The Burnham Foundation
The Burnham Foundation is a private foundation based in San Diego, California, according to its IRS filing. Its 2025 filing reports 42 grants totaling $1,767,008, all to recipients in California.
The Burnham Foundation at a glance
In short: The Burnham Foundation gave $1.8M across 42 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in California. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,767,008
- +278.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 42
- +68.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $42,072
- +125.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,349,826
- -28.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (19 of 38, 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 The Burnham Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1100 Market Street 424, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (858) 223-1608
Website: https://theburnhamfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Burnham Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was San Diego History Center ($700K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
189 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 189 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in California. The website describes a separate local focus on Burnham and its surrounding district; that locality is not reconciled with the San Diego location in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Burnham Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 19 of 38 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 34% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 94% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 908% 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 $467K (2024) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 42 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego History Center San Deigo, CA | History Center Sustaining Council. | $700,000 |
| J Craig Venter Institute La Jolla, CA | Advancing the Science of Genomics | $200,000 |
| National Conflict Resolution Center San Diego, CA | Peacemaker Honorary Committee | $150,000 |
| Forever Balboa Park San Deigo, CA | Matching grant to preserve, enhance and activate balboa park. | $100,000 |
| National Conflict Resolution Center San Diego, CA | Peacemaker Honorary Committee. | $75,000 |
| San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 San Deigo, CA | Support of the world design capital 2024 events in san diego & tijuana. | $54,000 |
| Institute of the Americas La Jolla, CA | Funding for the Cross Boarder STEAM Lab | $50,000 |
| Sanford Burnham Prebys La Jolla, CA | Research for the Cure to Cancer. | $50,000 |
| San Diego Yacht Club San Deigo, CA | Burnham Sailing Center Building. | $36,770 |
| Installation Gallery San Diego, CA | Binational Collaborative Arts Partnership | $25,000 |
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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 | $4,349,826 | $4,480,129 | $2,897,480 | $1,767,008 | 42 | $1,767,008 | $4,401,676 | $194,668 |
| 2024 | $6,040,051 | $3,326,315 | $1,289,529 | $467,243 | 25 | $467,243 | $3,075,778 | $274,212 |
| 2023 | $6,831,632 | $94,481 | $745,975 | $713,824 | 37 | $713,824 | — | $280,471 |
| 2022 | $4,558,057 | $1,119,484 | $851,680 | $909,065 | 45 | $909,065 | $986,524 | $282,333 |
| 2021 | $7,464,126 | $185,108 | $756,147 | $777,009 | 40 | $777,009 | $137,339 | $326,008 |
| 2020 | $5,852,296 | $116,972 | $3,152,986 | $1,087,000 | 41 | — | — | $258,826 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Burnham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $195K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The website states that its purpose is to support voluntary groups, charities, individuals, and community services in Burnham and its surrounding district. It highlights volunteering, sports and arts activities and facilities for disabled and able-bodied community members, and environmental awareness. Its grants page also lists support for younger people, older people, equipment, facilities, volunteer training, and reducing barriers to participation.
The 2025 filing shows support for organizations in several fields. For example, J. Craig Venter Institute describes its work as advancing genomics research in human health and environmental sustainability. An individual recipient says it works to sustain and enhance the park in partnership with the City of San Diego and other organizations. San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 describes its year-long celebration as an opportunity to use design to transform the community. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 42 grants totaling $1,767,008. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $700,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest listed awards were $700,000 to San Diego History Center for its History Center Sustaining Council, $200,000 to J. Craig Venter Institute for advancing the science of genomics, and $150,000 to National Conflict Resolution Center for its Peacemaker Honorary Committee.
Other listed 2025 grants included $100,000 to an individual recipient, $54,000 to San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024, $50,000 to Institute of the Americas, and $50,000 to Sanford Burnham Prebys for cancer research. The filing also lists grants to arts, civic, economic-development, and community organizations.
The foundation’s filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website mentions a grant request form, but the filing’s application policy indicates that unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Malin Burnham as president and director, Roberta Burnham as vice president and director, and Kit Sparks as treasurer. It also lists Bruce Morrice, George Delafield, and Jack McGrory as directors.
The Burnham Foundation is led by Malin Burnham, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Malin Burnham
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bruce Morrice
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
George Delafield Esq.
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Roberta Burnham
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack McGrory
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Kit Sparks
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert Lauer (2020–2021) — 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 The Burnham Foundation
How much does The Burnham Foundation give each year?
The Burnham Foundation gave $1.8M across 42 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $467K across 25 grants.
What is The Burnham Foundation's typical grant size?
The Burnham Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $42,072, across 42 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Burnham Foundation that year got $36K on average.
Where does The Burnham Foundation give grants?
The Burnham 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 Deigo, CA (24 grants), San Diego, CA (7 grants), La Jolla, CA (6 grants) and Julian, CA (2 grants).
Does The Burnham Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 42 grants with a stated purpose on The Burnham Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Burnham Sailing Center Building." (3 grants).
Who are The Burnham Foundation's largest grantees?
The Burnham Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include San Diego History Center ($700,000), National Conflict Resolution Center ($225,000 across 2 grants) and J Craig Venter Institute ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Burnham Foundation?
The Burnham Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $195K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Burnham Foundation fund?
The website states that its purpose is to support voluntary groups, charities, individuals, and community services in Burnham and its surrounding district. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Burnham Foundation?
The Burnham Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check theburnhamfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Burnham Foundation's EIN?
The Burnham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3565278. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Burnham 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 October 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 August 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Burnham Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Burnham Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-burnham-foundation-morg_b9200273af664983a14d7959e1dbd724
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_953565278_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Burnham Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-burnham-foundation-morg_b9200273af664983a14d7959e1dbd724},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Burnham 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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