The George Lucas Educational Foundation
The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Rafael, California. Founded in 1991 by filmmaker George Lucas, the foundation operates as an active operating foundation dedicated to transforming pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade education. Rather than providing grants to external organizations, GLEF pursues its mission through direct initiatives and projects, making it an operating foundation that does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.4M
-34.9% YoY
Revenue
$6.5M
-45.4% YoY
Qualifying Distributions
$8.5M
-8.4% YoY
Expenses
$9.1M
-5.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve the pre-K-12 learning process by:
- Finding, describing, and promoting effective models and innovations through stories of what works
- Identifying and evaluating evidence that supports effective learning practices for learners, educators, and schools
- Developing advanced software, technology, and materials for educational purposes as exemplars to guide innovations and inspire others in the field
GLEF emphasizes three fundamental skills students should develop:
- Finding and verifying factual information
- Using information creatively to solve problems
- Working collaboratively to achieve goals
The foundation's work centers on project-based learning, social-emotional learning, teacher development, and holistic student growth. Key program areas include Edutopia, Lucas Learning, and Lucas Education Research.
Grantmaking
While GLEF operates primarily as an operating foundation focused on direct initiatives, it does make strategic grants to support educational research and innovation. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports educational initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and states, including Athens, Austin, Berkeley, New York, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $11.9 million
- Total Expenses: $9.55 million
- Total Assets: $6.72 million
- Total Liabilities: $537,000
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $6.52 million
- Total Expenses: $9.07 million
- Total Assets: $4.37 million
The foundation maintains a staff of 26 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,371,137 | $6,717,099 | $4,198,520 |
| Revenue | $6,518,752 | $11,929,698 | $7,463,232 |
| Expenses | $9,072,517 | $9,545,327 | $9,524,740 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,549,864 | $9,338,979 | $9,910,262 |
| Net Investment Income | $241,484 | $174,294 | $5,548 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- George Lucas — Founder and Chairman
- Stephen D. Arnold — Vice-Chair and Chief Financial Officer
- Cindy Johanson (also listed as Cynthia Johanson Irish) — Secretary and Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE W LUCAS JR | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN D ARNOLD | VICE-CHAIR/CFO | 7 | — |
| MARSHALL TURNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDREA WISHOM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT BRADLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KIM MEREDITH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATE NYEGAARD | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 9/30/2024) | 1 | — |
| MELLODY HOBSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CYNTHIA JOHANSON IRISH | SECRETARY/EXEC. DIR. | 50 | $376,017 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported significant educational research initiatives, including grants to Michigan State University for research on science, math, and literacy education, as well as funding for the CREATE for STEM program. GLEF continues to operate Edutopia, a trusted digital platform and social network that serves as a vibrant community resource for education stakeholders, reaching millions of visitors monthly who seek information on innovative educational practices and best practices in K-12 education.
George Lucas Foundation funds MSU research on science, math and literacyFrequently Asked Questions
What does The George Lucas Educational Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to improve the pre-K-12 learning process by: • Finding, describing, and promoting effective models and innovations through stories of what works • Identifying and evaluating evidence that supports effective learning practices for learners, educators, and schools • Developing advanced software, technology, and materials for educational purposes as exemplars to guide innovations and inspire others in the field GLEF emphasizes three fundamental skills students should de…
How do I apply for a grant from The George Lucas Educational Foundation?
While GLEF operates primarily as an operating foundation focused on direct initiatives, it does make strategic grants to support educational research and innovation. Recent grants include: • Harvard University: Democratic Knowledge Project ($503,048, 2023) • Concord Consortium: Interdisciplinary Project-Based Data Science Education ($150,000, 2023) • Michigan State University: Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning Course Adaptation for Virtual and Hybrid Environments ($100,000, 2023) **…
Where does The George Lucas Educational Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports educational initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and states, including Athens, Austin, Berkeley, New York, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
What is The George Lucas Educational Foundation's EIN?
The George Lucas Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0065687. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The George Lucas Educational 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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