The Segerstrom Foundation is a concentrated arts funder based in Costa Mesa, CA, that prioritizes sustaining major performing and visual arts institutions in Orange County and the surrounding region. They favor multi-year and repeat support for flagship organizations—particularly theater, symphony, and the Segerstrom Center itself—while also funding arts education and exhibition programming. Grants often cover programmatic series, touring/artistic partnerships, capital or capacity needs (marketing/website), and targeted arts-in-schools initiatives.
The Segerstrom Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by repeated support for arts organizations serving Orange County audiences, with large grants recurring across theater, symphony, museum, and arts-center programming. The foundation has backed South Coast Repertory three years in a row for its Theatre for Young Audiences series, including a $200,000 grant in 2025 and $100,000 grants in 2024 and 2023. It has also made multi-year support a pattern with Pacific Symphony, including $140,000 in 2024, $100,000 in 2023, and $100,000 in 2025 for the Heartstrings program or programming. Those grants sit alongside funding for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Orange County Museum of Art, Philharmonic Society, and Pacific Chorale, showing a portfolio built around institutions rather than one-off projects. The foundation also supports arts education and youth-facing work, including school-based and audience-development efforts. A smaller but still visible portion of its grantmaking reaches children’s programming and educational partnerships, indicating that the foundation’s arts focus extends beyond performances into access and learning.
A major thread in the foundation’s grantmaking is theater for young audiences. South Coast Repertory received $200,000 in 2025 for the 2024 Theater for Young Audiences series, after earlier support of $100,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2023 for the same series. Music is another consistent area: Pacific Symphony received $140,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in both 2023 and 2025 for the Heartstrings program or programming. Visual arts also appear in the portfolio. Orange County Museum of Art received $100,000 in 2024 for the Alice Neel exhibit and $50,000 in 2025 for education programs. Arts education shows up through Turnaround Arts California and Turnaround Arts, including support for arts education and school-based programming at Sierra Prep and Willard.
Typical grants cluster around the middle of the foundation’s range, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $35,000, and a p75 of $100,000. The pattern leans toward repeat support rather than isolated awards: South Coast Repertory, Pacific Symphony, Orange County Museum of Art, Philharmonic Society, and Turnaround Arts each appear in multiple years. The foundation operates as a grantmaker rather than an individual-giving funder and does not make program-related investments. The recent record is overwhelmingly program-focused, with support for series, seasons, exhibits, education, and organizational capacity.
$743K
$14.9M
$975K
$809K
Most grants fall between $15K and $100K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Concentrated, relatively large grants focused on a small set of repeat flagship grantees in the Orange County arts ecosystem; mixes program support (season/series/exhibitions) with occasional capacity/capital-related gifts. Few small or one-off outside the core arts cluster.
Notable grantees: South Coast Repertory, Pacific Symphony, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Orange County Museum of Art, Philharmonic Society
Grantmaking is entirely in California, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Orange County institutions dominate, especially Costa Mesa and Irvine, with additional grants in Laguna Beach, Santa Ana, Corona del Mar, and San Juan Capistrano. Los Angeles-based recipients also appear, including Turnaround Arts California and Turnaround Arts. The geographic pattern is local rather than national or international.
Recent grants show a focus on arts institutions and arts education groups, including theater, symphony, museum, chorale, and arts-center partners. The foundation also funds school-based arts programming and children’s arts initiatives.
Yes. All recent grants in the data went to recipients in California, and California accounts for 100% of grants listed in the recipient country distribution as well.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: p25 is $15,000, median grant size is $35,000, and p75 is $100,000.
Yes. South Coast Repertory, Pacific Symphony, Orange County Museum of Art, Philharmonic Society, and Turnaround Arts each appear in multiple years, indicating recurring support rather than one-time grants.
