The Masson-Shaffer Family Foundation concentrates its giving in Orange County, CA, with a clear emphasis on higher education and local community charity. The foundation makes multi-grant investments in a few repeat institutions (notably Chapman University and United Way of Orange County) and also supports regional cultural organizations like Bowers Museum. Their grants appear targeted to strengthen local college programs, community safety-net services, and civic/cultural capacity rather than broad national causes.
Concentrated, repeat funding: a small number of relatively large grants focused on a few local institutions, with multiple grants to the same grantees rather than many one-off gifts.
Masson-shaffer Family Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by repeated support for Chapman University in Orange County, including a $55,000 grant in 2024 and a $50,000 grant in 2025. That pattern places higher education at the center of the foundation’s charitable work, alongside community-serving institutions in the same region. The foundation also made a $50,500 grant to United Way of OC in 2024, showing that its local portfolio is not limited to campus-based giving. The grant list shows a compact set of recurring recipients rather than a wide, dispersed program. Chapman University appears multiple times across 2023, 2024, and 2025, while United Way of OC also recurs across those years. In the same period, the foundation supported Bowers Museum, Girls Inc, and several Laguna Beach organizations, indicating a mix of education, social services, and civic or cultural support. Its grantmaking is strongly regional, with most gifts landing in California and many directed to Orange County cities such as Orange, Irvine, Santa Ana, and Laguna Beach. The foundation’s pattern suggests direct charitable support to institutions that serve students, families, and local community needs.
Higher education is a visible part of the foundation’s work. Chapman University received $50,000 in 2023 for college education, then another $55,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025 for charitable support. That sequence points to repeated institutional support rather than a single isolated gift. Community services are another recurring theme. United Way of OC received $45,000 in 2023, $50,500 in 2024, and $41,000 in 2025 for charitable support, indicating sustained backing for local social-service work in Orange County. The foundation also supports cultural and youth-serving organizations. Bowers Museum received $10,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024, while Girls Inc received $16,000 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2025. Those grants show attention to both cultural capacity and programs for girls and young people.
Typical grant size is modest: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. The recent list also includes several larger commitments above that range, including gifts in the $30,000 to $55,000 band. The foundation gives to repeat recipients over multiple years. Chapman University, United Way of OC, Bowers Museum, Laguna Playhouse, Girls Inc, and Action in Africa each appear more than once in the recent grants list. The foundation is a family foundation, and it makes direct charitable grants rather than program-related investments.
$209K
$2.5M
$56K
$297K
Most grants fall between $2K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: Chapman University, United Way of Orange County, Bowers Museum
Grantmaking is concentrated in California, which accounts for 71% of grants. Orange County cities appear often, especially Orange, Irvine, Santa Ana, and Laguna Beach. The recipient list also includes a smaller set of out-of-state organizations, such as Action in Africa in Aspen, Go4Gold Skating Academy in Shakopee, Cardinal Hayes in Millbrook, and the National Park Foundation in Washington, DC. The distribution is US-only in the recent grants list.
Its recent grants center on higher education, local community services, and cultural or youth-serving organizations. Chapman University, United Way of OC, Bowers Museum, Girls Inc, and Laguna Playhouse all appear in the recent list, showing a local mix of education, social support, and civic or cultural funding.
Yes. Chapman University appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. United Way of OC also appears across those same years, and Bowers Museum, Laguna Playhouse, Girls Inc, and Action in Africa each received more than one grant in the recent list.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is centered on smaller gifts: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. Several recent grants are larger than that range, including awards in the $30,000 to $55,000 range.
California is the top state by grant count, and 71% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Orange County cities show up repeatedly, including Orange, Irvine, Santa Ana, and Laguna Beach.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman University | ORANGE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| United Way of OC | IRVINE, CA | $41,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Bowers Museum | SANTA ANA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Laguna Beach HS Water Polo | Laguna Beach, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Girls Inc | SANTA ANA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Action in Africa | ASPEN, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| National Park Foundation | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $9,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Orange County Sheriff's Advisory Co | Santa Ana, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Boys Girls Club | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $6,272 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Laguna Playhouse | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $5,462 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| City of Hope | Duarte, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Cardinal Hayes | MILLBROOK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Laguna Plein Air Painters Associati | Laguna Beach, CA | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Laguna Art Museum | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $1,200 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Hillcrest Academy | TEMECULA, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| American Heart Association | DALLAS, TX | $682 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Family Assistance Ministries | San Clemente, CA | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Chapman University | ORANGE, CA | $55,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| United Way of OC | IRVINE, CA | $50,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Girls Inc | SANTA ANA, CA | $16,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Laguna Playhouse | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $12,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Action in Africa | ASPEN, CO | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Bowers Museum | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Boys Girls Club | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $8,792 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Go4Gold Skating Academy | SHAKOPEE, MN | $8,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Laguna Beach Food Pantry | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $7,792 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| National Park Foundation | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $6,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Orange County Sherrifs | SANTA ANA, CA | $5,300 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Cardinal Hayes | MILLBROOK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| American Heart Association | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Hawaii Community Foundation | HONOLULU, HI | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Girl Scouts of Orange | IRVINE, CA | $1,912 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Laguna Art Museum | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $1,260 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Nature Conservancy | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,200 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| USA Water Polo | IRVINE, CA | $1,200 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Hillcrest Academy | TEMECULA, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Costa Mesa Historical Society | COSTA MESA, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Newport Beach Library | NEWPORT BEACH, CA | $400 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Council on Aging Southern Californi | IRVINE, CA | $250 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| Other | ALISO VIEJO, CA | $104 | 2024 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | ORANGE, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | COLLEGE EDUCATION |
| UNITED WAY OF OC | IRVINE, CA | $45,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | ORANGE, CA | $45,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $13,057 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF OC | IRVINE, CA | $11,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| LBHS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $10,500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $10,340 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| MISSION HOSPITAL | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
| BOWERS MUSEUM | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE SUPPORT |
United Way of OC
$41,000CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Laguna Beach HS Water Polo
$20,000CHARITABLE SUPPORT
CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Orange County Sheriff's Advisory Co
$7,500CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Boys Girls Club
$6,272CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Cardinal Hayes
$5,000CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Laguna Plein Air Painters Associati
$1,500CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Hillcrest Academy
$1,000CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Go4Gold Skating Academy
$8,000CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Laguna Beach Food Pantry
$7,792CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Orange County Sherrifs
$5,300CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Cardinal Hayes
$5,000CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Girl Scouts of Orange
$1,912CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Hillcrest Academy
$1,000CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Costa Mesa Historical Society
$1,000CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Newport Beach Library
$400CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Council on Aging Southern Californi
$250CHARITABLE SUPPORT
Other
$104CHARITABLE SUPPORT
LBHS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,500CHARITABLE SUPPORT
PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL
$10,340CHARITABLE SUPPORT