The McCown Family Foundation
The McCown Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Portola Valley, California. Its 2024 filing states that it supports educational, scientific, religious, literary, and charitable activities, with support for other charitable organizations reviewed and evaluated by its board.
The McCown Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The McCown Family Foundation gave $36K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $35,981
- +139.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +900.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,598
- -76.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $275,082
- -12.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The McCown Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says no specific form has been established. It lists no application deadlines and says support for other charitable organizations will be reviewed and evaluated by the board.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: The Mccown Family Foundation George
Mailing address: 180 Lucero Way, Portola Valley, CA 94028
Phone: (650) 854-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The McCown Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Synapse School ($13K). Together the top 9 received $36K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 18 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The McCown Family Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 197% of 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 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2024) to $36K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $36K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Synapse School Menlo Park, CA | General Support | $12,981 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Redwood City, CA | Hoover Institute - General Support | $11,000 |
| Six Seconds Freedom, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| American Himalayan Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Stroke Onward Inc Portola Valley, CA | Capital Campaign | $1,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Redwood City, CA | Stanford institute for economic policy research - general support | $1,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Sutter Bay Medical Foundation Sacramento, CA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Kqed Inc San Francisco, CA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Sequoia Hospital Foundation Redwood City, CA | General Support | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $275,082 | $7,147 | $48,068 | $35,981 | 10 | $46,905 | $6,943 | $23,765 |
| 2024 | $313,465 | $71,996 | $19,644 | $15,000 | 1 | $18,970 | $67,970 | $19,253 |
| 2023 | $261,113 | $45,690 | $33,706 | $31,000 | 7 | $33,460 | $43,440 | $17,692 |
| 2022 | $249,129 | $7,875 | $2,580 | — | — | $2,255 | $5,300 | $20,092 |
| 2021 | $243,834 | $16,812 | $2,326 | — | — | — | $12,564 | $16,428 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McCown Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $24K 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
The foundation’s filing does not state a separate mission. Its 2024 filing describes the activities it will support as educational, scientific, religious, literary, and charitable.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. Synapse School says it provides K–8 education in an environment intended to help children feel safe, valued, and cared for. Six Seconds describes its work as building emotional-intelligence skills. Sequoia Hospital Foundation says it raises resources to support Sequoia Hospital, while Stroke Onward says it helps stroke survivors and their supporters rebuild their lives. The Sierra Club Foundation describes its work as educating and empowering people to protect and improve the natural and human environment; KQED says it serves Northern California through community-supported media, education, arts, and community dialogue.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $35,981. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $12,981, with a median of $1,000. Its largest grants were $12,981 to Synapse School for general support, $11,000 to the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University for Hoover Institute general support, and $5,000 to Six Seconds for general support. Other listed grants included $1,000 to Stroke Onward for a capital campaign and $1,000 to the university for Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists George E McCown as president, Karen Stone McCown as CFO, and Pamela Swain as secretary.
The McCown Family Foundation is led by George E. McCown, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George E. McCown
President
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Swain
Secretary
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
$8K (2025)
Karen Stone McCown
CFO
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $8K, to Pamela Swain (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about The McCown Family Foundation
How much does The McCown Family Foundation give each year?
The McCown Family Foundation gave $36K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $15K across 1 grant.
What is The McCown Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The McCown Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,598, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The McCown Family Foundation give grants?
The McCown Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Redwood City, CA (3 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does The McCown Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of The McCown Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The McCown Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The McCown Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Synapse School ($12,981), The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University ($12,000 across 2 grants) and Six Seconds ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The McCown Family Foundation?
The McCown Family Foundation reported $275K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $24K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The McCown Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a separate mission. Its 2024 filing describes the activities it will support as educational, scientific, religious, literary, and charitable. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The McCown Family Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says no specific form has been established. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The McCown Family Foundation's EIN?
The McCown Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3303581. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work The McCown Family Foundation funds
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