The Segerstrom Foundation
The Segerstrom Foundation is a private foundation based in Costa Mesa, California. It primarily provides financial support to performing and cultural arts organizations located in Orange County, California.
The Segerstrom Foundation at a glance
In short: The Segerstrom Foundation gave $673K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $45K), mostly in California. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $672,500
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $44,833
- -15.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $16,792,904
- +12.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (88% 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 Segerstrom Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: The Segerstrom Foundation Co Nancy
Mailing address: 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: (714) 546-0110
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Segerstrom Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was South Coast Repertory ($125K). Together the top 10 received $615K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 69 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing says it primarily supports performing and cultural arts organizations located in Orange County, California. In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 9% to recipients in Rhode Island, and 3% to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Segerstrom Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $61K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $55K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% 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 $621K (2023) to $810K (2021). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $673K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Coast Repertory Costa Mesa, CA | To support the 2025 theater for young audiences series | $125,000 |
| Pacific Symphony Irvine, CA | To Support the Heartstrings Program | $100,000 |
| Segerstrom Center for the Arts Costa Mesa, CA | To Support Endowment of Great Performances Dance Series | $100,000 |
| Turnaround Arts Los Angeles, CA | To Support the Arts Education | $70,000 |
| Vanguard-Segerstrom Charitable Gift Fund Warwick, RI | To Support Various Programs | $60,000 |
| Philharmonic Society Irvine, CA | To Support Violins of Hope | $50,000 |
| Festival of Children Costa Mesa, CA | To Support Current Programs That Assist Children | $40,000 |
| Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA | To Support the Free Children's Admission Program | $30,000 |
| Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Fullerton, CA | To Support Various Programs | $20,000 |
| Charity Global Inc Franklin, TN | To Support Various Programs | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Segerstrom 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 | $16,792,904 | $975,453 | $766,475 | $672,500 | 15 | $682,059 | $924,153 | $767,055 |
| 2024 | $14,876,737 | $975,426 | $808,765 | $743,250 | 14 | $753,401 | $936,633 | $720,095 |
| 2023 | $14,338,220 | $690,750 | $709,367 | $621,350 | 12 | $628,823 | $641,993 | $657,995 |
| 2022 | $12,994,257 | $153,237 | $774,640 | $701,990 | 13 | $711,717 | $245,202 | $674,266 |
| 2021 | $16,738,528 | $2,276,174 | $893,279 | $810,000 | 15 | $817,418 | $2,218,925 | $799,062 |
| 2020 | $16,213,917 | $820,101 | $731,190 | $630,000 | 13 | — | $774,277 | $687,010 |
| 2019 | $14,469,959 | $869,364 | $791,168 | $689,000 | 20 | — | $821,846 | $670,215 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Segerstrom Foundation reported a distributable amount of $767K 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 identifies performing and cultural arts organizations in Orange County as its primary area of support. Its 2025 grants included theater, symphony, dance, arts education, museums, and children’s programs.
Grantee descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. South Coast Repertory says it serves its community through dramatic productions and classes for youth through adults. Pacific Symphony describes its work as including orchestral performances, chamber music, opera, choral music, and education and community engagement programs. Laguna Art Museum says it promotes understanding of art and artists in American culture through collecting, exhibitions, research, and instruction.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $672,500. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $125,000, with a median grant of $30,000. Among the largest awards were $125,000 to South Coast Repertory for its Theater for Young Audiences series; $100,000 to Pacific Symphony for its Heartstrings program; $100,000 to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for endowment of its Great Performances Dance Series; and $70,000 to Turnaround Arts for arts education.
The filing requests a brief letter of inquiry that includes the applicant organization’s mission statement, a description of how the requested grant will be used, and a copy of its IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. If a request is within the foundation’s grantmaking guidelines, the foundation will solicit a formal submission. The filing lists Nancy as the contact.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Brent Taravella as president, Nancy West as VP-Grants, John Fields as VP-Treasurer, and Mary Westbrook as secretary.
The Segerstrom Foundation is led by Brent Taravella, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brent Taravella
President
On filings since 2022
0.6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Westbrook
Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy West
Vp-Grants
On filings since 2019
0.6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Fields
Vp-Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Mark Heim (2019–2022) — President
- Former: Sue Adams (2019) — Vp-Treasurer
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Segerstrom Foundation
How much does The Segerstrom Foundation give each year?
The Segerstrom Foundation gave $673K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $743K across 14 grants.
What is The Segerstrom Foundation's typical grant size?
The Segerstrom Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $44,833, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Segerstrom Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Segerstrom Foundation give grants?
The Segerstrom Foundation gives mostly in California: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Costa Mesa, CA (4 grants) and Irvine, CA (4 grants).
Does The Segerstrom Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Segerstrom Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Various Programs" (3 grants).
Who are The Segerstrom Foundation's largest grantees?
The Segerstrom Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include South Coast Repertory ($125,000), Pacific Symphony ($100,000) and Segerstrom Center for the Arts ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Segerstrom Foundation?
The Segerstrom Foundation reported $16.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $682K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $767K (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 Segerstrom Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing identifies performing and cultural arts organizations in Orange County as its primary area of support. Its 2025 grants included theater, symphony, dance, arts education, museums, and children’s programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Segerstrom Foundation?
The Segerstrom Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Segerstrom Foundation's EIN?
The Segerstrom Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0269599. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 20, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Segerstrom Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Segerstrom Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-segerstrom-foundation-morg_dd3cc1a1d7064933ae6d2ae09cad015f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_330269599_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Segerstrom Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-segerstrom-foundation-morg_dd3cc1a1d7064933ae6d2ae09cad015f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Segerstrom 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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