The Molina Foundation
The Molina Foundation is a public charity based in Los Alamitos, California, that works nationally to reduce disparities in access to education and health. Founded in 2004, it supports children and families in underserved communities, chiefly through books and educational materials distributed via community partners.
The Molina Foundation at a glance
In short: The Molina Foundation gave $2.8M across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $94K), top state California. 70% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,826,817
- -46.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +57.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $94,227
- -66.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,967
- Total assets
- $19,928,478
- +6.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 70% first-time grantees (21 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Molina Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation says eligible programs and schools should join its network to learn about opportunities. Network members receive email invitations to apply online for books and other resources as donations become available. The network is open to organizations and programs including 501(c)(3) nonprofits, clinics, medical and dental providers, Title I schools, government agencies, faith-based and tribal organizations, and other programs serving children, individuals, or families in need. Books are free; shipping and handling may involve a minimal charge.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2677, Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Phone: (310) 375-6813
Website: https://molinafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Molina Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Teachers Treasures ($744K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 137 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as national, serving communities across the United States. In its 2025 grant reporting, recipients were concentrated in California (37% of grant dollars), Indiana (36%), and Michigan (15%); Alabama accounted for 2% and Louisiana for 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Molina Foundation open to new grantees?
70%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 30 grantees (70%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $262K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $201K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $2.8M (2025) to $20.1M (2022). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers Treasures Indianapolis, IN | Promote Literacy | $744,126 |
| Kiwanis #1 Club of Detroit Detroit, MI | Promote Literacy | $405,154 |
| Community Action Partnership - Orange County Food Bank Garden Grove, CA | Promote Literacy | $308,300 |
| Warren Arts & Education Foundation Indianapolis, IN | Promote Literacy | $281,563 |
| Community Action Partnership of Kern (Capk) Bakersfield, CA | Promote Literacy | $201,262 |
| The Volunteer Center South Bay - Harbor - Long Beach Torrance, CA | Promote Literacy | $174,098 |
| New Image Emergency Shelter for the Homeless Long Beach, CA | Promote Literacy | $122,938 |
| My Stuff Bags Foundation Westlake Village, CA | Promote Literacy | $69,120 |
| Long Beach Unified School District (Lbusd) Lakewood, CA | Promote Literacy | $69,120 |
| Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama Montgomery, AL | Promote Literacy | $58,053 |
Ready to take the next step with The Molina Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $19,928,478 | $3,848,648 | $3,548,224 | $2,826,817 | 30 | $285,315 |
| 2024 | $18,711,689 | $6,684,047 | $5,956,253 | $5,264,875 | 19 | $453,471 |
| 2023 | $17,494,870 | $13,111,214 | $7,923,762 | $7,318,750 | 28 | $16,518 |
| 2022 | $11,465,057 | $22,562,781 | $20,864,243 | $20,149,444 | 42 | $133,183 |
| 2021 | $11,097,712 | $2,805,910 | $3,805,971 | $3,222,725 | 18 | $267,988 |
| 2020 | $11,617,342 | $20,176,165 | $15,978,421 | $15,157,148 | 52 | $322,367 |
| 2019 | $7,111,886 | $4,678,858 | $4,756,814 | $4,048,526 | 45 | $737,682 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to reduce disparities in access to education and health, focusing on children in underserved U.S. communities by providing books and educational materials. Its Book Buddies program distributes books through schools, libraries, community-based organizations, hospitals, and health care facilities, with a focus on groups identified as at high risk for low literacy, including because of poverty or prevalence of English as a second language.
The foundation’s website says Book Buddies provides books and other resources to eligible programs and schools, and that the foundation does not make cash grants. Its 2025 filing describes contributions of books to established charities, schools, law enforcement organizations, and qualified for-profit entities that can distribute them to low-income children.
Examples of supported organizations include Teachers’ Treasures, whose mission is to distribute free school supplies to teachers of students in need; the Kiwanis Club #1 Foundation of Detroit, which says it serves youth and the community, with special emphasis on Detroit; and Community Action Partnership of Orange County, which says it works to address poverty and promote self-sufficiency. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $2,826,817. Grant amounts ranged from $7,561 to $744,126, with a median of $20,967. The filing lists the purposes of its largest grants as promoting literacy.
The largest reported grants included $744,126 to Teachers’ Treasures in Indianapolis, Indiana; $405,154 to Kiwanis #1 Club of Detroit in Detroit, Michigan; $308,300 to Community Action Partnership – Orange County Food Bank in Garden Grove, California; $281,563 to Warren Arts & Education Foundation in Indianapolis; and $201,262 to Community Action Partnership of Kern in Bakersfield, California. Other sizable grants included $174,098 to The Volunteer Center South Bay–Harbor–Long Beach in Torrance, California; $122,938 to New Image Emergency Shelter for the Homeless in Long Beach, California; and $69,120 each to My Stuff Bags Foundation in Westlake Village, California, and Long Beach Unified School District.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Martha Bernadett, M.D., as president; Faustino Bernadett, M.D., as treasurer; Robert Stemler, Richard Giedlin, Colleen McCreary, and Ron Ottinger as directors; and Jennifer Chappell as director of operations. The filing notes that Ron Ottinger resigned in March 2025. The foundation’s website identifies Martha Molina Bernadett, M.D., MBA, as president and CEO.
The Molina Foundation is led by Mary Martha Bernadett MD, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Martha Bernadett MD
President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Chappell
Director of Operations
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$100K (2019) → $147K (2025)
Colleen McCreary
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Giedlin
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Stemler
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Faustino Bernadett MD
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ron Ottinger (2019–2025) — Director · Filing note: Resigned 32025
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 $147K, to Jennifer Chappell (Director of Operations).
Frequently asked questions about The Molina Foundation
How much does The Molina Foundation give each year?
The Molina Foundation gave $2.8M across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.3M across 19 grants.
What is The Molina Foundation's typical grant size?
The Molina Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,967, and its average grant was $94,227, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Molina Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does The Molina Foundation give grants?
The Molina Foundation's top state is California, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Indiana (36%) and Michigan (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Molina Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on The Molina Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Promote Literacy" (30 grants).
Who are The Molina Foundation's largest grantees?
The Molina Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Teachers Treasures ($744,126), Kiwanis #1 Club of Detroit ($405,154) and Community Action Partnership - Orange County Food Bank ($308,300), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Molina Foundation?
The Molina Foundation reported $19.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What does The Molina Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to reduce disparities in access to education and health, focusing on children in underserved U.S. communities by providing books and educational materials. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Molina Foundation?
The foundation says eligible programs and schools should join its network to learn about opportunities. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Molina Foundation's EIN?
The Molina Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1479392. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 21, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Molina Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-molina-foundation-morg_ebdee03f8892432d9df375896cc40604
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201479392_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Molina Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-molina-foundation-morg_ebdee03f8892432d9df375896cc40604},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Molina 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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