The Adam R Scripps Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on public science institutions and university-affiliated science outreach, primarily funding capital projects and facility improvements that bolster public engagement with STEM. Grants are large and targeted — supporting museum/aquarium renovations and property acquisition/renovation for a national science organization — indicating a preference for one-time, high-impact infrastructure investments that enhance science education and exhibition capacity.
The Adam R Scripps Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by large, repeated investments in science infrastructure: a $2,000,000 grant to the Regents of the University of California San Diego for the Birch Aquarium Hall of Fishes Remodel, and a pair of $2,000,000 grants to Society for Science & the Public for a new headquarters building and the purchase and renovation of a building. Those gifts point to a funder that favors facility upgrades, capital projects, and institution-building over broad, open-ended support. That pattern continues across its other major grants. Scripps Research Institute received funding for research programs and equipment, while Scripps Health Foundation was supported for equipment needs, equipment purchase, and an MRI Project. The foundation also backs public-facing education and community-serving institutions, including museum and aquarium work, scholarships, a national women’s shelter network, and housing-related projects. Across the recent record, the grant amounts are often substantial and tied to a defined project rather than unrestricted operating support. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on tangible improvements to organizations’ physical capacity, exhibit spaces, research tools, and service delivery environments.
Public science institutions are a clear priority. The foundation gave $2,000,000 to the Regents of the University of California San Diego for the Birch Aquarium Hall of Fishes Remodel, showing support for exhibit renovation and visitor experience. It also funds science organizations at the institutional level. Society for Science & the Public received $2,000,000 for a new headquarters building and another $2,000,000 for purchase and renovation of a building, pointing to capital support for organizational infrastructure. Research capacity appears in the health and biomedical side as well. Scripps Research Institute received $1,865,000 for research programs and later $350,000 for equipment purchase, while Scripps Health Foundation received $1,230,000 for equipment needs and $500,000 for an MRI Project. Beyond science, the foundation has also backed scholarships and community services, including $701,200 to College Possible for scholarships and $717,000 to Sundari Foundation Inc for the National Women’s Shelter Network.
$35.5M
$754.6M
$63.9M
$43.3M
Most grants fall between $11K and $100K, with a median of $38K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$38K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in TX.
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Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants focused on capital/capital-equivalent projects; repeat support to the same prominent science organization alongside a major university-affiliated museum grant.
Notable grantees: Society for Science & the Public, The Regents of the University of California San Diego (Birch Aquarium)
Grant sizes cluster in the mid-six-figure to low-seven-figure range, with a typical grant size of $10,625 at the 25th percentile, $37,500 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows repeat funding to the same organizations across 2024 and 2025, including UC San Diego, Society for Science & the Public, Scripps Research Institute, and Scripps Health Foundation. That points to a recurring relationship model rather than isolated one-time awards. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it also funds individuals. The grant patterns shown here are project-based, with many awards tied to capital, renovation, equipment, or program support.
Grantmaking is national, and the recipient map is dominated by U.S. organizations. Washington, DC appears frequently in the recent grants, alongside multiple awards in La Jolla, California, and repeated support in Austin and Fredericksburg, Texas. Other recipient locations in the recent list include Miami, Saint Paul, San Antonio, Rockocke, Oxford, Oshkosh, and Boerne. Kentucky, the headquarters state, accounts for 3% of grants, indicating that most giving occurs outside the foundation’s home state.
The recent grants emphasize capital and infrastructure work: building purchase and renovation, museum and aquarium remodeling, equipment purchases, and facility development. Examples include support for a new headquarters building, aquarium exhibit remodeling, and research or medical equipment projects.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Regents of the University of California San Diego, Society for Science & the Public, Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Health Foundation, College Possible, and Mobile Loaves & Fishes.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,625 at the 25th percentile, $37,500 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes several awards in the $500,000 to $2,000,000 range for larger capital and institution-building projects.
Yes. Recent grants include scholarships, supportive housing, child development, food and community services, and shelter work. Examples in the record include scholarships support, a women’s shelter network, a child development center, and community village and food storage projects.
