The Fletcher Jones Foundation
The Fletcher Jones Foundation is a private foundation based in Pasadena, California. Established from Fletcher Jones’s estate, it focuses its regular grantmaking on direct support for private colleges and universities in California.
The Fletcher Jones Foundation at a glance
In short: The Fletcher Jones Foundation gave $8.1M across 51 grants in 2024 (avg $158K), mostly in California. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,075,000
- +8.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 51
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $158,333
- +8.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $175,848,163
- +6.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (13 of 47, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Fletcher Jones Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Potential applicants should contact the Executive Director to discuss a proposal and assess its suitability. If the foundation identifies an appropriate project, the applicant may be invited to submit a proposal through its grants management system. California private colleges and universities that have never received a grant must first submit a Letter of Inquiry for review by the President. The foundation says it will not consider inquiries from organizations other than private institutions of higher education in California. Funds may not be used for indirect, overhead, or similar costs. There is a two-year minimum hiatus between receiving a grant and submitting a new application.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation has no fixed application deadlines. Its Board meets quarterly, and the Executive Director shares quarterly submission cut-off dates during proposal discussions.
- Deadline
- The foundation has no fixed application deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Mary J Spellman
Mailing address: 1055 E Colorado Blvd 5Th Fl, Pasadena, CA 91106
Phone: (626) 204-4012
Website: https://fletcherjonesfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Fletcher Jones Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chapman University ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $7.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($15,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
271 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 185 grants of 271 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. The remaining reported shares were 1% each for New York and Texas, with Pennsylvania and Montana each reported at 0%. The foundation’s website identifies private colleges and universities in California as its primary grantmaking emphasis.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Fletcher Jones Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 47 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $91K; repeat grants $203K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.8M (2022) to $9.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 51 grants totaling $8.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Fletcher Jones Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s website reports 2024 net assets without donor restrictions of $174,459,100.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $175,848,163 | $7,933,171 | $9,774,465 | $8,075,000 | 51 | $8,534,791 | $21,013,710 | $8,397,701 |
| 2023 | $165,961,347 | $6,551,261 | $8,672,980 | $7,425,000 | 51 | $7,855,238 | $11,656,019 | $7,934,372 |
| 2022 | $157,491,394 | $6,174,356 | $7,962,304 | $6,841,133 | 53 | $7,234,045 | $8,414,916 | $8,206,854 |
| 2021 | $190,690,546 | $11,272,962 | $11,356,940 | $9,940,000 | 57 | $10,318,888 | $15,371,922 | $9,074,177 |
| 2020 | $171,018,850 | $2,557,259 | $9,353,686 | $7,836,938 | 59 | — | $13,646,248 | $7,414,722 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not state a formal mission in the materials provided. Its stated primary emphasis is direct support for private colleges and universities in California. It considers academic proposals that represent a high priority for the institution.
Its 2024 grants show support for varied projects, including endowed professorships and scholarships, science and neuroscience facilities, nursing education, library renovations, and civics programming. Among the supported colleges, Pomona College describes its work as educating students in a residential community rooted in Southern California and globally oriented; Chapman University describes its mission as providing a personalized education that leads to inquiring, ethical, and productive lives. The Huntington Library received support for an initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $8,075,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $15,000. The foundation’s February 2026 president’s letter reports that 2025 grants totaled $8,475,500; it says regular grants ranged from $250,000 to $1 million, alongside some smaller directed grants.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $1,000,000 each to Chapman University for an endowed professorship in free speech, Claremont McKenna College for the Robert Day Sciences Center, the Huntington Library for the “This Land Is” initiative, and Pomona College for a global liberal arts laboratory for leadership education. Other notable awards included $750,000 to Saint Mary’s College of California for library renovations and $700,000 to Whittier College for its Civics Scholar Program. The foundation also awarded $50,000 to The Second Stage Theatre in New York.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary J. Spellman as Executive Director and Treasurer, and Peter K. Barker as President. It also lists John D. Pettker, Samuel P. Bell, Patrick C. Haden, Parker S. Kennedy, Daniel E. Lungren, Donald Nickelson, Rockwell Schnabel, and Stewart R. Smith as vice presidents and trustees. The foundation’s February 2026 president’s letter says Samuel Bell and Rockwell Schnabel retired from the Board at the end of 2025.
The Fletcher Jones Foundation is led by Mary J. Spellman, Executive Director & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 12 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary J. Spellman
Executive Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$200K (2020) → $250K (2024)
Peter K. Barker
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Daniel E. Lungren
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Donald Nickelson
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2024)
John D. Pettker
Vice President, Trustee & Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Parker S. Kennedy
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Patrick C. Haden
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2024)
Rockwell Schnabel
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Samuel P. Bell
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Stewart R. Smith
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Ashwin Adarkar
Vice President & Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$3K (2024)
Siobhan M. Burke
Vice President & Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$3K (2024)
Walter T. Kilmer Jrl
Vice President & Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $250K, to Mary J Spellman (Executive Director/Treasurer). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Fletcher Jones Foundation
How much does The Fletcher Jones Foundation give each year?
The Fletcher Jones Foundation gave $8.1M across 51 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.4M across 51 grants.
What is The Fletcher Jones Foundation's typical grant size?
The Fletcher Jones Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $158,333, across 51 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Fletcher Jones Foundation that year got $91K on average.
Where does The Fletcher Jones Foundation give grants?
The Fletcher Jones Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pasadena, CA (7 grants), Los Angeles, CA (4 grants), Palm Desert, CA (3 grants) and Santa Ana, CA (3 grants).
Does The Fletcher Jones Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 51% of The Fletcher Jones Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Fletcher Jones Foundation's largest grantees?
The Fletcher Jones Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Chapman University ($1,000,000), Claremont McKenna College ($1,000,000) and Henry E Huntington Library and Art Gallery ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($15,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Fletcher Jones Foundation?
The Fletcher Jones Foundation reported $175.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Fletcher Jones Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a formal mission in the materials provided. Its stated primary emphasis is direct support for private colleges and universities in California. It considers academic proposals that represent a high priority for the institution. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Fletcher Jones Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Fletcher Jones 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Fletcher Jones Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-fletcher-jones-foundation-morg_380cdc53d22a4746bb30a66e21325292
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237030155_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Fletcher Jones Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-fletcher-jones-foundation-morg_380cdc53d22a4746bb30a66e21325292},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Fletcher Jones 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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