The John C Mithun Foundation
The John C Mithun Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, California. In its 2025 filing, it reported grants to charitable organizations, with nearly all grant dollars going to recipients in California.
The John C Mithun Foundation at a glance
In short: The John C Mithun Foundation gave $3.3M across 50 grants in 2025 (avg $67K), mostly in California. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,331,922
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 50
- -23.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $66,638
- +47.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $84,021,364
- +41.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (11 of 46, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The John C Mithun Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3463 State St 270, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 695-8178
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The John C Mithun Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lobero Theatre ($505K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
298 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 187 grants of 298 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to organizations in California and 1% to organizations in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The John C Mithun Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 46 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $82K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $45K repeat.
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2019) to $3.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 50 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lobero Theatre Santa Barbara, CA | General | $505,000 |
| Santa Barbara International Film Festival Santa Barbara, CA | General | $225,000 |
| Santa Barbara Symphony Santa Barbara, CA | General | $200,000 |
| Girls Inc - Carpinteria Carpinteria, CA | General | $180,000 |
| Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens (Cuafg) Goleta, CA | General | $160,000 |
| Lotusland Santa Barbara, CA | General | $155,000 |
| Uc Santa Barbara Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | General | $150,000 |
| Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | General | $150,000 |
| YMCA - Santa Barbara Family (Channel Islands YMCA) Santa Barbara, CA | General | $120,000 |
| Mission Scholars Santa Barbara, CA | General | $115,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The John C Mithun Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,021,364 | $28,985,780 | $4,455,179 | $3,331,922 | 50 | $3,378,722 | $28,365,109 | $4,134,871 |
| 2024 | $59,490,763 | $10,218,347 | $3,652,222 | $2,932,000 | 65 | $2,954,400 | $9,548,198 | $3,365,162 |
| 2023 | $52,924,638 | $2,528,352 | $2,896,222 | $2,279,614 | 63 | $2,289,654 | $1,959,184 | $2,931,200 |
| 2022 | $53,292,508 | $17,056,879 | $3,373,759 | $2,635,307 | 59 | $2,641,612 | $16,504,092 | $2,285,919 |
| 2021 | $39,609,388 | $3,438,240 | $2,698,234 | $2,146,064 | 61 | $2,151,414 | $2,942,970 | $2,640,657 |
| 2020 | $38,869,382 | $2,499,074 | $2,368,554 | $1,944,838 | 69 | — | $826,446 | $2,165,214 |
| 2019 | $38,738,862 | $6,777,944 | $1,791,223 | $1,343,418 | 56 | — | $6,405,707 | $1,954,338 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John C Mithun Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, health and human-services organizations, and environmental organizations.
Some grantees describe their work as follows: UC Santa Barbara Foundation says it raises and administers funds supporting the university’s teaching, research, and public-service objectives. Goleta Education Foundation says it engages the community to invest in and enhance education for students in the Goleta Valley. Food from the Heart says it provides free, nutritious meals to people facing a health crisis. An individual recipient Public Library Foundation says it supports the long-term health and sustainability of the public library.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 50 grants totaling $3,331,922. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $505,000, with a median of $37,500.
Its largest reported grants included $505,000 to Lobero Theatre, $225,000 to an individual recipient International Film Festival, $200,000 to an individual recipient Symphony, $180,000 to Girls Inc - Carpinteria, and $160,000 to Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens. Other notable grants included $155,000 to Lotusland, $150,000 to UC Santa Barbara Foundation, and $150,000 to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara Foundation. These grants were listed with the purpose “GENERAL.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John C Mithun as president, Mercedes M Millington as vice president, and Susan M Torrey as executive director.
The John C Mithun Foundation is led by Susan M. Torrey, Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2024); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan M. Torrey
Executive Director
Secretary → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
20 hrs/week
$15K (2024) → $38K (2025)
John C. Mithun
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mercedes M. Millington
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $38K, to Susan M Torrey (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The John C Mithun Foundation
How much does The John C Mithun Foundation give each year?
The John C Mithun Foundation gave $3.3M across 50 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.9M across 65 grants.
What is The John C Mithun Foundation's typical grant size?
The John C Mithun Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $66,638, across 50 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The John C Mithun Foundation that year got $42K on average.
Where does The John C Mithun Foundation give grants?
The John C Mithun Foundation gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (40 grants) and Goleta, CA (5 grants).
Does The John C Mithun Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The John C Mithun Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The John C Mithun Foundation's largest grantees?
The John C Mithun Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lobero Theatre ($505,000), Uc Santa Barbara Foundation ($295,000 across 5 grants) and Santa Barbara International Film Festival ($225,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The John C Mithun Foundation?
The John C Mithun Foundation reported $84.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The John C Mithun Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, health and human-services organizations, and environmental organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John C Mithun Foundation?
The foundation 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 John C Mithun Foundation's EIN?
The John C Mithun Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4228213. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The John C Mithun 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The John C Mithun Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-c-mithun-foundation-morg_82ff2417f2fe47649056ecdf07cfe774
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_454228213_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The John C Mithun Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-c-mithun-foundation-morg_82ff2417f2fe47649056ecdf07cfe774},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 John C Mithun 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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