McBurney Foundation
McBurney Foundation is a private foundation based in Ross, California. In 2025, it made grants to charitable organizations, including schools, arts organizations, a food bank, and organizations providing mental health, legal, and community services.
McBurney Foundation at a glance
In short: McBurney Foundation gave $255K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in California. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $255,000
- +18.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,444
- +9.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,936,050
- -6.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (8 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to McBurney Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 378, Ross, CA 94957
Phone: (415) 306-4610
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who McBurney Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Redwood High School Foundation ($30K). Together the top 10 received $165K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 104 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 81% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. The reported shares for other recipient states were Georgia (8%), Texas (6%), Virginia (4%), and New York (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is McBurney Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 25 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $141K (2021) to $255K (2025). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $255K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood High School Foundation Larkspur, CA | Arts, Athletics, Education | $30,000 |
| Headlands Center for the Arts Sausalito, CA | Arts Education | $25,000 |
| The Branson School Ross, CA | Educational Programs | $25,000 |
| SF-Marin Food Bank San Francisco, CA | Food for the Hungry | $20,000 |
| La Biblioteca Publica De San Miguel De Allende Houston, TX | Art Room, Supplies, Classes | $15,000 |
| Bolinas Museum Bolinas, CA | Maintenance, Expenses | $10,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America Alexandria, VA | Thrid World Farming Education and Health | $10,000 |
| Hope and Healing Foundation Atlanta, GA | Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Wellness | $10,000 |
| Atlana Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Atlanta, GA | Free Legal Services | $10,000 |
| Play Marin Sausalito, CA | Educational Programs | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with McBurney 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 | $2,936,050 | $99,156 | $297,232 | $255,000 | 27 | $255,000 | $75,980 | $254,852 |
| 2024 | $3,134,126 | $85,887 | $277,160 | $215,000 | 25 | $215,000 | $62,368 | $240,743 |
| 2023 | $3,330,399 | $2,342,427 | $226,243 | $205,000 | 21 | $205,000 | $2,325,173 | $166,645 |
| 2022 | $1,209,212 | $89,331 | $188,913 | $185,000 | 16 | $185,000 | $89,331 | $172,374 |
| 2021 | $1,309,811 | $76,404 | $146,983 | $141,000 | 15 | $141,000 | $76,404 | $164,061 |
| 2020 | $1,388,389 | $71,190 | $150,894 | $145,000 | 11 | — | $72,434 | $136,228 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, McBurney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $255K 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 own mission is not stated in the available information. Its grants include support for education, arts, athletics, food assistance, mental health, and legal services. For example, Redwood High School Foundation says it supports academics, fine arts, athletics, and scholarships at Redwood High School; Headlands Center for the Arts says it supports artists’ residencies and public programs; and SF-Marin Food Bank received a grant for food for people experiencing hunger.
Other 2025 recipients describe their work as including inclusive opportunities for children from diverse backgrounds (Play Marin), preserving and exhibiting local history and art (Bolinas Museum), and providing active-aging services, transportation, nutrition, classes, and social connection for older adults and people with disabilities (Vivalon).
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $255,000. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $30,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $30,000 to Redwood High School Foundation; $25,000 each to Headlands Center for the Arts and The Branson School; and $20,000 to SF-Marin Food Bank. Other notable grants included $15,000 to La Biblioteca Publica de San Miguel de Allende and $10,000 each to Bolinas Museum, Play Marin, and Hope and Healing Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Starrs Arnot as president and Linda McBurney as vice president/treasurer.
McBurney Foundation is led by Starrs Arnot, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Starrs Arnot
President
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda McBurney
Vice President & Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Vice President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Charles McBurney (2020–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Robert McBurney (2020–2021) — Vice President
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 McBurney Foundation
How much does McBurney Foundation give each year?
McBurney Foundation gave $255K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $215K across 25 grants.
What is McBurney Foundation's typical grant size?
McBurney Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $9,444, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from McBurney Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does McBurney Foundation give grants?
McBurney Foundation gives mostly in California: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Georgia (8%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Rafael, CA (7 grants), Bolinas, CA (4 grants), Sausalito, CA (3 grants) and San Francisco, CA (3 grants).
Does McBurney Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on McBurney Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Programs" (3 grants).
Who are McBurney Foundation's largest grantees?
McBurney Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Redwood High School Foundation ($30,000), Headlands Center for the Arts ($25,000) and The Branson School ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is McBurney Foundation?
McBurney Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $255K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $255K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does McBurney Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its grants include support for education, arts, athletics, food assistance, mental health, and legal services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from McBurney Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is McBurney Foundation's EIN?
McBurney Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-6028620. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does McBurney Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). McBurney Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mcburney-foundation-morg_6958cdfa5c574bacbfa5ae73f21d4b7a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_756028620_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{McBurney Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mcburney-foundation-morg_6958cdfa5c574bacbfa5ae73f21d4b7a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 McBurney 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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