The Sharon D Lund Foundation concentrates its giving on children- and youth-focused services in Southern California, providing sizable general‑operating grants to healthcare, special‑education, and child‑welfare organizations. Grants are large and targeted rather than numerous, with repeat commitments to a small set of regional partners indicating sustained institutional relationships. The foundation favors flexible, unrestricted support that helps grantees cover core operations.
Concentrated portfolio of a few large, often repeat grants; mainly unrestricted/general‑operating support; geographically focused on Southern California and targeted to child/youth services.
The Sharon D Lund Foundation’s giving is defined by large, repeated general-operating commitments to a small set of Southern California institutions serving children and youth. Among the biggest awards in the recent record are seven-figure and high six-figure grants to CHOC Children’s Foundation and multiple $500,000 grants to Children’s Hospital LA, showing a pattern of sustained support rather than one-time project funding. The foundation also backs organizations that work with children outside hospital settings, including Westmark School, Olive Crest, and The Frostig Center, all of which receive grants labeled for general operations or general operation. That emphasis on unrestricted support points to a grantmaking style focused on organizational stability, staffing, and core services. A related strand of giving reaches community intermediaries such as California Community Foundation and Orange County Community Foundation, along with arts, health, and family-service groups in Los Angeles, Orange County, Pasadena, Irvine, and San Diego. The overall picture is a regional funder with a concentrated portfolio and repeated institutional relationships.
Children’s health is a central theme. The Sharon D Lund Foundation gave $1,010,000 in 2023 and $790,000 in 2024 to CHOC Children’s Foundation for general operations, then added $537,000 in 2025. It also supported Children’s Hospital LA with $500,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Special education is another clear area: Westmark School received $550,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for general operation, and The Frostig Center received $300,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Child welfare appears in the 2025 grant of $625,000 to Olive Crest for general operation. The foundation also backs arts and community-serving organizations, including Ryman Arts and California Institute of the Arts.
Typical awards are sizable: the grant-size distribution sits at $40,000 at the 25th percentile, $60,000 at the median, and $140,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, especially in healthcare and education, indicating ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. Grants are almost entirely general operating or general operation support, aligning with the foundation’s emphasis on flexibility and organizational sustainability. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The available grant list shows a regional, institution-focused grantmaker with concentrated recurring support.
$6.8M
$137.3M
$8.2M
$7.9M
Most grants fall between $40K and $140K, with a median of $60K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$60K
75th Percentile
$140K
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: CHOC Children's Foundation, Westmark School, Olive Crest, California Community Foundation
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly California-based: 77% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state, and California is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients are clustered in Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine, Encino, Pasadena, Newport Beach, and Valencia. Outside California, one recurring recipient is Operation Smile in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The grant data otherwise shows U.S.-only giving, with 168 grants to U.S. recipients.
The foundation supports children’s hospitals, special education schools, child-welfare organizations, arts groups, and community foundations. Named recent recipients include CHOC Children’s Foundation, Westmark School, Olive Crest, California Community Foundation, Orange County Community Foundation, and Ryman Arts.
Yes. The recent grants list repeatedly uses general operations or general operation language, including awards to CHOC Children’s Foundation, Westmark School, Children’s Hospital LA, and California Community Foundation. That pattern matches its focus on operational expenses and organizational capacity.
The grant-size distribution is $40,000 at the 25th percentile, $60,000 at the median, and $140,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes several much larger awards, showing that the foundation makes both mid-sized and high-dollar grants.
California is the top state by grant count, and 77% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state of California. Recent recipients are concentrated in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine, Encino, Pasadena, Newport Beach, and Valencia.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OLIVE CREST | SANTA ANA, CA | $625,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| CHOC CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | ORANGE, CA | $537,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $523,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA - LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $450,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL OC | IRVINE, CA | $325,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| THE FROSTIG CENTER | PASADENA, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| RYMAN ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $225,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS | VALENCIA, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | IRVINE, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| RADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| GIVE KIDS THE WORLD | KISSIMMEE, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| SAVE THE FAMILY | MESA, AZ | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| GUIDE DOGS OF DESERT | WHITEWATER, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENER |
| FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION | IRVINE, CA | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| CANINE COMPANIONS | OCEANSIDE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| OPERATION SMILE | VIRG BEACH, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| RIVERVIEW SCHOOL | CAPE COD, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| THE WOODEN FLOOR | SANTA ANA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| THE SHEEPFOLD | SANTA ANA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| AMERICAN CAREER COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL | IRVINE, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| EXCEPTIONAL MINDS | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| EARTHFIRE | TETONIA, ID | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| FOSTERALL | GLENDALE, CA | $65,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| A PLACE CALLED HOME | LOS ANGELES, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| CATERINA'S CLUB | ANAHEIM, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| SHARE OUR SELVES | COSTA MESA, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| GUIDE DOGS OF AMERICA | SYLMAR, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | COSTA MESA, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| EXP | LONG BEACH, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| FRIENDLY CENTER | ORANGE, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| WESTMARK SCHOOL | ENCINO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| THE YOUNG AMERICANS | CORONA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM | MARCELINE, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| CASA OF ORANGE COUNTY | ORANGE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| STRIVE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| CASA OF LOS ANGELES | MONTEREY PARK, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| JOHN TRACY CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| ART DIVISION | SOUTH PASADENA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| BEST BUDDIES | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| PROJECT HOPE ALLIANCE | COSTA MESA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| MAKE A WISH LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| INSPIRE LIFE SKILLS | CORONA, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| MAKE A WISH OC | IRVINE, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| SCHOOL ON WHEELS | OAK VIEW, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| UNITED FRIENDS OF CHILDREN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| GARNER HOLT EDUCATION FOUNDATION | REDLANDS, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| BRACKEN'S KITCHEN | GARDEN GROVE, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| INDEPENDENCE CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
| HIGH SCHOOL INC | COSTA MESA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATION |
CHOC CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$537,000GENERAL OPERATION
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LA
$500,000GENERAL OPERATION
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA - LA
$450,000GENERAL OPERATION
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL OC
$325,000GENERAL OPERATION
THE FROSTIG CENTER
$300,000GENERAL OPERATION
RYMAN ARTS
$225,000GENERAL OPERATION
RADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$200,000GENERAL OPERATION
GIVE KIDS THE WORLD
$200,000GENERAL OPERATION
SAVE THE FAMILY
$150,000GENERAL OPERATION
RIVERVIEW SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL OPERATION
THE SHEEPFOLD
$75,000GENERAL OPERATION
AMERICAN CAREER COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL
$75,000GENERAL OPERATION
EARTHFIRE
$70,000GENERAL OPERATION
SHARE OUR SELVES
$60,000GENERAL OPERATION
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$60,000GENERAL OPERATION
FRIENDLY CENTER
$55,000GENERAL OPERATION
THE YOUNG AMERICANS
$50,000GENERAL OPERATION
WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM
$50,000GENERAL OPERATION
STRIVE
$50,000GENERAL OPERATION
JOHN TRACY CENTER
$50,000GENERAL OPERATION
BEST BUDDIES
$50,000GENERAL OPERATION
MAKE A WISH LA
$40,000GENERAL OPERATION
INSPIRE LIFE SKILLS
$40,000GENERAL OPERATION
MAKE A WISH OC
$40,000GENERAL OPERATION
GARNER HOLT EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$35,000GENERAL OPERATION
INDEPENDENCE CENTER
$30,000GENERAL OPERATION
HIGH SCHOOL INC
$30,000GENERAL OPERATION