The Lawrence & Junko Cushman Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation without an invitation should not send a cold application; a grant writer should look for an introduction before writing anything.
- Its filed grants are largely unrestricted and cover a broad range of community work, including animal welfare, civil liberties, food assistance, crisis support, river parks, equality and cultural heritage, though the filing shows grants mainly in California and New York, which describes where it has given rather than who may apply.
- Across its recent filings, half of its 11 grants to organisations were $40,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $245,000, so a request near the lower end is a realistic size, though its largest grant of $355,000 shows that band is not a ceiling.
- Only 12% of its grant dollars to organisations in its most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded in its earlier filings, so repeat giving is limited and a first grant is possible.
Overview
The Lawrence & Junko Cushman Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Diego, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (sandiegouniontribune.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation has described a San Diego initiative intended to fund organisations that elevate or create programmes making a difference in the community. Its filed grants are largely unrestricted and reach a varied group of organisations, including animal-welfare, civil-liberties, food-assistance, crisis-support, river-park, equality and cultural-heritage organisations. One grant was designated for a research and educational endowment. Overall, the record shows broad community giving rather than a single specialist field, with most recorded grants for general or unrestricted purposes.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 12% 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 11 grants to organisations were $40,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 62% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 12% of grant dollars went to organisations The Lawrence & Junko Cushman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 62% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 7 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $40,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- San Diego Humane Society · General/unrestricted$115,0002024 tax year
- American Civil Liberties Union Foundation · General/unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- Feeding San Diego · General/unrestricted$50,0002024 tax year
- Crisis House · General/unrestricted$40,0002024 tax year
- San Diego River Park Foundation · General/unrestricted$10,0002024 tax year
- Equality California · General/unrestricted$5,0002024 tax year
- Negro League Baseball Museum · General/unrestricted$3,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Janice M Ziegler — Secretary / Treasurer
- Lawrence M Cushman — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $365,355 | $355,000 | $6,387,372 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $289,765 | $283,000 | $7,788,347 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $349,196 | $323,000 | $8,094,723 | 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 Lawrence & Junko Cushman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- San Diego, CA
Applying to The Lawrence & Junko Cushman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Diego, CA