The James G Boswell Foundation
The James G Boswell Foundation is a private foundation established in 1947 and based in Pasadena, California. The foundation was founded by James Griffin Boswell (1882–1952), who established the J. G. Boswell Company, a major agricultural enterprise. The foundation maintains significant assets through its shareholding in the Boswell Corporation, which operates as one of the largest farming operations in California and worldwide, measured by farmed acreage.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$152.2M
-2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.3M
-4.1% YoY
Grant Count
15
-46.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$486K
+78.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James G Boswell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports the following primary areas:
- Education (including agricultural education and pre-college private schools)
- Health
- Youth development
- Agricultural education
- Environmental initiatives
- Rural affairs groups
- Public broadcasting
The foundation has provided support for specialized initiatives, including the Institute for Agricultural Genomics at the University of California, Riverside.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 23 grants in 2024. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Range
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's funding activities are concentrated in California, with particular emphasis on the Central Valley region where the Boswell Corporation operates.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $152,243,034
- Total Revenues: $7,255,250
- Total Expenses: $9,436,605
- Total Giving: $7,286,594
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $156,000,000
- Revenue: $7,400,000
- Expenses: $3,700,000
Tax Status: The foundation has been tax-exempt since March 1948 and is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $152,243,034 | $155,941,016 | $149,317,114 |
| Revenue | $7,255,250 | $7,399,000 | $5,540,300 |
| Expenses | $9,436,605 | $3,700,122 | $9,908,892 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,297,044 | $7,611,873 | $5,382,873 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,223,119 | $7,380,781 | $5,511,422 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,583,372 | $7,354,861 | $7,490,863 |
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
125 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Valley Children's Hospital ($3,000,000), Huntington Hospital ($1,500,000), Pacific Legal Foundation ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION SALINAS, CA | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $600,000 |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PASADENA, CA | SUPPORT OF BOSWELL PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY | $100,000 |
| HUNTINGTON MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES PASADENA, CA | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $100,000 |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION SACRAMENTO, CA | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $1,000,000 |
| SEQUOIA RIVERLANDS TRUST VISALIA, CA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM SACRAMENTO, CA | GRANT FOR STARTER KIT BOXES | $50,000 |
| HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL PASADENA, CA | JAMES G. BOSWELL INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENT | $1,500,000 |
| CALIFORNIA FFA FOUNDATION GALT, CA | CAL. FFA CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP | $600,000 |
| KINGS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HANFORD, CA | DONATION TO RURAL CRIMES UNIT | $30,000 |
| TULARE COUNTY SHERIFF'S FOUNDATION VISALIA, CA | DONATION TO RURAL CRIMES UNIT | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- James W Boswell
- Cameron M Boswell
- Daniel J Boswell
Staff:
- Amber R Jaramillo, Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES W BOSWELL | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| CAMERON M BOSWELL | VICE PRESIDENT & SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| GEORGE W WURZEL | VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| AMBER R JARAMILLO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the foundation made a $3 million gift to Valley Children's Hospital, which was reported as the largest gift the hospital had ever received from the James G Boswell Foundation.
$3M gift to Valley Children's largest ever from James G. Boswell ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The James G Boswell Foundation fund?
The foundation supports the following primary areas: • Education (including agricultural education and pre-college private schools) • Health • Youth development • Agricultural education • Environmental initiatives • Rural affairs groups • Public broadcasting The foundation has provided support for specialized initiatives, including the Institute for Agricultural Genomics at the University of California, Riverside.
How do I apply for a grant from The James G Boswell Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 23 grants in 2024. Recent notable grants include: • Valley Children's Hospital: $3,000,000 (unrestricted contribution) • Huntington Hospital: $1,500,000 (James G. Boswell Internal Medicine Resident support) • Pacific Legal Foundation: $1,000,000 (unrestricted grant) **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $3,212,852. **Geographic Scope:** Grant-making focuses primarily on California.
Where does The James G Boswell Foundation make grants?
The foundation's funding activities are concentrated in California, with particular emphasis on the Central Valley region where the Boswell Corporation operates.
What size grants does The James G Boswell Foundation award?
In 2024, The James G Boswell Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $7.3M — an average of about $486K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James G Boswell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The James G Boswell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The James G Boswell Foundation's EIN?
The James G Boswell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6047326. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The James G Boswell 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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