Miranda Lux Foundation
The Miranda Lux Foundation is a private foundation based in San Rafael, California. Established in 1955, it supports proposals for pre-vocational and vocational education, and related programs that help young people develop skills for work.
Miranda Lux Foundation at a glance
In short: Miranda Lux Foundation gave $525K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in California. 55% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $525,000
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +3.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,500
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $13,057,378
- +3.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (16 of 29, 2025)
- 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 October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Miranda Lux Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts grant proposals on a continuing basis from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations. Send a complete proposal to the Executive Director; there is no standard application form.
- Contact
Application contact: Mr Kenneth Blum Executive Director
Mailing address: PO Box 6106, San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 981-2966
Email: admin@mirandalux.org
Website: https://mirandalux.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Miranda Lux Foundation
Who Miranda Lux Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Santa Rosa Junior College Foundatio ($40K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $240K.
Grant Size Distribution
166 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 166 grants of 166 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation limits grantmaking to nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area serving young people ages 18 and under. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Miranda Lux Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 29 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 21% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $482K (2022) to $525K (2025). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $525K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City Surf Project San Francisco, CA | to support the Alumni Coach prograM | $30,000 |
| Sprouts Chef Training S San Francisco, CA | To Support the Chef Training Program | $25,000 |
| Pie Ranch Pescadero, CA | to support the Youth Education Program | $25,000 |
| ICA Cristo Rey Academy San Francisco, CA | To Support the Corporate Work Study Program | $20,000 |
| Magnolia Project Santa Rosa, CA | to support the expansion of the Career Explorations program throughout Sonoma County | $20,000 |
| North Coast Builders Exchange Santa Rosa, CA | To support an afterschool 3-month basic construction training program | $20,000 |
| Olinga Gonzales, CA | to support stem WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN MONTEREY | $20,000 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College Foundatio Santa Rosa, CA | to support the CARPENTRY FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| Huckleberry Youth Programs San Francisco, CA | To support the Marin Huckleberry Access to College Equity Academy | $20,000 |
| LandPaths Santa Rosa, CA | to support the Youth Stewards Program | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Miranda Lux 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 | $13,057,378 | $656,026 | $794,844 | $525,000 | 30 | $674,826 | $589,299 | $643,532 |
| 2024 | $12,591,953 | $690,819 | $756,378 | $518,500 | 29 | $664,155 | $628,292 | $581,201 |
| 2023 | $11,764,764 | $458,492 | $660,294 | $485,000 | 28 | $626,612 | $399,602 | $563,832 |
| 2022 | $11,467,010 | $512,096 | $708,021 | $482,100 | 38 | $631,129 | $441,541 | $644,818 |
| 2021 | $13,466,251 | $2,031,851 | $696,037 | $488,900 | 41 | — | $1,974,479 | $585,505 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Miranda Lux Foundation reported a distributable amount of $644K 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 supports pre-vocational and vocational education from preschool through junior college. It also funds academic enrichment, technology training, and performing and visual arts programs intended to help participants develop core job skills.
Its grants have supported a range of youth programs. For example, City Surf Project describes its mission as expanding young people’s equitable access to the coastline and promoting health and well-being through surf instruction. Sprouts Chef Training says it equips youth through culinary training and job placement, while Pie Ranch describes its work as food education, farmer training, and regional partnerships.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $525,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $30,000, with a median of $15,000. Among the largest reported awards were $30,000 to City Surf Project for its Alumni Coach program; $25,000 each to Sprouts Chef Training for its chef training program and Pie Ranch for its Youth Education Program; and $20,000 each to several organizations, including ICA Cristo Rey Academy, Magnolia Project, LandPaths, and Spaulding Marine Center.
The Foundation’s website says trustees meet quarterly to review proposals. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Executive Director to discuss whether a proposed program fits the Foundation’s interests. There is no standard application form. The proposal should include organizational and program information, goals and activities, target participants, key personnel, a detailed program budget, other funding sources, plans for continued funding, organizational financial information, and the organization’s IRS exemption letter. The Foundation does not fund individuals, loans, scholarships or grants to specific individuals; annual drives, fundraising events, operating deficits or endowments; or sectarian religious activities or facilities. It does not promise continuing support. Its filing states that projects are initially approved for one year, with continuations of up to three years subject to annual review, and that grantees must report on the use of funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert J. Cappelloni as President, Roland E. Tognazzini Jr. as Vice President, Nina Gladish as Secretary, and Bert Damner, Philip F. Spalding, Sonia Fava, and Terrelea Wong as Trustees. Kenneth J. Blum is identified as Executive Director in the Foundation’s application information.
Miranda Lux Foundation is led by Robert J. Cappelloni, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert J. Cappelloni
President
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bert Damner
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip F. Spalding
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonia Fava
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terrelea Wong
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nina Gladish
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roland E. Tognazzini Jr.
Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Beatrice Bowles (2021–2022) — Secy-Treas
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Miranda Lux Foundation
How much does Miranda Lux Foundation give each year?
Miranda Lux Foundation gave $525K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $519K across 29 grants.
What is Miranda Lux Foundation's typical grant size?
Miranda Lux Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $17,500, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Miranda Lux Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Miranda Lux Foundation give grants?
Miranda Lux 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 Francisco, CA (11 grants), Santa Rosa, CA (5 grants) and Berkeley, CA (2 grants).
Does Miranda Lux Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Miranda Lux Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Miranda Lux Foundation's largest grantees?
Miranda Lux Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Santa Rosa Junior College Foundatio ($40,000 across 2 grants), City Surf Project ($30,000) and Sprouts Chef Training ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Miranda Lux Foundation?
Miranda Lux Foundation reported $13.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $675K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $644K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Miranda Lux Foundation fund?
The Foundation supports pre-vocational and vocational education from preschool through junior college. It also funds academic enrichment, technology training, and performing and visual arts programs intended to help participants develop core job skills. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Miranda Lux Foundation?
The Foundation accepts grant proposals on a continuing basis from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Miranda Lux Foundation's EIN?
Miranda Lux Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-1170404. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Miranda Lux Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/miranda-lux-foundation-morg_01f5356285bf45b7b5fdb818cf368142
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_941170404_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Miranda Lux Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/miranda-lux-foundation-morg_01f5356285bf45b7b5fdb818cf368142},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Miranda Lux 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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