Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen
The Hugh E & Marjorie S Petersen Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. Established in 2006, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and functions as a grantmaking entity supporting various charitable causes across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$37.7M
-5.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+125.3% YoY
Grant Count
19
+58.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$88K
+42.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on the following areas:
- Religion and Christianity
- Human services
- Youth development and youth services
- Education
Grantmaking
The foundation made 27 grants in 2024, with total giving of $1,663,570. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas
Cities: Chicago, Downers Grove, Milpitas, Norcross, Orlando, Prescott, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, and Westlake Village
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $37,698,418
- Total Giving: $1,663,570
- Total Revenues: $36,819
- Total Expenses: $2,147,807
- Number of Employees: 3
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $39.8 million
- Total Revenues: $5.87 million
- Total Expenses: $1.13 million
The foundation generates investment income and dividends, with 2024 investment income of $288,219.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,698,418 | $39,788,212 | $35,049,938 |
| Revenue | $36,819 | $5,867,516 | $-232,689 |
| Expenses | $2,147,807 | $1,129,242 | $1,119,433 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,943,854 | $972,287 | $976,820 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,746,442 | $1,588,740 | $1,463,780 |
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
97 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Montecito Covenant Church ($510,000), Westmont College ($400,000), Young Life - California Central Region Af56 ($161,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY VALLEY WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| DIRECT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL SANTA BARBARA, CA | UKRAINE RELIEF | $25,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT WALLS SANTA BARBARA SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL SUPPPORT | $10,000 |
| FAMILY CARE NETWORK INC SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| HAGGAI INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE NORCROSS, GA | LEADERSHIP TRAINING SESSION | $150,000 |
| LANGHAM PARTNERSHIP USA MILPITAS, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| MONTECITO COVENANT CHURCH SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $510,000 |
| PROVIDENCE SCHOOL INC SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA RESCUE MISSION SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA SCHOOL OF SQUASH INC SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL SUPPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Lynne Mtahmisian — Director and President (8 hours per week, $108,000 compensation)
- Sharon Peck — Director and Vice President (4 hours per week, $122,000 compensation)
- Ruth Kovacs — Director, Secretary, and Vice President (4 hours per week, $104,000 compensation)
Lynne M Tahmisian serves as the registered agent for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUTH KOVACS | DIR, SEC, VP | 4 | $120,000 |
| SHARON PECK | DIR, VP | 4 | $120,000 |
| LYNNE MTAHMISIAN | DIR, PRES | 8 | $120,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 1114 State Street, Suite 243 Santa Barbara, CA 93101
EIN: 20-3757530
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen fund?
The foundation focuses on the following areas: • Religion and Christianity • Human services • Youth development and youth services • Education
How do I apply for a grant from Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 27 grants in 2024, with total giving of $1,663,570. Recent grants include: • Montecito Covenant Church (Santa Barbara, CA): $510,000 for general and unrestricted support • Westmont College: $400,000 for an internship program • Haggai International: $150,000 for a leadership training session **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $510,000, with a median grant amount of approximately $39,000.
Where does Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas **Cities:** Chicago, Downers Grove, Milpitas, Norcross, Orlando, Prescott, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, and Westlake Village
What size grants does Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen award?
In 2024, Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen awarded 19 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $88K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen's EIN?
Hugh E& Marjorie Spetersen's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3757530. 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.