The Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation concentrates philanthropic support in Southern California, primarily funding higher-education institutions and performing arts organizations with program-level sponsorships. Grants are sizable and targeted—often repeated to the same universities—and occasionally extend to major medical research charities. Their giving reflects a preference for cultural enrichment and academic program support within the Orange County/Greater LA region.
Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants with repeat funding to core grantees; most support is for program sponsorships rather than general operating funds. Geographic focus on Orange County / Greater Los Angeles area institutions.
Among the Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation’s recent grants, program sponsorships at Chapman University stand out, with awards of $87,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024. That pattern points to a funder that uses targeted, repeat support for specific institutional programs rather than broad unrestricted giving. The foundation’s recent activity centers on Southern California colleges, performing arts groups, and select education-focused charities, with additional support for medical research and community service organizations. Higher education appears alongside the arts in the foundation’s portfolio. Claremont Graduate University received $68,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024, while Pacific Symphony Orchestra was supported in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation also made a $50,000 program sponsorship to City of Hope in 2024, showing that its grantmaking extends beyond cultural and academic institutions when a program fit aligns. Most gifts in the recent list are framed as sponsorships of programs, which suggests the foundation favors defined activities, events, or operating programs over open-ended support.
Higher education is a central theme. Chapman University received $87,000 in 2023 for sponsorship of program, and Claremont Graduate University received $68,000 in 2023 for the same purpose. Both institutions appear again in 2024 with $30,000 grants each, which indicates continued support for university-level programming. The arts are another consistent area. Pacific Symphony Orchestra received $35,500 in 2023 and $35,000 in 2024 for program sponsorship, while Segerstrom Center for the Arts received $22,500 in 2023 and $28,500 in 2024. The foundation also backed Irvine Barclay Theatre Operating Company with $10,000 in 2023 and Irvine Barclay Theatre with $20,000 in 2024. Education and youth-serving organizations also appear, including Boys Hope Girls Hope, which received $21,300 in 2023 and $12,700 in 2024. These grants show the foundation’s interest in structured programs tied to schools, arts institutions, and youth development.
Grant sizes skew toward mid-sized sponsorships, with a p25 of $1,212, a median of $6,250, and a p75 of $24,712. The recent list shows a mix of one-off gifts and repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, especially in higher education and the performing arts. The foundation gives as a private foundation and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals. The source data does not show an unsolicited application process; the grants are presented as program sponsorships.
$279K
$8.5M
$543K
$548K
Most grants fall between $1K and $25K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$25K
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.
Notable grantees: Chapman University, Claremont Graduate University, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, City of Hope
The foundation’s grantmaking is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 34 recent grants to U.S. recipients. California dominates the recipient geography, accounting for 76% of grants, and many awards land in Orange County and nearby cities such as Irvine, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Orange, and San Juan Capistrano. Outside California, the recent list includes grants to Harlingen, Texas, plus single grants to Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, and Decatur, Georgia. The top state by grant count is Illinois, even though most giving goes to California recipients.
The recent grants are concentrated in higher education and the performing arts. Chapman University and Claremont Graduate University each received multiple program sponsorships, while Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and Irvine Barclay Theatre also appear in the recent list. Education-focused youth groups and select medical or civic organizations appear as smaller parts of the portfolio.
Most recent awards are labeled sponsorship of program. That includes university programs, orchestra and theater sponsorships, and event-related support such as a gala. The pattern suggests restricted, purpose-specific funding rather than unrestricted general support.
Yes. Chapman University, Claremont Graduate University, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, World Affairs Council, Boys Hope Girls Hope, and Irvine Barclay Theatre-related organizations all received more than one recent grant. The repeated awards appear across 2023 and 2024.
The typical recent grant is modest to mid-sized: the p25 is $1,212, the median is $6,250, and the p75 is $24,712. At the high end of the recent list are larger sponsorships such as $87,000 to Chapman University and $68,000 to Claremont Graduate University.
California recipients receive 76% of the foundation’s grants. Recent California grantees are clustered in Orange County and nearby cities, including Irvine, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Orange, and San Juan Capistrano. The recent list also includes recipients in Texas, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, and Georgia.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF HOPE | IRVINE, CA | $55,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | IRVINE, CA | $53,194 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| PACIFIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | IRVINE, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | COSTA MESA, CA | $30,500 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY | CLAREMONT, CA | $28,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| BARCLAY THEATER | IRVINE, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE | IRVINE, CA | $12,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL | IRVINE, CA | $11,950 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY | HARLINGEN, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| ORANGE HIGH JRROTC | IRVINE, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| ORANGEWOOD FOUNDATION | SANTA ANA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| LANDMARK COLLEGE | PUTNEY, VT | $5,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL ORANGE | ORANGE, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| OC FORUM | ORANGE, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| PACIFIC CHORALE | COSTA MESA, CA | $500 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CENTER FOR LAW AND CULTURE | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $250 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CITY OF HOPE | IRVINE, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| PACIFIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | IRVINE, CA | $35,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | IRVINE, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY | CLAREMONT, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | COSTA MESA, CA | $28,500 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL | IRVINE, CA | $23,850 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| BARCLAY THEATER | IRVINE, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY | HARLINGEN, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE | IRVINE, CA | $12,700 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| ORANGE HIGH JRROTC | IRVINE, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| SAMUELI ACADEMY GALA | SANTA ANA, CA | $4,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| MEDSHARE | DECATUR, GA | $2,500 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| OC FORUM | ORANGE, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| ST MARGARETS EPISCOPAL SCHOOL | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| FRIENDS OF ASOR ISRAEL | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $500 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | ORANGE, CA | $87,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY | CLAREMONT, CA | $68,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| PACIFIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (PSO) | SANTA ANA, CA | $35,500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY | HARLINGEN, TX | $25,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS (SCFA) | COSTA MESA, CA | $22,500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| BOYS HOPEGIRLS HOPE OF CALIFORNIA | COSTA MESA, CA | $21,300 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE OPERATING COMPANY | IRVINE, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| SHEA CENTER | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $7,500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| BEYOND BLINDNESS | SANTA ANA, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| INSTITUTE FOR WOMENS POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| POLARIS PROJECT | PITTSBURGH, PA | $2,500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| NATIONAL WOMENS LAW CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL | IRVINE, CA | $1,850 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | SANTA ANA, CA | $1,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| OC FORUM | IRVINE, CA | $1,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| WIKIPEDIA FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FULLERTON | FULLERTON, CA | $500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM |
CITY OF HOPE
$55,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
PACIFIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$40,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$30,500SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY
$28,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
BARCLAY THEATER
$20,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
$11,950SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
ORANGE HIGH JRROTC
$5,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
CHILDRENS HOSPITAL ORANGE
$1,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
OC FORUM
$1,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
CENTER FOR LAW AND CULTURE
$250SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY
$30,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$28,500SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
$23,850SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
BARCLAY THEATER
$20,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
ORANGE HIGH JRROTC
$5,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
SAMUELI ACADEMY GALA
$4,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
OC FORUM
$1,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
FRIENDS OF ASOR ISRAEL
$500SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY
$68,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
PACIFIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (PSO)
$35,500SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS (SCFA)
$22,500SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
BOYS HOPEGIRLS HOPE OF CALIFORNIA
$21,300SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE OPERATING COMPANY
$10,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
POLARIS PROJECT
$2,500SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
$1,850SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
OC FORUM
$1,000SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
WIKIPEDIA FOUNDATION
$500SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FULLERTON
$500SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM