Mooney Foundation
Mooney Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Ynez, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to preselected charitable organizations and says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Mooney Foundation at a glance
In short: Mooney Foundation gave $33K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in California. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $33,288
- +23.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,561
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $602,290
- +0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (61% 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 Mooney Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. No application process or materials are provided.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3100 Country Road, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Phone: (805) 691-9440
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mooney Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Teen Challenge ($5K). Together the top 10 received $33K.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 54 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to organizations in California (61%), Oregon (15%), Minnesota (12%), North Carolina (9%), and Kansas (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mooney Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% 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 $19K (2020) to $33K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $33K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Teen Challenge Riverside, CA | Support for rehabilitation of misdirected teens and spiritual renewal | $5,000 |
| Joni & Friends Albert Lea, MN | To support a mission trip and fund families to go to camp | $4,000 |
| Destined for Grace Carpinteria, CA | Religious/humanitarian aid - childrens relief in haiti. Mission efforts provides schooling, meals, and bible teaching | $3,500 |
| Wonderfully Made Buellton, CA | To promote the christian ministry helping young women know their true value and to equip them to live spiritually, mentally and emotionally healthy lives | $3,500 |
| Two by 2 Global Ministries Hickory, NC | To fund missionary work to spread the gospel of jesus christ throughout the world, especially in restricted areas of the world | $3,000 |
| Grove Christian Camp Dorena, OR | Religious | $3,000 |
| Valley Christian Fellowship Solvang, CA | To Provide Christian Camp Scholarships for Needy Children | $3,000 |
| Novo Ministries Anaheim, CA | Preach gospel & mobilize churches to reach the lost around the world | $3,000 |
| Imagine Africa Drain, OR | To Fund Feeding the Children in Malawi Africa | $2,000 |
| Global Scholars Overland Park, KS | Mission Outreach Through Christian Scholars | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mooney 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 | $602,290 | $54,856 | $53,818 | $33,288 | 13 | $36,514 | $45,863 | $34,407 |
| 2024 | $600,801 | $71,508 | $58,911 | $26,882 | 11 | $28,863 | $61,609 | $35,318 |
| 2023 | $588,080 | $71,986 | $46,662 | $29,005 | 10 | $30,323 | $67,780 | $30,436 |
| 2022 | $562,125 | $40,450 | $47,618 | $29,428 | 11 | $32,499 | $34,344 | $30,009 |
| 2021 | $569,295 | $133,448 | $42,468 | $21,364 | 9 | $29,192 | $127,221 | $29,904 |
| 2020 | $478,313 | $199,524 | $21,795 | $18,500 | 8 | — | $198,308 | $22,084 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mooney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Christian ministries and missionary work, Bible and camp programs for children, rehabilitation of teens, and aid for children in Haiti and Malawi.
Among the grantees, Global Scholars describes its mission as equipping Christian academics to have a redemptive influence among students, colleagues, universities, and disciplines, at a reasonable cost. The foundation gave Global Scholars $1,000 in 2025.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $33,288. Grant amounts ranged from $288 to $5,000, with a median of $3,000.
Notable 2025 grants included $5,000 to Teen Challenge for rehabilitation of misdirected teens and spiritual renewal; $4,000 to Joni & Friends to support a mission trip and help families attend camp; $3,500 to Destined for Grace for children’s relief in Haiti; and $3,500 to Wonderfully Made for its ministry to young women. Other listed grants included $3,000 each to Two by 2 Global Ministries, Grove Christian Camp, Valley Christian Fellowship, and Novo Ministries.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists F Bentley Mooney III as President & CEO; Jennifer L Kester as SCY/Treasurer; and Steven Kester, Eli Erb, Tiffany Erb, Susan Mooney, Megan Barber, Matthew Mooney, and Jennifer Mooney as directors.
Mooney Foundation is led by F. Bentley Mooney III, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
F. Bentley Mooney III
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eli Erb
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Mooney
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Mooney
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Barber
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Mooney
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Kester
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Erb
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer L. Kester
Scy & Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Scy & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Tiffany Graley (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Thomas Barber (2020) — Director
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 Mooney Foundation
How much does Mooney Foundation give each year?
Mooney Foundation gave $33K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 11 grants.
What is Mooney Foundation's typical grant size?
Mooney Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $2,561, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mooney Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Mooney Foundation give grants?
Mooney Foundation gives mostly in California: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Oregon (15%) and Minnesota (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Solvang, CA (4 grants).
Does Mooney Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Mooney Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Mooney Foundation's largest grantees?
Mooney Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Teen Challenge ($5,000), Valley Christian Fellowship ($5,000 across 3 grants) and Joni & Friends ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mooney Foundation?
Mooney Foundation reported $602K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $37K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $34K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mooney Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Christian ministries and missionary work, Bible and camp programs for children, rehabilitation of teens, and aid for children in Haiti and Malawi. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mooney Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mooney Foundation's EIN?
Mooney Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3349604. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Mooney Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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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Figures come from Mooney 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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