The Jao Foundation
The Jao Foundation is a private foundation based in Huntington Beach, California. Its stated mission is to promote academic scholarship and cultural awareness and to encourage philanthropy and community service among the founder’s family members.
The Jao Foundation at a glance
In short: The Jao Foundation gave $301K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $300,500
- +131.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,318
- +110.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,000,950
- -5.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (67% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Jao Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 8907 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Phone: (714) 842-8018
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Jao Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Westminster Chamber of Commerce ($3K).
Organizations only. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($298,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 27 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts (67%), California (33%), and Virginia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Jao Foundation gives
- Giving grew 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $24K (2020) to $301K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $301K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $298,000 |
| Westminster Chamber of Commerce Westminster, CA | Donation | $2,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,000,950 | $274,551 | $334,658 | $300,500 | 11 | $333,415 | $7,884 | — |
| 2023 | $1,060,947 | $386,167 | $162,362 | $130,100 | 10 | $157,994 | $7,724 | — |
| 2022 | $837,142 | $400,231 | $9,070 | — | — | $5,609 | $231 | — |
| 2021 | $445,981 | $400,257 | $223,724 | $220,975 | 3 | $220,975 | — | $17,504 |
| 2020 | $269,448 | $682 | $26,832 | $24,110 | 3 | — | $682 | $13,402 |
| 2019 | $295,598 | $24,294 | $29,556 | $26,500 | 2 | — | $1,356 | $13,548 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote academic scholarship and cultural awareness and to encourage philanthropy and community service among the founder’s family members. Its 2024 grants included support for education and donations to charitable organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $300,500. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $200,000, with a median grant of $2,500. The largest grants were $200,000 to Harvard University for education, $60,000 to Temple Foundation, and $25,000 to UCI Foundation. Other grants included $5,000 to California State University, Long Beach, and $2,500 each to Special Olympics Southern California and the Westminster Chamber of Commerce.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Frank Jao as President & CEO, Catherine TD Jao as CFO, and Lyna N Le as Secretary.
The Jao Foundation is led by Frank Jao, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Frank Jao
President & CEO
Secretary → Executive Director, 2022
Executive Director → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Catherine TD Jao
CFO
President → CFO, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Lyna N Le
Secretary
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Alicia Jao (2019–2021) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Jao Foundation
How much does The Jao Foundation give each year?
The Jao Foundation gave $301K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $130K across 10 grants.
What is The Jao Foundation's typical grant size?
The Jao Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $27,318, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Jao Foundation give grants?
The Jao Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (33%).
Does The Jao Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Jao Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (9 grants).
How large is The Jao Foundation?
The Jao Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $275K.
What does The Jao Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote academic scholarship and cultural awareness and to encourage philanthropy and community service among the founder’s family members. Its 2024 grants included support for education and donations to charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Jao Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Jao Foundation's EIN?
The Jao Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0114436. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does The Jao Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Jao Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Jao Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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