Recent program areas include the Theater for Young Audiences series at South Coast Repertory, the Heartstrings program at Pacific Symphony, the Alice Neel exhibit and education programs at Orange County Museum of Art, and arts education work through Turnaround Arts California.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH COAST REPERTORY | COSTA MESA, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 2024 THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SERIES |
| PACIFIC SYMPHONY | IRVINE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE HEARTSTRINGS PROGRAMMING |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | COSTA MESA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT WOOLF WORKS PERFORMANCE |
| VANGUARD-SEGERSTROM CHARITABLE GIFT FUND | WARWICK, RI | $53,250 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY | IRVINE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT 2024-2025 SEASON |
| LAGUNA ART MUSEUM | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN | COSTA MESA, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST CHILDREN |
| TURNAROUND ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS EDUCATION |
| BOWERS MUSEUM | SANTA ANA, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCHOOL TOURS PROGRAM |
| UCI FOUNDATION | IRVINE, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE NEW SWAN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL |
| OC HUMANE SOCIETY | HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROGRAMS |
| THE WOODEN FLOOR | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAM |
| MAYFIELD ACRES OF LOVE | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| PACIFIC SYMPHONY | IRVINE, CA | $140,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE HEARTSTRINGS PROGRAM |
| PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY | IRVINE, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ALICE NEEL EXHIBIT |
| SOUTH COAST REPERTORY | COSTA MESA, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE 2023 THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SERIES |
| TURNAROUND ARTS CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $56,350 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS EDUCATION |
| PACIFIC CHORALE | COSTA MESA, CA | $35,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN FOUNDATION | COSTA MESA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST CHILDREN |
| SHERMAN LIBRARY AND GARDENS | CORONA DEL MAR, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| UCI FOUNDATION | IRVINE, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE NEW SWAN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL |
| ACRES OF LOVE | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| THE WOODEN FLOOR | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAM |
| ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL | COSTA MESA, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT CHORAL PROGRAM |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | COSTA MESA, CA | $137,490 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS, WEBSITE DESIGN AND HIRING PR FIRM |
| SOUTH COAST REPERTORY | COSTA MESA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE 2022 THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SERIES |
| PACIFIC SYMPHONY | IRVINE, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE HEARTSTRINGS PROGRAM |
| PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY | IRVINE, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE MARINSKY ORCHESTRA |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| LAGUNA ART MUSEUM | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $42,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS ART PROGRAMS |
| FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN | COSTA MESA, CA | $40,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST CHILDREN |
| TURNAROUND ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS PROGRAM AT SIERRA PREP AND WILLARD |
| PACIFIC CHORALE | COSTA MESA, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| MAYFIELD ACRES OF LOVE | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| BOWERS MUSEUM | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE BOWERS VIRTUAL TOURS PROGRAM |
| ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL | COSTA MESA, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT CHORAL PROGRAM |
| DHARMA RESCUE FOR CATS AND DOGS | TORRANCE, CA | $2,500 | 2023 | TO RESCUE SENIOR AND HANDICAPPED CATS AND DOGS |
TO SUPPORT THE 2024 THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SERIES
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$75,000TO SUPPORT WOOLF WORKS PERFORMANCE
VANGUARD-SEGERSTROM CHARITABLE GIFT FUND
$53,250TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT 2024-2025 SEASON
FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN
$40,000TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST CHILDREN
TURNAROUND ARTS
$40,000TO SUPPORT THE ARTS EDUCATION
UCI FOUNDATION
$20,000TO SUPPORT THE NEW SWAN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
OC HUMANE SOCIETY
$10,000TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROGRAMS
MAYFIELD ACRES OF LOVE
$10,000TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT THE 2023 THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SERIES
FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN FOUNDATION
$20,000TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST CHILDREN
SHERMAN LIBRARY AND GARDENS
$20,000TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS
ACRES OF LOVE
$15,000TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL
$5,000TO SUPPORT CHORAL PROGRAM
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$137,490TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS, WEBSITE DESIGN AND HIRING PR FIRM
TO SUPPORT THE 2022 THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SERIES
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE MARINSKY ORCHESTRA
FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN
$40,000TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST CHILDREN
MAYFIELD ACRES OF LOVE
$10,000TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS
BOWERS MUSEUM
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE BOWERS VIRTUAL TOURS PROGRAM
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL
$5,000TO SUPPORT CHORAL PROGRAM
DHARMA RESCUE FOR CATS AND DOGS
$2,500TO RESCUE SENIOR AND HANDICAPPED CATS AND DOGS