The Fletcher Jones Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Pasadena, California, established in 1969 from the personal estate of Fletcher R. Jones, co-founder of Computer Sciences Corporation. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a two-person staff and is governed by a ten-member Board of Trustees representing diverse backgrounds in business, law, finance, banking, education, and government.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$175.8M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.1M
+8.8% YoY
Grant Count
51
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$158K
+8.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fletcher Jones Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to support private colleges and universities, particularly those in California, which receive over 96 percent of available funds. While Fletcher Jones expressed interest in supporting education at both the high school and college levels, the original Trustees established support of private colleges and universities in California as the foundation's primary emphasis following his death in 1972. This policy has been reaffirmed by subsequent Trustees and continues to guide the foundation's work.
The foundation focuses on making "transformational grants that will advance grantees' progress" and seeks proposals that represent high institutional priorities.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $5,000 to $1,000,000, with regular grants typically ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000
Invitation Only
** Invitation and consultation-based via online portal (CyberGrants). Potential applicants should contact the Executive Director to discuss proposal ideas before submitting an application.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds private colleges and universities in California, with over 96 percent of available funds directed to California institutions. The foundation has also funded initiatives in other states including New York, Texas, Idaho, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $175.8 million (2024); $166 million (2023)
Total Revenue: $6.55 million (2023); $7.93 million (2024)
Total Expenses: $8.67 million (2023); $9.77 million (2024)
Total Liabilities: $1.43 million (2023)
Cumulative Impact: Over $275 million awarded through nearly 3,000 grants since inception
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $175,848,163 | $165,961,347 | $157,491,394 |
| Revenue | $7,933,171 | $6,551,261 | $6,174,356 |
| Expenses | $9,774,465 | $8,672,980 | $7,962,304 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,534,791 | $7,855,238 | $7,234,045 |
| Net Investment Income | $21,013,710 | $11,656,019 | $8,414,916 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,397,701 | $7,934,372 | $8,206,854 |
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 Chapman University ($1,000,000), Claremont Mckenna College ($1,000,000), Henry E Huntington Library and Art Gallery ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY ORANGE, CA | THE FLETCHER JONES FOUNDATION ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN FREE SPEECH | $1,000,000 |
| CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE CLAREMONT, CA | THE ROBERT DAY SCIENCES CENTER | $1,000,000 |
| HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIBRARY AND ART GALLERY SAN MARINO, CA | THE "THIS LAND IS" INITIATIVE MARKING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE | $1,000,000 |
| POMONA COLLEGE CLAREMONT, CA | A GLOBAL LIBERAL ARTS LABORATORY FOR LEADERSHIP EDUCATION IN AN INTERCONNECTED WORLD | $1,000,000 |
| ST MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA MORAGA, CA | FUND RENOVATIONS AT SAINT ALBERT HALL LIBRARY | $750,000 |
| WHITTIER COLLEGE WHITTIER, CA | THE CIVICS SCHOLAR PROGRAM | $700,000 |
| CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY RIVERSIDE, CA | ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP | $500,000 |
| LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY LOMA LINDA, CA | ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN NURSING SIMULATION | $500,000 |
| SIMPSON UNIVERSITY REDDING, CA | NURSING COHORT & SIMULATED CLINICAL EXPANSION | $500,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH LAB | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mary J. Spellman, EdD — Executive Director and Treasurer
- Full-time position
- Compensation: $244,471
- Phone: 626-204-4011
- Email: mary@fletcherjonesfdn.org
Peter K. Barker — President
- Part-time position
- Compensation: $4,800
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY J SPELLMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/TREASURER | 35 | $250,000 |
| PETER K BARKER | PRESIDENT | 3 | $4,800 |
| JOHN D PETTKER | VP/TRUSTEE/SECRETARY | 3 | $3,000 |
| SAMUEL P BELL | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | $3,600 |
| PATRICK C HADEN | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,800 |
| PARKER S KENNEDY | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | $3,600 |
| DANIEL E LUNGREN | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | $3,600 |
| DONALD NICKELSON | VP/TRUSTEE | 3 | $3,600 |
| ROCKWELL SCHNABEL | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | $4,200 |
| STEWART R SMITH | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | $4,800 |
| ASHWIN ADARKAR | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | $3,000 |
| SIOBHAN M BURKE | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | $3,000 |
| WALTER T KILMER JRL | VP/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grants include:
$1,000,000 to Pomona College for "A Global Liberal Arts Laboratory for Leadership Education in An Interconnected World" (2024)
$1,000,000 to Claremont McKenna College for "The Robert Day Sciences Center" (2024)
$1,000,000 to Huntington Library Art Museum and Botanical Gardens for "The 'This Land Is' Initiative Marking the 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence" (2024)
$1,000,000 to Loyola Marymount University for STEM expansion and engineering innovation (2024)
$700,000 to Whittier College (2025)
Whittier College Receives a $700000 Grant from Fletcher Jones ...The foundation has also supported faculty fellowship programs, including inaugural Fletcher Jones Foundation Faculty Fellows at Chapman University pursuing research projects in engineering.
The Fletcher Jones Foundation Fuels LMU STEM Expansion with $1 ...Contact Information
Address: 1055 E Colorado Blvd, 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91106
Phone: 626-204-4012
Website: www.fletcherjonesfdn.org
Tax ID (EIN): 23-7030155
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Fletcher Jones Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to support private colleges and universities, particularly those in California, which receive over 96 percent of available funds. While Fletcher Jones expressed interest in supporting education at both the high school and college levels, the original Trustees established support of private colleges and universities in California as the foundation's primary emphasis following his death in 1972. This policy has been reaffirmed by subsequent Trustees and continu…
How do I apply for a grant from The Fletcher Jones Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $5,000 to $1,000,000, with regular grants typically ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 **Annual Giving:** $8.1 million (2024); $8.67 million in expenses (2023) **Grant Activity:** The foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $7.4 million in 2023 and $8.1 million in 2024. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $275 million through nearly 3,000 grants. **Application Process:** Invitation and consultation-based via online portal (CyberGrants). Potential applicants shou…
Where does The Fletcher Jones Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds private colleges and universities in California, with over 96 percent of available funds directed to California institutions. The foundation has also funded initiatives in other states including New York, Texas, Idaho, and others.
What size grants does The Fletcher Jones Foundation award?
In 2024, The Fletcher Jones Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $8.1M — an average of about $158K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Fletcher Jones Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Fletcher Jones Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Fletcher Jones Foundation's EIN?
The Fletcher Jones Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7030155. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Fletcher Jones 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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