Its grantmaking is national, with the highest concentration of recipient organizations in Washington, DC. Only 3% of grants go to recipients in Kentucky, the foundation’s headquarters state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Regents of the University of California San Diego | La Jolla, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | Birch Aquarium Hall of Fishes Remodel |
| Society for Science & the Public | Washington, DC | $2,000,000 | 2025 | Purchase and renovation of building |
| Scripps Research Institute | La Jolla, CA | $1,865,000 | 2025 | Research Programs |
| Foundation Communities | Austin, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | capital projects in pipeline |
| Austin Habitat for Humanity Inc | Austin, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Capital Campaign |
| Scripps Health Foundation | La Jolla, CA | $778,000 | 2025 | Equipment purchase |
| Sundari Foundation Inc | Miami, FL | $717,000 | 2025 | National Women's Shelter Network |
| College Possible | Saint Paul, MN | $701,200 | 2025 | Scholarships |
| SA Christian Hope Resource Center | San Antonio, TX | $600,000 | 2025 | Westside Campus Capital Campaign |
| FBG Friends of the Fields | Fredericksburg, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | Park Costs |
| Mobile Loaves & Fishes | Austin, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | Community 1st Village & general operations |
| Miami University | Oxford, OH | $500,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Hill Country Community Needs Council | Fredericksburg, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | Building Development Center |
| Scripps Health Foundation | La Jolla, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | MRI Project |
| FBG Friends of the Fields | Fredericksburg, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | park building |
| EAA Aviation Foundation Inc | Oshkosh, WI | $500,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Admiral Nimitz Foundation | Fredericksburg, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | Education Studio, Space, and Portal |
| Scripps Howard Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $350,000 | 2025 | Book Campaign |
| Scripps Research Institute | La Jolla, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | Equipment purchase |
| Cincinnati Public Radio | Cincinnati, OH | $333,333 | 2025 | Building Connections Campaign |
| Joyful Heart Foundation | Brooklyn, NY | $316,500 | 2025 | IBA Policy and Awareness Project |
| Wilderness Inquiry Inc | St Paul, MN | $300,000 | 2025 | Capital Campaign |
| Miracle Foundation Inc | Austin, TX | $275,000 | 2025 | Foster Share App |
| Women Helping Women | Cincinnati, OH | $256,500 | 2025 | Survivor Safety Support for Survivors |
| Angel Flight Inc South Central Division | Addison, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation | College Station, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Boys & Girls Clubs in Texas | Austin, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations for the Texas AIM program |
| The Colorado Springs School | Colorado Springs, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | Excellence in Education Program |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center | Cincinnati, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | early emerging researchers |
| Changinggears Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | Adam's Automotive Program |
| The DigDeep Right to Water Project | Los Angeles, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | Navajo Water Project |
| The Mercy Maternity House Inc | The Woodlands, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Foundation Communities | Austin, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Nurse-Family Partnership | Denver, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations in Texas |
| CMC Foundation of Central Texas | Austin, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| SA Christian Hope Resource Center | San Antonio, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Austin Lifecare Inc | Austin, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| United Way of San Antonio & Bexar | San Antonio, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | Qualiy Early Childhood Progamming |
| The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country | Kerrville, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | Capital Improvements for Der Stadtische Friedhof |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | Tampa, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | Research |
| SA Youth | San Antonio, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & South Texas Inc | Austin, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Purposes |
| New Bedford Light Inc | New Bedford, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | General operations |
| UCP of Central Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Wilderness Inquiry Inc | St Paul, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Willow City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Inc | Willow City, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| SAFE Alliance | Austin, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Communities in Schools of San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| American Camping Association | Martinsville, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| The University of Texas Foundation | Austin, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | Subiendo Scholarship |
The Regents of the University of California San Diego
$2,000,000Birch Aquarium Hall of Fishes Remodel
Society for Science & the Public
$2,000,000Purchase and renovation of building
Scripps Research Institute
$1,865,000Research Programs
Foundation Communities
$1,000,000capital projects in pipeline
Austin Habitat for Humanity Inc
$1,000,000Capital Campaign
Scripps Health Foundation
$778,000Equipment purchase
Sundari Foundation Inc
$717,000National Women's Shelter Network
College Possible
$701,200Scholarships
SA Christian Hope Resource Center
$600,000Westside Campus Capital Campaign
FBG Friends of the Fields
$500,000Park Costs
Mobile Loaves & Fishes
$500,000Community 1st Village & general operations
Miami University
$500,000General Operations
Hill Country Community Needs Council
$500,000Building Development Center
Scripps Health Foundation
$500,000MRI Project
FBG Friends of the Fields
$500,000park building
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc
$500,000General Operations
Admiral Nimitz Foundation
$500,000Education Studio, Space, and Portal
Scripps Howard Foundation
$350,000Book Campaign
Scripps Research Institute
$350,000Equipment purchase
Cincinnati Public Radio
$333,333Building Connections Campaign
Joyful Heart Foundation
$316,500IBA Policy and Awareness Project
Wilderness Inquiry Inc
$300,000Capital Campaign
Miracle Foundation Inc
$275,000Foster Share App
Women Helping Women
$256,500Survivor Safety Support for Survivors
Angel Flight Inc South Central Division
$250,000General Operations
Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation
$250,000General operating support
Boys & Girls Clubs in Texas
$250,000General Operations for the Texas AIM program
The Colorado Springs School
$250,000Excellence in Education Program
Children's Hospital Medical Center
$250,000early emerging researchers
Changinggears Inc
$250,000Adam's Automotive Program
The DigDeep Right to Water Project
$250,000Navajo Water Project
The Mercy Maternity House Inc
$250,000General Operations
Foundation Communities
$250,000General Operations
Nurse-Family Partnership
$250,000General Operations in Texas
CMC Foundation of Central Texas
$250,000General Operations
SA Christian Hope Resource Center
$250,000General Operations
Austin Lifecare Inc
$250,000General Operations
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar
$250,000Qualiy Early Childhood Progamming
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
$250,000Capital Improvements for Der Stadtische Friedhof
Shriners Hospitals for Children
$250,000Research
SA Youth
$250,000General Operations
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & South Texas Inc
$250,000General Purposes
New Bedford Light Inc
$250,000General operations
UCP of Central Arizona
$250,000General Operations
Wilderness Inquiry Inc
$250,000General Operations
Willow City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Inc
$250,000General Operations
SAFE Alliance
$200,000General Operations
Communities in Schools of San Antonio
$200,000General Operations
American Camping Association
$200,000General Operations
The University of Texas Foundation
$200,000Subiendo Scholarship