The Sharon D Lund Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Sharon D Lund Foundation funds work in the arts, health and wellness, human services and higher education, with a stated link to children and youth, and its grants commonly support general operations rather than a named project.
- Typical grants fall between $25,000 and $325,000, with a median grant of $60,000, so a request in this range is realistic for most applicants, though the largest grant recorded was about $1,000,000.
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and operates by invitation only, so small nonprofits without an existing relationship should not send in a speculative application.
- Almost all of its grant dollars (98%) went to organisations it had already funded in prior filings, which points to a relationship-led foundation that favours continuing support over new relationships.
- No geographic focus is stated, though its filings show grants mainly in California.
Overview
The Sharon D Lund Foundation is a US private foundation based in Orange, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (waltdisney.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports initiatives in the arts, health and wellness, human services, and higher education for the future of children and the youth of today. The range of recorded grantees includes children’s hospitals, schools, arts institutions and social-service organisations. Its grants commonly support general operations rather than a named project across these recipient types. The foundation’s public description links its philanthropic work to children and young people, while the recorded grants show it supporting a broad range of charitable organisations.
Themes
- Arts
- Health and wellness
- Human services
- Higher education
- Children and youth
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 168 grants to organisations were $60,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations The Sharon D Lund Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 9% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 55 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $60,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Olive Crest · General operation$625,0002024 tax year
- CHOC Children's Foundation · General operation$537,0002024 tax year
- California Community Foundation · General operation$523,0002024 tax year
- Children's Hospital La · General operation$500,0002024 tax year
- Volunteers Of America - La · General operation$450,0002024 tax year
- Boys & Girls Club Of Central Oc · General operation$325,0002024 tax year
- Frostig Center · General operation$300,0002024 tax year
- Ryman Arts · General operation$225,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Marie Sackett — Vice President
- Warren Spector — Director
- Eric Gowey — Assistant Secretary / Treasurer
- Robert Wilson — Secretary / Treasurer
- Karen Presley — Vice President
- Michelle Lund — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,035,669 | $7,506,962 | $122,245,660 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,634,272 | $6,758,989 | $130,162,426 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,871,453 | $6,758,067 | $137,323,961 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Sharon D Lund Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Orange, CA
Applying to The Sharon D Lund Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Orange, CA