JW Sefton Foundation
The San Diego Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, with 51 to 200 employees. For more than 50 years, it and its donors have granted more than $1 billion to support the San Diego region. The foundation describes its work as ethical philanthropy, emphasizing accountability to partners and a collaborative, respectful approach with the communities it serves as well as with government, nonprofit, business sectors, and individuals. The organization prioritizes learning, listening to diverse perspectives, building coalitions, and engaging in shared decision-making with local communities.
JW Sefton Foundation at a glance
In short: JW Sefton Foundation gave $1.3M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $189K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,325,000
- +3.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $189,286
- -10.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $130,000
- Total assets
- $19,768,875
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who JW Sefton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was San Diego Natural History Museum ($425K). Together the top 7 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 18 grants of 40 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How JW Sefton Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). 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
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $1.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Natural History Museum San Diego, CA | Grant for General Operating Support | $425,000 |
| Forever Balboa Park San Diego, CA | Botanical Building and Gardens Pledge | $375,000 |
| Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute San Diego, CA | Wild Abalone Restoration | $145,000 |
| Living Coast Discovery Center Chula Vista, CA | Education Without Boundaries Program | $130,000 |
| San Diego Humane Society San Diego, CA | Grant for Project Wildlife | $125,000 |
| The San Diego Foundation San Diego, CA | Grant for friends of chula vista animal care facility | $90,000 |
| Emilio Nares Foundation San Diego, CA | Comprehensive Care Initiatives | $35,000 |
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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 | $19,768,875 | $1,445,952 | $1,512,627 | $1,325,000 | 7 | $1,393,946 | $1,337,929 | $1,416,802 |
| 2024 | $19,835,550 | $1,275,799 | $1,484,090 | $1,275,000 | 6 | $1,352,629 | $1,169,667 | $1,363,660 |
| 2023 | $20,043,841 | $1,659,639 | $1,406,199 | $1,234,304 | 9 | $1,296,939 | $1,563,287 | $1,258,152 |
| 2022 | $19,790,401 | $1,403,866 | $1,424,043 | $1,235,000 | 9 | $1,299,141 | $1,302,716 | $1,302,615 |
| 2021 | $19,810,578 | $1,800,360 | $1,568,088 | $1,365,000 | 9 | $1,428,652 | $1,680,072 | $1,412,347 |
| 2020 | $19,578,306 | $1,691,174 | $1,383,951 | $1,181,209 | 7 | — | $1,665,320 | $1,208,119 |
| 2019 | $19,271,083 | $1,410,830 | $1,388,358 | $1,197,000 | 8 | — | $1,314,830 | $1,255,347 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JW Sefton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About JW Sefton Foundation
Based on IRS filings
JW Sefton Foundation is a private foundation focused on Children and youth, based in San Diego, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $19.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $1.3M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
JW Sefton Foundation is led by Harley Sefton, President on every filing since 2019; 5 of 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Harley Sefton
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$900 (2019) → $1K (2025)
Brenna C. Sefton
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
$900 (2019) → $1K (2025)
Kathryn Anderson Kim
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$900 (2019) → $1K (2025)
Peter R. Ladow
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
$300 (2019) → $800 (2025)
Robert Scott
Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
$900 (2019) → $1K (2025)
Laurie S. Henson
Director Emeritus
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1K, to Harley Sefton (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about JW Sefton Foundation
How much does JW Sefton Foundation give each year?
JW Sefton Foundation gave $1.3M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 6 grants.
What is JW Sefton Foundation's typical grant size?
JW Sefton Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $130,000, and its average grant was $189,286, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does JW Sefton Foundation give grants?
JW Sefton Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (6 grants).
Does JW Sefton Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of JW Sefton Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are JW Sefton Foundation's largest grantees?
JW Sefton Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include San Diego Natural History Museum ($425,000), Forever Balboa Park ($375,000) and Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute ($145,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is JW Sefton Foundation?
JW Sefton Foundation reported $19.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (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 is JW Sefton Foundation?
JW Sefton Foundation is a private foundation focused on Children and youth, based in San Diego, CA. It holds $19.8M in total assets as of 2025.
What is JW Sefton Foundation's EIN?
JW Sefton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-1513384. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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