Falling Leaves Foundation
The Falling Leaves Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2006-2007 and based in Huntington Beach, California. Operating as a 501(c)(3) private non-operating foundation, the organization maintains a low public profile with no published website or grant guidelines. The foundation is led by physician and author Adeline Yen Mah, who serves as President alongside co-founder Robert A. Mah.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.0M
-15.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
+212.3% YoY
Grant Count
8
-52.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$497K
+563.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Falling Leaves Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly disclosed a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking activity demonstrates a focus on medical research and innovation, particularly in support of higher education institutions and health sciences advancement.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 12 grants in 2024, including:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,024,939 | 2024 |
| Total Revenues | $1,979,521 | 2024 |
| Total Expenses | $4,863,790 | 2024 |
| Investment Income & Dividends | $519,539 | 2024 |
| Charitable Disbursements | $3,987,258 | 2024 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,024,939 | $17,688,649 | $17,701,402 |
| Revenue | $1,979,521 | $1,312,373 | $1,268,265 |
| Expenses | $4,863,790 | $2,117,547 | $2,153,510 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,987,258 | $1,303,573 | $1,194,560 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,123,188 | $522,330 | $330,208 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,008,712 | $1,019,994 | $1,046,487 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of California Irvine Foundation ($3,955,590), Olin T Binkley Memorial Baptist Church ($10,000), Committee of 100 ($3,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COMMITTEE OF 100 NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,500 |
| FLYING DUTCHMAN HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| NATIONAL CENTRALIZED REPOSITORY FOR ALZHEIMER'S INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| OLIN T BINKLEY MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH CHAPEL HILL, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| OLIVE CREST ABUSED CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION SANTA ANA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS COSTA MESA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,991 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE FOUNDATION IRVINE, CA | FALLING LEAVES MEDICAL INNOVATION BUILDING | $3,955,590 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE FOUNDATION IRVINE, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $800 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Officers (serving without compensation):
- Adeline Yen Mah — President
- Robert A. Mah — Vice President
- Shirley Feiwell — Secretary
- Margit Younis — Director
- Aspyn Remington — Director
- Chris Klein — Director
- Roger Mah — Director
About Adeline Yen Mah: Adeline Yen Mah is a Chinese-American physician and bestselling author. Born November 30, 1937, in Tianjin, China, she earned her medical degree from London Hospital Medical College and practiced as an anesthesiologist in the United States, serving as Chief of Anesthesia at West Anaheim Community Hospital in California. She is best known for her memoir Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter (1997), which became a New York Times bestseller translated into 22 languages, and the young adult adaptation Chinese Cinderella (1999).
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADELINE YEN MAH | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ROBERT A MAH | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| SHIRLEY FEIWELL | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ROGER MAH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHRIS KLEIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ASPYN REMINGTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARGIT YOUNIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**UC Irvine Medical Innovation Building:**
The Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building will be ...In September 2021, the Falling Leaves Foundation announced a $30 million lead gift to support the construction of the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building at the University of California, Irvine. The approximately 200,000 square-foot facility was designed to expand UCI's medical research capabilities through state-of-the-art laboratories and collaborative spaces for cross-disciplinary teaching and translational research.
Adeline and Robert Mah donate another $20 million toward Falling ...In October 2024, Adeline Yen Mah and Robert A. Mah donated an additional $20 million toward the completion of the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building.
Adeline and Robert Mah donate another $20 million toward Falling ...Contact Information
Address: 16902 Bolsa Chica Street, Suite 203 Huntington Beach, CA 92649-3590
Phone: 714-846-4881
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Falling Leaves Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly disclosed a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking activity demonstrates a focus on medical research and innovation, particularly in support of higher education institutions and health sciences advancement.
How do I apply for a grant from Falling Leaves Foundation?
**Annual Giving & Assets:** • Total assets: $15,024,939 (as of 2024) • Annual charitable disbursements: approximately $3.99 million (2024) • Total revenues: $1,979,521 (2024) **Recent Grants:** The foundation made 12 grants in 2024, including: • University of California Irvine Foundation: $3,955,590 for the Falling Leaves Medical Innovation Building • Olin T Binkley Memorial Baptist Church: $10,000 (General Support) • Committee of 100: $3,500 (General Support) **Application Process:** The found…
What size grants does Falling Leaves Foundation award?
In 2024, Falling Leaves Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $497K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Falling Leaves Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Falling Leaves Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Falling Leaves Foundation's EIN?
Falling Leaves Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4861119. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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