JHM Charitable Foundation (John and Hasmik Mgrdichian Foundation)

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $6,027,431 (2023)
Total Assets: $224 million (2024)
Grant Range: Varies significantly by program
Number of Grants: 42 awards (2023)
Geographic Focus: Armenian communities (domestic and international) and Los Angeles organizations
Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 1300 Highland Ave Ste 215, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266-4796

Phone: 310-550-9911

Website: https://www.jhmfoundation.org

EIN: 45-6821340

Note: This foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Overview

The John and Hasmik Mgrdichian (JHM) Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 to create a lasting, private, self-funded legacy supporting Armenian communities both domestically and internationally, as well as Los Angeles-based organizations. Named after first-generation children of Armenian Genocide survivors from Gyumri and Kharpert, the foundation honors entrepreneurs who believed in creating individual independence through education and job creation. With assets exceeding $224 million as of 2024, the foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation under the leadership of trustees Gary W. Hampar and Lysa Grigorian (granddaughter of the founders). The foundation made 42 grants totaling over $6 million in 2023, supporting diverse initiatives across education, healthcare, cultural preservation, and social services in multiple U.S. states and Armenia.

Funding Priorities

Primary Focus Areas

The foundation concentrates on organizations that demonstrate:

Clear alignment with JHM's objectives
Evidence of sustainable, results-oriented planning
Collaborative partnership potential

Core Priority Areas:

Education and Technical Training: Contemporary technology education, Armenian studies, college scholarships
Cultural Enrichment: Armenian cultural preservation, traditional arts and design, genocide education
Medical Intervention: Healthcare access programs, medical clinics, specialized health initiatives
Social Services: Housing support, disability services, community development
Economic Self-Sufficiency: Programs providing tools for individuals to sustain their own development

Geographic Distribution

United States (20 partner organizations): Ararat Home of Los Angeles, Armenian Mesrobian School, Children's Institute, USC Institute of Armenian Studies, The Roundhouse Aquarium, United Cerebral Palsy, Armenian Eyecare Project, Armenian Museum of America, Convalescent Aid Society, LA Family Housing, South Central Scholars, Union Rescue Mission, AIWA, Charlie Keyan Education, Nature of Wildworks, Genocide Education Project, and YMCA of Montebello

Armenia (13 partner organizations): Artsakh Foundation, Columbia University (osteoporosis initiative), Tufenkian Foundation, United Nations Women's Guild, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, CivilNet, Children of Armenia Fund, Junior Achievement of Armenia, TUMO, Creative Armenia, Teach for Armenia, TUMO Studios, and Women's Support Center

Turkey (1 partner organization): Hrant Dink Foundation

Major Grant Examples

TUMO Centers: Multi-million dollar support for construction and operations of TUMO Gyumri center (historic 1850s theater renovation), TUMO Koghb center (serving 10+ border regions), and TUMO Studios programs
AIWA Scholarship Endowment: $50,000 for the Jasmine Mgrdichian Endowment Fund supporting college scholarships for young Armenian women
Hayastan All Armenian Fund: $2 million donation during 2020 emergency relief efforts
American University of Armenia: Hasmik Mgrdichian Endowed Scholarship for female students in science and technology
Community Infrastructure: Funding for community centers and medical clinics in Artsakh villages including Tsovategh and Herher
Culinary Education: Support for renovation of historic Gyumri market into international culinary school

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's focus on Armenian communities and Los Angeles organizations indicates funding outside these geographic and cultural parameters is unlikely.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

Gary W. Hampar (Compensation: $279,996 annually)
Lysa Grigorian (Granddaughter of founders; Compensation: $300,000 annually; also serves as TUMO board member)

Leadership Philosophy:

Gary Hampar on the foundation's investment approach: "Investing in education has a long-term, transformative impact not only on the individual but also on our country. Armenia's greatest resource is the intelligence of its people. This educational movement has clear goals: it expands the minds of kids, enables them to thrive, and creates jobs for our economy."

Lysa Grigorian on alignment with founders' values: "My grandparents always valued education and would be thrilled that this is an education program that is inspirational and impacts the development of the youth in the country. The TUMO educational program emphasizes creative freedom while teaching Armenian youth practical, timely and marketable skills."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified and selected through their own research, networks, and strategic priorities. All 42 grants made in 2023 were to pre-selected organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their funded portfolio reveals what attracts their support:

Foundation-Specific Patterns:

Armenian Connection: Nearly all funded organizations serve Armenian communities or preserve Armenian culture, heritage, and identity
Education-Centric: The foundation consistently prioritizes educational initiatives, particularly those teaching "practical, timely and marketable skills" (as Grigorian describes TUMO)
Measurable Impact Philosophy: Hampar emphasizes programs with "clear goals" that create both individual development and economic benefit
Innovation in Traditional Areas: The foundation supports contemporary approaches to Armenian cultural preservation (e.g., TUMO's technology-based learning versus traditional methods)
Sustainability Focus: The foundation website explicitly states they value "sustainable, results-oriented planning"
Geographic Significance: Projects in locations connected to founders' heritage (Gyumri) receive attention
Women's Advancement: Notable support for women's education and empowerment (AIWA scholarships, AUA women in STEM endowment, Women's Support Center)
Multi-Year Partnership Approach: The foundation views relationships as "collaborative partnerships" with ongoing engagement, not one-time grants

Types of Support Provided:

Operational support
Program sponsorships
Scholarship endowments
Capital improvements (buildings, facilities)
Specialized infrastructure (medical clinics, educational facilities, housing)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be applied to through traditional means - they select all grantees proactively
Armenian Focus is Essential: Organizations must serve Armenian communities (diaspora or homeland) or Los Angeles-based populations
Education is the Golden Thread: Nearly every grant connects to educational advancement, workforce development, or skill-building
Long-Term Vision Required: The foundation values sustainability and "results-oriented planning" over short-term projects
Partnership Over Transaction: Trustees engage with recipient boards and staff; they seek collaborative relationships
Innovation Welcomed: Contemporary approaches to cultural preservation and education (like TUMO's model) attract significant multi-year support
No Size Restrictions: The foundation funds both emerging projects and established organizations
Geographic Heritage Matters: Projects connected to founders' ancestral regions (Gyumri, Kharpert) may receive special consideration

References

JHM Charitable Foundation - Cause IQ Profile - Accessed December 25, 2025
JHM Charitable Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Accessed December 25, 2025
JHM Foundation Official Website - Mission Statement - Accessed December 25, 2025
JHM Foundation Official Website - Partnerships - Accessed December 25, 2025
How JHM Met TUMO - TUMO - Accessed December 25, 2025
Key Partners for the Future: The John and Hasmik Mgrdichian Foundation - TUMO - Accessed December 25, 2025
John And Hasmik Mgrdichian Foundation Donate $50,000 To AIWA-Los Angeles - Asbarez - Accessed December 25, 2025
JHM Charitable Foundation - Grantmakers.io - Accessed December 25, 2025
Education Is the Foundation for Everything - Yes, Armenian Women Can! - Accessed December 25, 2025