Hanson Family Foundation
The Hanson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California. In its 2025 filing, the foundation stated that its trustees would use their best efforts to support traditional and conservative values through charitable-purpose work in music, the arts, education, public policy research and development, community development, and health-related services.
Hanson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Hanson Family Foundation gave $317K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in District of Columbia. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $317,000
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,417
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,887,019
- +2.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Hanson Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. The filing names John Nils Hanson as the contact and states that there are no special requirements for application materials.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: John Nils Hanson
Mailing address: 1385 Caminito Acento, La Jolla, CA 92037-7175
Phone: (858) 456-2946
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hanson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Heritage Foundation ($152K). Together the top 10 received $297K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 60 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in La Jolla, California. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC (53%), Virginia (32%), California (8%), Arizona (5%), and Michigan (3%). These reported shares describe the locations of 2025 recipients; the filing does not state a geographic restriction.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Hanson Family Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $242K (2020) to $317K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $317K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC | Promote research and leadership through education. | $152,000 |
| The Leadership Institute Arlington, VA | Promote leadership through education. | $60,000 |
| Media Research Center Alexandria, VA | Promote research and leadership through education. | $25,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $15,000 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | Promote research and leadership through education. | $10,000 |
| San Diego Armed Services YMCA San Diego, CA | Support of active military families. | $10,000 |
| St Vincent De Paul Village San Diego, CA | Support for needy families. | $10,000 |
| Navy Seal Foundation Virginia Beach, VA | Support of active military families. | $10,000 |
| Judicial Watch Washington, DC | Oversee Public Service Performance | $10,000 |
| Freedom Alliance Dulles, VA | Support of injured troops. | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Hanson Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,887,019 | $395,964 | $329,642 | $317,000 | 12 | $320,902 | $392,682 | $326,181 |
| 2024 | $2,820,788 | $178,784 | $316,447 | $307,000 | 12 | $310,785 | $174,829 | $309,567 |
| 2023 | $2,957,945 | $374,847 | $320,206 | $307,000 | 12 | $311,570 | $371,373 | $280,008 |
| 2022 | $2,903,303 | $239,283 | $322,120 | $312,000 | 12 | $315,900 | $212,369 | $291,409 |
| 2021 | $3,003,231 | $170,191 | $302,759 | $292,000 | 12 | $296,083 | $165,820 | $305,317 |
| 2020 | $3,135,856 | $265,113 | $252,517 | $242,000 | 11 | — | $262,123 | $246,194 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hanson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $326K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its charitable purpose as promoting traditional and conservative values while supporting music, the arts, education, qualifying public policy research and development, community development, and health-related services.
Its 2025 grantees included organizations with varied missions. The Heritage Foundation describes its mission as promoting conservative public policies based on free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and national defense. The Media Research Center says it works to combat what it calls falsehoods and censorship in news and entertainment media and Big Tech. The Navy SEAL Foundation says it supports warriors, veterans, and families of Naval Special Warfare. St. Vincent de Paul Village describes its work as helping neighbors break cycles of homelessness and poverty through programs that promote self-sufficiency. Judicial Watch says it works to promote government integrity, transparency, accountability, and fidelity to the rule of law. Freedom Alliance describes its mission as advancing the American heritage of freedom through public policy, troop support, and scholarships.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $317,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $152,000, with a median of $10,000.
The largest awards were $152,000 to The Heritage Foundation and $60,000 to The Leadership Institute. Other grants included $25,000 to the Media Research Center; $15,000 to an individual recipient; and $10,000 each to Hillsdale College, San Diego Armed Services YMCA, St. Vincent de Paul Village, Navy SEAL Foundation, and Judicial Watch. The foundation also gave $5,000 each to Freedom Alliance, The Claremont Institute, and Committee For A Constructive Tomorr.
The filing says the foundation contributes to preselected charities and also accepts unsolicited requests. It states that there are no special application requirements and no deadlines. The filing also says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John Nils Hanson and Stephanie M Hanson as trustees.
Hanson Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Nils Hanson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie M Hanson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Hanson Family Foundation
How much does Hanson Family Foundation give each year?
Hanson Family Foundation gave $317K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $307K across 12 grants.
What is Hanson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Hanson Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $26,417, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hanson Family Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Hanson Family Foundation give grants?
Hanson Family Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (32%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants) and San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does Hanson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Hanson Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Promote research and leadership through education." (4 grants).
Who are Hanson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Hanson Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Heritage Foundation ($152,000), The Leadership Institute ($60,000) and Media Research Center ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hanson Family Foundation?
Hanson Family Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $321K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $326K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Hanson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its charitable purpose as promoting traditional and conservative values while supporting music, the arts, education, qualifying public policy research and development, community development, and health-related services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hanson Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hanson Family Foundation's EIN?
Hanson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6912093. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Hanson Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hanson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hanson-family-foundation-morg_0760f0110e594f61a52994d6670b1206
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_256912093_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hanson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hanson-family-foundation-morg_0760f0110e594f61a52994d6670b1206},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Hanson Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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