Hobsonlucas Family Foundation
The Hobson Lucas Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2005 and based in San Rafael, California. It is the philanthropic vehicle of George Lucas, the acclaimed filmmaker and founder of Lucasfilm, and Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since August 2007.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2B
+5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$56.8M
-9.8% YoY
Grant Count
336
-7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$169K
-2.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hobsonlucas Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $61.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the following areas:
- Arts and Culture — including museums, theaters, music, and art centers
- Film — including film preservation and production
- Education — including after-school programs, professional development, and higher education
- Human Services — with particular focus on programs benefiting children and at-risk youth
- Community Development
- Animal Welfare
The foundation is known for prioritizing education and film-related initiatives. George Lucas is recognized as an education funding heavyweight and also makes education grants through the separate George Lucas Educational Foundation.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry. Grantseekers are advised to contact the foundation first prior to submitting a full application to cultivate relationships with grant officers and improve application prospects.
Grant Range
$5,000
Average Grant
$194,600
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
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,245,791,258
- Total Revenue: $73,455,573
- Total Expenses: $36,500,000
- Total Liabilities: $46,200,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,245,791,258 | $1,177,109,011 | $1,097,213,558 |
| Revenue | $73,455,573 | $37,131,505 | $41,002,391 |
| Expenses | $36,506,396 | $41,509,408 | $29,900,696 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $56,952,390 | $62,962,547 | $63,931,901 |
| Net Investment Income | $51,787,568 | $28,087,962 | $33,009,487 |
| Distributable Amount | $61,319,128 | $56,418,673 | $56,260,141 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Aclu Foundation ($1,000,000), Aclu Foundation ($1,000,000), Apollo Theater Foundation ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER CHANCE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL DONATION | $10,000 |
| ACADEMY FOR URBAN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL DONATION | $1,000 |
| ACCESS LIVING CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL DONATION | $1,500 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL DONATION | $1,000,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | IMMIGRANTS RIGHT PROJECTS | $1,000,000 |
| ADLER PLANETARIUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL DONATION | $5,000 |
| ADOPT A FAMILY OF MARIN SAN RAFAEL, CA | GENERAL DONATION | $1,000 |
| AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL DONATION | $210,734 |
| AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL DONATION | $500,000 |
| ALCOHOL JUSTICE SAN RAFAEL, CA | GENERAL DONATION | $14,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- George W. Lucas Jr. — President/Director, founder of Lucasfilm
- Mellody Hobson — Vice President/Director, president of Ariel Investments
- Andrea Wishom — Vice President/Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE W LUCAS JR | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MELLODY HOBSON | VP/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDREA WISHOM | VP/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL RIDER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| NATALIE TALBOTT | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KATE NYEGAARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELBERT ROBINSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been a significant supporter of major cultural and educational initiatives, including:
Support for the establishment of the Martin Scorsese Institute and Virtual Production Center at New York University
Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation Helps to Establish Martin Scorsese InstituteGrants to support undergraduate scholarships at Texas State University
Hobson gift to benefit undergraduate scholarships for students from Edna,\Support for the Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program
Substantial investment in the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, with approximately $1 billion spent on construction and endowments
Both George Lucas and Mellody Hobson are signatories to the Giving Pledge, committing to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
2025 News! Thank You to the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation! | MinoritiesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hobsonlucas Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the following areas: • **Arts and Culture** — including museums, theaters, music, and art centers • **Film** — including film preservation and production • **Education** — including after-school programs, professional development, and higher education • **Human Services** — with particular focus on programs benefiting children and at-risk youth • **Community Development** • **Animal Welfare** The foundation is known for prioritizing education a…
How do I apply for a grant from Hobsonlucas Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500 to $13,000,000 • Median grant size: $5,000 • Average grant size: $194,600 • Total giving (2024): $56,811,741 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry. Grantseekers are advised to contact the foundation first prior to submitting a full application to cultivate relationships with grant officers and improve application prospects. **Geographic Focus:** The foundation primarily supports nonprofits in the San…
What size grants does Hobsonlucas Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Hobsonlucas Family Foundation awarded 336 grants totaling $56.8M — an average of about $169K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Hobsonlucas Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hobsonlucas Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $61.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Hobsonlucas Family Foundation's EIN?
Hobsonlucas Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3940983. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hobsonlucas Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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