Sun Family Foundation
The Sun Family Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1999 by David and Diana Sun, co-founders of Kingston Technology. Based in Fountain Valley, California, the foundation operates with a vision of sharing their good fortune with communities that have supported their family and business ventures. The foundation is now run by two generations of family members, with next-generation leaders holding key positions and shaping the organization's philanthropic strategy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$91.8M
+30.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.0M
-12.2% YoY
Grant Count
51
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$97K
-12.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sun Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Sun Family Foundation's mission is to advance educational opportunities and the well-being of the underserved. The foundation was initially inspired by David's late mother, Guang Yuan, a beloved high school biology teacher in Taiwan who served as a confidant to thousands of students throughout her 30-year teaching career.
Since its inception, the foundation has primarily focused on providing educational opportunities for underserved youth. In recent years, it has expanded its grantmaking to support organizations that provide services to underserved individuals and communities. Current focus areas include:
- Education
- Youth development
- Human services
- Philanthropy and social innovation
Grantmaking
The Sun Family Foundation awards approximately 51-60 grants annually. Grant characteristics include:
Grant Range
** $1,000 to $1,800,000
Invitation Only
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry. Grants are made only to organizations that the foundation approaches. Organizations interested in connecting may use the contact form on the foundation's website, but the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a wide range of cities primarily in California, with particular emphasis on Orange County. It also extends its reach to other states including Nevada, New York, Kansas, and Washington D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Based on the most recent available filings:
- Total Assets: Approximately $86.8 million to $92 million
- Annual Giving: $5.6 million (2023)
- Total Revenue: $3.23 million (2023)
- Total Expenses: $7.66 million (2023)
- Total Liabilities: $1.31 million (2023)
The foundation ranks in the top 10% of foundations by asset size (Rank #2,205 of 159,619 foundations).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $91,847,351 | $70,175,059 | $68,524,709 |
| Revenue | $24,074,638 | $3,227,488 | $3,609,101 |
| Expenses | $7,158,982 | $7,664,567 | $5,122,586 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,233,167 | $5,725,244 | $4,553,427 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,998,270 | $2,509,112 | $2,963,158 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,967,034 | $3,377,425 | $3,780,238 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Simon Foundation for Education ($1,537,000), Community Action Partnership of Orange County ($500,000), Uc Irvine Foundation ($252,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 BLACK MEN OF ORANGE COUNTY IRVINE, CA | YOUTH MENTORING | $25,000 |
| ABOVE & BEYOND TEACHING SAN RAFAEL, CA | 2023-2026 TEACHER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY | $160,000 |
| ARTS AND LEARNING CONSERVATORY COSTA MESA, CA | ARTS EDUCATION | $50,000 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN FUTURES IRVINE, CA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $10,000 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICE CTR BREA, CA | SOCIAL | $100,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL COAST IRVINE, CA | HUMAN SERVICES | $80,000 |
| BRACKEN'S KITCHEN GARDEN GROVE, CA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $100,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | EDUCATION | $120,000 |
| CADENCE PARK PTSA IRVINE, CA | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CASA OC ORANGE, CA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a volunteer board and family members:
- David Sun – President & Chairman (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)
- Diana Sun – Vice President (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)
- Dara Mullarkey – Treasurer (1 hour/week, $14,000 compensation)
- Diana Kong – Secretary (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)
- Mei Hua Wong – Director (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)
Additional staff include:
- Joanna Kong – Executive Director
- Daniel Mullarkey – Chief Investment Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID SUN | PRESIDENT & CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| DIANA SUN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DARA MULLARKEY | TREASURER | 1 | $14,285 |
| DIANA KONG | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MEI HUA WONG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Sun Family Foundation has made several significant recent commitments:
Sun Family Foundation Doubles Commitment to Major Hoag ...**Hoag Hospital Expansion:** The foundation made a historic $100 million commitment to Hoag Hospital's expansion in Irvine, consisting of two $50 million gifts (2022 and 2025), marking the largest contribution from a family to the Boldly Hoag campaign.
Sun Family Foundation Doubles Commitment to Major Hoag ...**Simon Scholars Program:** The foundation committed to a $1.75 million annual contribution to support the Simon Scholars Program.
OCCF Celebrates a Record $125 Million in Grants and Scholarships ...**Hope Builders Partnership:** The foundation provided a generous multi-year grant in support of Hope Builders' workforce development programs, which help individuals gain technical skills and professional development for careers in construction and related fields.
Sun Family Foundation to Support Simon Scholars Program With $1.75 Million**National Recognition:** The foundation received the National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Philanthropist Award in 2021.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sun Family Foundation fund?
The Sun Family Foundation's mission is to advance educational opportunities and the well-being of the underserved. The foundation was initially inspired by David's late mother, Guang Yuan, a beloved high school biology teacher in Taiwan who served as a confidant to thousands of students throughout her 30-year teaching career. Since its inception, the foundation has primarily focused on providing educational opportunities for underserved youth. In recent years, it has expanded its grantmaking to…
How do I apply for a grant from Sun Family Foundation?
The Sun Family Foundation awards approximately 51-60 grants annually. Grant characteristics include: • **Grant Range:** $1,000 to $1,800,000 • **Median Grant:** $45,000 to $50,000 • **Annual Giving:** Approximately $5.6 million (2023) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry. Grants are made only to organizations that the foundation approaches. Organizations interested in connecting may use the contact form on the foundation's website, …
Where does Sun Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports a wide range of cities primarily in California, with particular emphasis on Orange County. It also extends its reach to other states including Nevada, New York, Kansas, and Washington D.C.
What size grants does Sun Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Sun Family Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $5.0M — an average of about $97K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sun Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sun Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sun Family Foundation's EIN?
Sun Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0868088. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sun Family 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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