The Mary Gard Jameson Foundation focuses heavily on marine and coastal conservation, funding both science-driven NGOs and university research programs that protect oceans, reduce marine plastics, and support coastal stewardship. Grants are frequently sizable and targeted to specific projects or campaigns and often recur to the same organizations, suggesting multi-year or follow-on support. While Pasadena-based, the foundation funds both local/regional California institutions and international marine conservation efforts.
Relatively concentrated giving with several large grants ($35k–$200k), recurring support to a handful of core grantees, and a mix of nonprofit and university recipients focused on project-specific or program support rather than broad general operating grants.
Mary Gard Jameson Foundation’s recent giving is anchored in marine and coastal conservation, with several general-support grants at the six-figure and mid-five-figure level to organizations working on ocean protection, stewardship, and marine research. The largest recent awards went to Global Conservation and the UC San Diego Foundation, each at $150,000 in 2025, showing a mix of NGO and university support within the same field. The foundation also backed Onereef Worldwide Stewardship with $125,000 and Wildcoast with $80,000, both consistent with a conservation portfolio centered on coastal ecosystems and ocean-related programs. General support appears across the grant list rather than tightly restricted project-only funding, and the presence of repeat recipients suggests follow-on relationships rather than isolated gifts. University-based marine science is part of that pattern as well, with the University of Southern California and UC San Diego Foundation appearing among the recent awards. The foundation’s grants are concentrated in California and align with organizations tied to ocean conservation, marine debris reduction, and coastal stewardship.
Marine and coastal ecosystem protection is a clear throughline. In 2025, Mary Gard Jameson Foundation gave $80,000 in general support to Wildcoast and $25,000 to Monterey Bay Aquarium, both tied to coastal and ocean work. Ocean plastic pollution and marine debris research also appear in the portfolio: Five Gyres Institute received $35,000 in 2025 for general support. Academic marine science is another supported area, with $150,000 to UC San Diego Foundation and $50,000 to University of Southern California, both listed as general support. The foundation also funds conservation NGOs doing stewardship work, including $125,000 to Onereef Worldwide Stewardship and $50,000 to Wild Aid, indicating support for organizations engaged in marine conservation and related campaign or program efforts.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $26,250, median grant size is $45,000, and p75 is $48,750. The recent list also shows larger general-support awards, including $150,000, $125,000, and $80,000 grants. Recipients reappear across years, including UC San Diego Foundation, Global Conservation, Legacy Works Group, Wildcoast, Onereef Worldwide Stewardship, and Blue Latitudes Foundation, which points to recurring support rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is structured as a private foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grants shown are all general support.
$765K
$4.6M
$3.1M
$830K
Most grants fall between $26K and $49K, with a median of $45K.
25th Percentile
$26K
Median
$45K
75th Percentile
$49K
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Notable grantees: Global Conservation, OneReef Worldwide Stewardship, WILDCOAST, UC San Diego Foundation, Five Gyres Institute
Grantmaking is fully concentrated in the United States, with 16 of 16 recent grants going to U.S. recipients. California dominates the recipient map, and the list includes organizations in San Francisco, La Jolla, Santa Cruz, Imperial Beach, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Monterey, and Portola Valley. La Jolla appears multiple times through UC San Diego Foundation and Blue Latitudes Foundation, while San Francisco shows up through Global Conservation and Wild Aid. The recent grants reflect a California-centered conservation network rather than a broad multi-state footprint.
The recent grants point to marine and coastal conservation, ocean plastic pollution reduction, marine science research, and conservation NGO support. Examples include general support for Wildcoast, Five Gyres Institute, Monterey Bay Aquarium, UC San Diego Foundation, and University of Southern California.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including UC San Diego Foundation, Global Conservation, Legacy Works Group, Wildcoast, Onereef Worldwide Stewardship, and Blue Latitudes Foundation. That pattern suggests continuing relationships rather than isolated one-off grants.
The distribution centers in the mid-five figures: p25 is $26,250, median grant size is $45,000, and p75 is $48,750. The recent list also includes larger awards such as $150,000 and $125,000.
The recent grants are entirely U.S.-based, with 16 grants to U.S. recipients. California is the foundation’s primary giving state, and recipient cities include San Francisco, La Jolla, Santa Cruz, Imperial Beach, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Monterey, and Portola Valley.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLOBAL CONSERVATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ONEREEF WORLDWIDE STEWARDSHIP | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILDCOAST | IMPERIAL BEACH, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEGACY WORKS GROUP | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILD AID | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIVE GYRES INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM | MONTEREY, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BLUE LATITUDES FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL CONSERVATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $80,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEGACY WORKS GROUP | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILDCOAST | IMPERIAL BEACH, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL CONSERVATION | PORTOLA VALLEY, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEGACY WORKS GROUP | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $45,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILDCOAST | IMPERIAL BEACH, CA | $45,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ONEREEF WORLDWIDE STEWARDSHIP | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BLUE LATITUDES FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BLUE LATITUDES FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ONEREEF WORLDWIDE STEWARDSHIP | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
LEGACY WORKS GROUP
$80,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
WILD AID
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FIVE GYRES INSTITUTE
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BLUE LATITUDES FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEGACY WORKS GROUP
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEGACY WORKS GROUP
$45,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BLUE LATITUDES FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BLUE LATITUDES FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT