | $500,000 | 2026 | Scholarship Endowment |
| Arboretum Foundation | Arcadia, CA | $475,000 | 2026 | Restoration of Blanche Hinman Garland Orchid House |
| Huntington Library | San Marino, CA | $400,000 | 2026 | America 250 Garden |
| United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation | Colorado Springs, CO | $250,000 | 2026 | General |
| Richmond SPCA | Richmond, VA | $175,000 | 2026 | Outdoor Dog Recreation Area |
| National Parks Conservation Association | Washington, DC | $175,000 | 2026 | Securing the Future of Vital Landscapes in California National Parks and Beyond Campaign |
| Natural History Museum | Los Angeles, CA | $166,667 | 2026 | Channel Islands Initiative |
| Los Angeles Regional Foodbank | Los Angeles, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | General |
| Los Angeles Philharmonic Association | Los Angeles, CA | $125,000 | 2026 | Youth Program |
| Frostig Center | Pasadena, CA | $125,000 | 2026 | Westside Campus |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $115,230 | 2026 | Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship Program |
| Jay Nolan Community Services | Mission Hills, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Summer Camp and Services for Transition Age Youth |
| Hillsides | Pasadena, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Budget for Position of a Behavioral Healthcare Provider |
| Salvation Army - California South Division | Carson, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Red Shield Center |
| Park Century School | Culver City, CA | $85,000 | 2026 | Scholarships |
| Westside Food Bank | Santa Monica, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | General |
| Richmond SPCA | Richmond, VA | $70,000 | 2026 | General |
| Villa Esperanza Services | Pasadena, CA | $70,000 | 2026 | Build Staff Team, Invest in Teachers and Training, Provide Smartboards for Existing Classrooms |
| Partnership for Success | Pasadena, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | Scholarships |
| Feed More - Central Virginia Foodbank | Richmond, VA | $60,000 | 2026 | General |
| Feed More | Richmond, VA | $60,000 | 2026 | Meals on Wheels of Central Virginia |
| Polytechnic School | Pasadena, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | Minority Scholarships |
| New Roads School | Santa Monica, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | Minority Scholarships |
| Our Saviour Center | El Monte, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | General |
| Door of Hope | Pasadena, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | General |
| Scouting America WLACC | Van Nuys, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Scoutreach |
| Angel City Sports | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Angel City Games |
| Greater LA Scouting | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | General |
| Huntington Medical Research Institute | Pasadena, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | General |
| Diggers Garden Club | Pasadena, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | New Old Mill Project |
| National Parks Conservation Association | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | Imagine America Without Campaign |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Marshall School Scholarships |
| People Concern | Santa Monica, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | General |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Scholarships for Dodge School First Generation Students |
| National Outdoor Leadership School | Lander, WY | $50,000 | 2026 | General |
| National Parks Conservation Association | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | Parks in Peril |
| Guide Dogs for the Blind | San Rafael, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | General |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | NICCU |
| Mayfield Senior School | Pasadena, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | Minority Scholarships |
| Global Mobility | Burbank, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | General |
| KPCC | Pasadena, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | General |
| Pasadena Humane | Pasadena, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | General |
| Frostig Center | Pasadena, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | General |
| National Outdoor Leadership School | Lander, WY | $40,000 | 2026 | Conduct Campaign Feasibility/Soundings Study and Provide Campaign Counsel |
| Save the Children | Fairfield, CT | $40,000 | 2026 | Support Children in Lake Los Angeles |
| LA Opera | Los Angeles, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | Education and Community Programs |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | REAL Program |
| St Joseph Center | Venice, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | Bread and Roses Cafe |
| Greater LA Scouting | Los Angeles, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | 15000 General and 25000 Scoutreach |
National Outdoor Leadership School
$500,000Scholarship Endowment
Arboretum Foundation
$475,000Restoration of Blanche Hinman Garland Orchid House
Huntington Library
$400,000America 250 Garden
Richmond SPCA
Outdoor Dog Recreation Area
Securing the Future of Vital Landscapes in California National Parks and Beyond Campaign
Natural History Museum
$166,667Channel Islands Initiative
Frostig Center
$125,000Westside Campus
Jay Nolan Community Services
$100,000Summer Camp and Services for Transition Age Youth
Salvation Army - California South Division
$100,000Red Shield Center
Westside Food Bank
$75,000General
Richmond SPCA
$70,000General
Build Staff Team, Invest in Teachers and Training, Provide Smartboards for Existing Classrooms
Partnership for Success
$60,000Scholarships
Feed More
$60,000Meals on Wheels of Central Virginia
Our Saviour Center
$60,000General
Scouting America WLACC
$50,000Scoutreach
Angel City Sports
$50,000Angel City Games
Greater LA Scouting
$50,000General
Diggers Garden Club
$50,000New Old Mill Project
People Concern
$50,000General
National Outdoor Leadership School
$50,000General
Mayfield Senior School
$40,000Minority Scholarships
Global Mobility
$40,000General
KPCC
$40,000General
Pasadena Humane
$40,000General
Frostig Center
$40,000General
National Outdoor Leadership School
$40,000Conduct Campaign Feasibility/Soundings Study and Provide Campaign Counsel
Save the Children
$40,000Support Children in Lake Los Angeles
LA Opera
$40,000Education and Community Programs
Santa Clara University
$40,000REAL Program
Greater LA Scouting
$40,00015000 General and 25000 Scoutreach