John H Grace Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $810,000
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $500 - $108,000
• Geographic Focus: Southern California/Orange County

Contact Details

• Mailing Address: PO Box 3036, Fullerton, CA 92834-3036
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available
• Website: None identified

Overview

The John H Grace Foundation is a private independent foundation established as a trust and granted tax-exempt status by the IRS in February 2015. With total assets of $18.9 million and annual income of $4.8 million as of 2023, the foundation distributes approximately $810,000 annually through 59 grants to charitable organizations. The foundation ranks in the top 2% of all nonprofits nationally by asset size, demonstrating exceptional financial capacity. Operating under trustee discretion, the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and instead proactively identifies organizations to support, with a strong focus on the Fullerton and Orange County area of Southern California.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes discretionary grants ranging from $500 to $108,000, with a median grant size of approximately $8,000. All grants are awarded through trustee selection rather than open application.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant recipients, the foundation prioritizes:

• Youth development and education programs
• Sports and recreation initiatives
• Higher education support
• Healthcare and medical foundations
• Community development organizations
• Organizations serving Fullerton and Orange County

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates entirely through trustee discretion, organizations outside their established network or geographic focus area are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Marian A Joe

The foundation operates as a trust with limited public information about governance structure or additional board members. The trustee maintains sole discretion over grant decisions and organizational selection.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The John H Grace Foundation explicitly states they do not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations chosen at the trustee's discretion.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made on a discretionary basis without formal application deadlines or decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply through public channels.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates entirely through trustee discretion and does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. Organizations that have received funding appear to share these characteristics:

• Strong presence in Fullerton or Orange County
• Focus on youth, education, or community development
• Established track record in the community
• Connection to the trustee's philanthropic interests

Recent grant recipients like FLOCK (Fullerton's Love of Orange County Kids) receiving $108,000, CDA Futbol Club receiving $90,000, and Cal State University Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation receiving $75,000 demonstrate the foundation's commitment to local organizations making significant community impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept applications - all grants are made through trustee discretion
• Focus is heavily concentrated on Fullerton and Orange County organizations
• Grant sizes vary widely from $500 to over $100,000
• Youth programs, education, and community development appear to be funding priorities
• With nearly $19 million in assets, the foundation has significant capacity for growth
• Organizations must be preselected by the trustee to receive funding
• Building visibility and reputation in the Orange County philanthropic community may be the only path to consideration

References

• Cause IQ. (2024). John H Grace Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/john-h-grace-foundation,476650230/
• ProPublica. (2024). Nonprofit Explorer: John H Grace Foundation Form 990-PF Filings. Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/476650230
• Charity Navigator. (2024). John H Grace Foundation Overview. Retrieved from https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/476650230
• Instrumentl. (2024). John H Grace Foundation 990 Report. Retrieved from https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/john-h-grace-foundation
• GrantExec. (2024). John H Grace Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://grantexec.com/foundations/476650230