The John C Mithun 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 and gives to preselected organisations, so an organisation without an invitation should not send it a proposal.
- Its latest filing shows that 94% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in an earlier filing, so its giving is largely to organisations it already knows.
- Across its filings, half of its 187 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $100,000, so a request near $25,000 would sit at the middle of its typical giving, though its largest grant was $500,000.
- A trustee describes education as a cornerstone of the foundation, which makes education-focused work the clearest fit, although the filings also record grants to performing-arts, health, food-assistance, library and environmental organisations.
- No geographic focus is stated, though the filings show grants mainly in California, and its grant purposes are recorded only as general, so any approach should describe specific activities and costs clearly.
Overview
The John C Mithun Foundation is a US private foundation based in Santa Barbara, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (independent.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Education is described by a trustee as a cornerstone of the foundation. The available grant record shows support for a broad range of public charities, including performing-arts and cultural organisations, educational institutions, health and social-care providers, food-assistance groups, libraries and museums, and environmental organisations. Its grant purposes are recorded simply as general, so the evidence does not identify particular activities or costs supported. The foundation gives to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; its records show support for a range of charitable recipients.
Themes
- Education
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, 94% 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 187 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation describes education as a cornerstone of its work. (as reported in other published sources)
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 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations The John C Mithun Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 65 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Lobero Theatre · General$500,0002024 tax year
- Uc Santa Barbara Foundation · General$250,0002024 tax year
- Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara Foundation · General$150,0002024 tax year
- Uc Santa Barbara Foundation · General$125,0002024 tax year
- Santa Barbara International Film Festival · General$120,0002024 tax year
- Mission Scholars · General$115,0002024 tax year
- Food From the Heart · General$100,0002024 tax year
- Channel Islands YMCA · General$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Susan M Torrey — Secretary
- Mercedes M Millington — Vice President
- John C Mithun — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,373,759 | $2,635,307 | $57,678,265 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,896,222 | $2,279,614 | $64,203,363 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,652,222 | $2,932,000 | $75,704,435 | 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 John C Mithun Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Santa Barbara, CA
Applying to The John C Mithun Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Santa Barbara, CA