The Goodall Family Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on regional cultural and environmental institutions in Southern California, prioritizing hands-on restoration, facility projects, and education/outreach. They support botanical and natural history organizations, small art museums with education centers, and higher-education programs that build nonprofit or leadership capacity. Grants tend to be pragmatic — rebuilding or program-focused — rather than broad national initiatives.
Goodall Family Charitable Foundation’s clearest pattern is repeat support for Ventura Botanical Gardens, with three $62,500 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to help restore the garden after the Thomas Fire. That recurring commitment sits alongside a broader mix of regional giving that includes cultural institutions, nature education, and nonprofit training in California. The foundation’s recent record also shows support for a Barbara and George Goodall Education Center at Wildling Art Museum, student outreach at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and leadership development through California Lutheran University’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership. These awards suggest a funder that backs practical projects with visible local use: restoration work, education spaces, and capacity-building programs rather than broad national initiatives. Grants also reach university-based fellowships and consulting programs, indicating interest in strengthening nonprofit skills and leadership pipelines. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to favor organizations that serve local visitors, students, and community institutions in Southern California and nearby parts of the state.
In environmental restoration, the foundation repeatedly backed Ventura Botanical Gardens with $62,500 awards in multiple years to help restore the garden after the Thomas Fire. In museum and cultural-heritage work, it gave $30,000 to Wildling Art Museum for a new commitment to the Barbara & George Goodall Education Center, and later supported CA Nature Museum with $20,000 tied to its mission of inspiring stewardship of nature through art and education. Education and outreach show up as well: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History received $15,000 for student outreach programs. The foundation also funds nonprofit capacity building, including $60,000 to California Lutheran University’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership for better nonprofit management.
Typical grants cluster around a modest-to-midrange level: the p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $18,750. The recent list shows repeat awards to several recipients across multiple years, including Ventura Botanical Gardens, California Lutheran University, Wildling Art Museum, Candidorg, and Uss Indianapolis CA-35 Legacy Organization. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it funds individuals. The grant list also includes very small commemorative and board-related gifts alongside larger program and restoration awards, suggesting a mix of donor-directed and mission-linked giving.
$105K
$2.1M
$250K
$154K
Most grants fall between $5K and $19K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$19K
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Relatively concentrated, regionally focused giving with a mix of a few large multi-year or multi-grant commitments (notably repeated support to Ventura Botanical Gardens) and several moderate-sized program grants to cultural and university partners.
Notable grantees: Ventura Botanical Gardens, California Lutheran University, Wildling Art Museum, CSU Chico University Foundation, California Nature Art Museum
Giving is concentrated in California, where 73% of grants go and where the top recipient cities include Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Chico, Camarillo, Ontario, and Stanford. Ventura alone appears multiple times because of repeated support for Ventura Botanical Gardens and the Museum of Ventura County. Outside California, the recent list includes New York City, Washington, DC, Chattanooga, Fredericksburg, and a single grant to a Tennessee-based veterans organization. All recorded recent grants are in the United States.
The recent grants show support for botanical and natural history institutions, small art museums, university-based nonprofit leadership programs, and youth-focused or community programs. Examples include Ventura Botanical Gardens, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, California Lutheran University, and Wildling Art Museum.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is centered at $10,000, with a p25 of $5,000 and a p75 of $18,750. The recent list also includes several larger awards, such as $62,500 for Ventura Botanical Gardens and $60,000 for California Lutheran University.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Ventura Botanical Gardens in 2023, 2024, and 2025; California Lutheran University in 2023 and 2024; Wildling Art Museum in 2023 and 2024; and Candidorg in 2024 and 2025.
Its giving is concentrated in California, which accounts for 73% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Recipient cities in the recent list include Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Chico, Camarillo, Ontario, and Stanford.
Yes. The foundation is listed as funding individuals. The recent grants themselves focus mostly on organizations, including universities, museums, and community institutions.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS | Ventura, CA | $62,500 | 2026 | TO HELP RESTORE GARDEN AFTER THOMAS FIRE. |
| CA NATURE MUSEUM | SOLVANG, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | The mission of the California Nature Art Museum is to inspire stewardship of nature through art and education |
| THE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION CALIFORNI | CHICO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | TO PROMOTE EDUCATION |
| CENTER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP | THOUSAND OAKS, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | TO PROMOT EXCELLENCE IN NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP |
| LISTEN4GOOD | SEATTLE, WA | $4,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS ORGANIZATIONS LISTEN IN WAYS THAT PROTECT THEIR PROGRAMS, STRENGTHENEQUITY AND BUILD LASTING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. |
| MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY | Ventura, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | The Museum of Ventura County engages participants in meaningful experiences with history, art, culture, and each other by aspiring to spark curiosity and encourage compassion to build community and connection. |
| BELLOSGUARDO FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $600 | 2026 | FOR RESTORATION AND REVIVAL OF A HISTORIC MANSION AND GROUNDS IN SANTA BARBARA |
| ADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION | FREDERICKSBURG, TX | $250 | 2026 | COMMEMORATIVE BRICK IN HONOR OF WWII VETERANS FOR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR MEMORIAL COURTYARD. |
| VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS | Ventura, CA | $62,500 | 2025 | TO HELP RESTORE GARDEN AFTER THOMAS FIRE. |
| CA NATURE MUSEUM | SOLVANG, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | The mission of the California Nature Art Museum is to inspire stewardship of nature through art and education |
| CANDIDORG | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $13,167 | 2025 | CANDID MISSION IS TO HELP NON-PROFITS WITH INFORMATION TO AID IN THEIR MISSION. |
| UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION CSU CHICO | CHICO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CONSULTING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM-COLLEGE OF BUSINESS |
| MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY | Ventura, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | The Museum of Ventura County engages participants in meaningful experiences with history, art, culture, and each other by aspiring to spark curiosity and encourage compassion to build community and connection. |
| KID STREAM | Camarillo, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | To provide an engaging environment where kids explore, play, and discover |
| VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS | Ventura, CA | $62,500 | 2024 | TO HELP RESTORE GARDEN AFTER THOMAS FIRE. |
| CSU CHICO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CHICO, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | TOMORROW'S LEADERS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM |
| CANDIDORG | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $8,967 | 2024 | CANDID MISSION IS TO HELP NON-PROFITS WITH INFORMATION TO AID IN THEIR MISSION. |
| WILDLING ART MUSEUM | SOLVANG, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | NEW COMMITMENT TO BARBARA & GEORGE GOODALL EDUCATION CENTER |
| USS INDIANAPOLIS CA-35 LEGACY ORGAN | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $4,587 | 2024 | FUND THE REUNION PROGRAM. |
| SPORTING CALIFORNIA INC | ONTARIO, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE WORLD CLASS SOCCER PROGRAMS |
| CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY | THOUSAND OAKS, CA | $1,194 | 2024 | CENTER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP GRANT PROMOTE BETTER NON PROFIT MANAGEMENT |
| VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS | Ventura, CA | $62,500 | 2023 | TO HELP RESTORE GARDEN AFTER THOMAS FIRE. |
| CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY | THOUSAND OAKS, CA | $60,000 | 2023 | CENTER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP GRANT PROMOTE BETTER NON PROFIT MANAGEMENT |
| WILDLING ART MUSEUM | SOLVANG, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | NEW COMMITMENT TO BARBARA & GEORGE GOODALL EDUCATION CENTER |
| CSU CHICO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CHICO, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | TOMORROW'S LEADERS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM |
| SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HIS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | STUDENT OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| GUIDE STAR | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,221 | 2023 | BOARD CONTRIBUTION |
| USS INDIANAPOLIS CA-35 LEGACY ORGAN | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $6,638 | 2023 | FUND THE REUNION PROGRAM. |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY DCI GABIA | STANFORD, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | DCI GENERAL GIFT FUND (GABIA) |
| ADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION | FREDERICKSBURG, TX | $160 | 2023 | COMMEMORATIVE BRICK IN HONOR OF WWII VETERANS FOR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR MEMORIAL COURTYARD. |
VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS
$62,500TO HELP RESTORE GARDEN AFTER THOMAS FIRE.
CA NATURE MUSEUM
$20,000The mission of the California Nature Art Museum is to inspire stewardship of nature through art and education
THE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION CALIFORNI
$10,000TO PROMOTE EDUCATION
CENTER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP
$5,000TO PROMOT EXCELLENCE IN NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP
LISTEN4GOOD
$4,000TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS ORGANIZATIONS LISTEN IN WAYS THAT PROTECT THEIR PROGRAMS, STRENGTHENEQUITY AND BUILD LASTING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
The Museum of Ventura County engages participants in meaningful experiences with history, art, culture, and each other by aspiring to spark curiosity and encourage compassion to build community and connection.
BELLOSGUARDO FOUNDATION
$600FOR RESTORATION AND REVIVAL OF A HISTORIC MANSION AND GROUNDS IN SANTA BARBARA
COMMEMORATIVE BRICK IN HONOR OF WWII VETERANS FOR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR MEMORIAL COURTYARD.
VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS
$62,500TO HELP RESTORE GARDEN AFTER THOMAS FIRE.
CA NATURE MUSEUM
$20,000The mission of the California Nature Art Museum is to inspire stewardship of nature through art and education
CANDIDORG
$13,167CANDID MISSION IS TO HELP NON-PROFITS WITH INFORMATION TO AID IN THEIR MISSION.
UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION CSU CHICO
$10,000CONSULTING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM-COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
The Museum of Ventura County engages participants in meaningful experiences with history, art, culture, and each other by aspiring to spark curiosity and encourage compassion to build community and connection.
KID STREAM
$2,500To provide an engaging environment where kids explore, play, and discover
VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS
$62,500TO HELP RESTORE GARDEN AFTER THOMAS FIRE.
CSU CHICO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$15,000TOMORROW'S LEADERS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
CANDIDORG
$8,967CANDID MISSION IS TO HELP NON-PROFITS WITH INFORMATION TO AID IN THEIR MISSION.
WILDLING ART MUSEUM
$5,000NEW COMMITMENT TO BARBARA & GEORGE GOODALL EDUCATION CENTER
USS INDIANAPOLIS CA-35 LEGACY ORGAN
$4,587FUND THE REUNION PROGRAM.
SPORTING CALIFORNIA INC
$2,500TO PROVIDE WORLD CLASS SOCCER PROGRAMS
CENTER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP GRANT PROMOTE BETTER NON PROFIT MANAGEMENT
VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS
$62,500TO HELP RESTORE GARDEN AFTER THOMAS FIRE.
CENTER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP GRANT PROMOTE BETTER NON PROFIT MANAGEMENT
WILDLING ART MUSEUM
$30,000NEW COMMITMENT TO BARBARA & GEORGE GOODALL EDUCATION CENTER
CSU CHICO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$15,000TOMORROW'S LEADERS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HIS
$15,000STUDENT OUTREACH PROGRAMS
GUIDE STAR
$7,221BOARD CONTRIBUTION
USS INDIANAPOLIS CA-35 LEGACY ORGAN
$6,638FUND THE REUNION PROGRAM.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY DCI GABIA
$5,000DCI GENERAL GIFT FUND (GABIA)
COMMEMORATIVE BRICK IN HONOR OF WWII VETERANS FOR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR MEMORIAL COURTYARD.