Sjl Foundation
SJL Foundation is a private corporate foundation established in 1988 and based in Montecito, California. The foundation operates with no employees and focuses on education reform and community development initiatives, particularly in the Santa Barbara area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$541K
-18.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$104K
+24.1% YoY
Grant Count
27
+42.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-12.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sjl Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement. However, its primary focus areas include:
Education Reform: The SJL Education Project is developing a pilot program to reimagine elementary education, addressing the national crisis of failing public elementary schools. The initiative aims to transform schools into institutions equipped with modern facilities, skilled educators, and comprehensive support systems—particularly benefiting children from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities of color. The foundation actively engages with state legislators throughout the United States to reframe educational inequity as a civil rights imperative.
Community Development: The foundation supports local community initiatives, including research on economic and infrastructure challenges affecting the Santa Barbara area.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$2,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on California, with particular emphasis on the Santa Barbara and Montecito area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total assets: $541,403
- Total revenues: $13,469
- Total expenses: $136,386
- Giving rate: 11.7% of assets
- Number of employees: 0
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $664,000
- 2022: $443,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $541,403 | $664,320 | $442,653 |
| Revenue | $13,469 | $324,196 | $45,725 |
| Expenses | $136,386 | $102,529 | $99,026 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $126,786 | $92,284 | $91,979 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,034 | $9,369 | $11,293 |
| Distributable Amount | $32,103 | $27,538 | $22,572 |
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
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boston University ($25,000), Penn State University ($20,000), Me&us Foundation ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | SCRCC SCHOLARSHIP | $25,000 |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY ORANGE, CA | STUDENT HARDSHIP FUND | $3,686 |
| ENSEMBLE THEATRE SANTA BARBARA, CA | IN FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)EXEMPT PURPOSE | $250 |
| GEORGE & BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION COLLEGE STATION, TX | IN FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)EXEMPT PURPOSE | $100 |
| GRAND CANYON TRUST FLAGSTAFF, AZ | SPORTS & RECREATION | $100 |
| HIS ISLAND OUTREACH CARPINTERIA, CA | IN SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF THE PANDYTOWN, ROATAN CHURCH. SCHOLARSHIPS TO BENEFIT THE EDUCATION OF THE YOUTH TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, ILLITERACY, AND LOW EXPECTATIONS THROUGH EDUCATION AND SERVICE. | $12,000 |
| LOBERO THEATRE FOUNDATION SANTA BARBARA, CA | IN FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| MONTECITO TRAILS ASSOCIATION MONTECITO, CA | IN FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)EXEMPT PURPOSE | $100 |
| MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST SANTA BARBARA, CA | IN FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| PENN STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY PARK, PA | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
George Lilly serves as trustee of the SJL Foundation and represents the organization in community meetings and strategic initiatives.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE D LILLY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| BRIAN M LILLY | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| KEVIN T LILLY | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| DENISE L LILLY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PARKER LILLY | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| KAYLA LILLY | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, Trustee George Lilly attended multiple meetings with Santa Barbara's Mayor Randy Rouse and members of the Santa Barbara City Council regarding the extended closure of State Street due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following these discussions, the SJL Foundation agreed to fund and commission a research report by Frank N. Magid Associates examining the economic and community impacts of the prolonged State Street closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sjl Foundation fund?
The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement. However, its primary focus areas include: **Education Reform:** The SJL Education Project is developing a pilot program to reimagine elementary education, addressing the national crisis of failing public elementary schools. The initiative aims to transform schools into institutions equipped with modern facilities, skilled educators, and comprehensive support systems—particularly benefiting children from disadvantaged backgrounds …
How do I apply for a grant from Sjl Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $63,286 • Number of grants: 13 • Median grant size: $2,000 • Grant range: $1,000 - $20,000 **Historical Giving:** • 2023: $45,000 across 9 grants (median $4,000) • 2022: $39,000 across 9 grants (median $3,000) **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Where does Sjl Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on California, with particular emphasis on the Santa Barbara and Montecito area.
What size grants does Sjl Foundation award?
In 2024, Sjl Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $104K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sjl Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sjl Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sjl Foundation's EIN?
Sjl Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3584276. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sjl Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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