The Tu Foundation
The Tu Foundation is a private foundation based in Fountain Valley, California. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in education and research, arts and music, public media, religion, journalism, humanitarian aid, and wildlife conservation.
The Tu Foundation at a glance
In short: The Tu Foundation gave $19.7M across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $1.8M), mostly in Ohio. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $19,679,939
- +396.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +22.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,789,085
- +305.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $119,062
- Total assets
- $10,124,995
- -64.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (67% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Tu 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: 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Phone: (714) 435-2640
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Tu Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Endowment Foundation FBO Mt Onward Charitable Fund ($13.2M). Together the top 10 received $19.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 54 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio (67%), California (32%), Georgia (1%), and Iowa (1%). These percentages total 101%, reflecting rounding in the reported shares.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Tu Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $4.5M; repeat grants $780K. How we count
Medians: $119K first-time, $175K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 545% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 632% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2021) to $19.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $19.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Endowment Foundation FBO Mt Onward Charitable Fund Hudson, OH | Contribution to daf for 501(c)(3) purposes - not taken as qualified distribution | $13,224,815 |
| Global Gifted Foundation Huntington Beach, CA | Support for Education and Research | $4,683,062 |
| Uc-Irvine Foundation Irvine, CA | Support for Education and Research | $800,000 |
| Pacific Symphony Irvine, CA | Support for the Arts - Music | $350,000 |
| Southern California Public Radio Pasadena, CA | Support for Public Media | $250,000 |
| Operation Mobilization Tyrone, GA | Support for Religion | $119,062 |
| Western Iowa Journalism Foundation Breda, IA | Support for the Arts - Public News | $100,000 |
| Brighter Ukraine Foundation Manhattan Beach, CA | Support for the Humanitarian Aid | $100,000 |
| San Musae Cultural Center City of Industry, CA | Support for the Arts - Music | $30,000 |
| International Bird Rescue San Pedro, CA | Support for Wildlife Conservation | $20,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,124,995 | $929,031 | $3,395,950 | $19,679,939 | 11 | $6,476,611 | $2,106,627 | $1,025,168 |
| 2023 | $28,873,171 | $3,065,092 | $1,895,593 | $3,967,500 | 9 | $3,979,281 | $3,055,858 | $1,225,913 |
| 2022 | $25,177,943 | $1,651,712 | $10,652,057 | $4,642,300 | 13 | $4,667,891 | $1,636,553 | $1,373,777 |
| 2021 | $36,594,094 | $13,289,002 | $3,706,052 | $3,052,000 | 12 | $3,064,331 | $11,644,377 | $1,584,609 |
| 2020 | $34,005,643 | $10,800,154 | $8,799,832 | $10,229,000 | 9 | — | $775,066 | $1,199,921 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tu Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — 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 grants show support for education and research, music and other arts, public media, religion, journalism, humanitarian aid, and wildlife conservation.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Global Gifted Foundation says it was established to provide people with autism spectrum disorder with medical care, research, teaching, and job skills, with particular attention to veterans and underserved populations. Pacific Symphony describes its work as presenting orchestral and other music and offering education and community engagement programs. Southern California Public Radio says its mission is to strengthen civic and cultural bonds by providing news and information. Western Iowa Journalism Foundation says it supports community journalism and access to local news and investigative reporting. Brighter Ukraine Foundation says it provides humanitarian relief and supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian community. International Bird Rescue says its mission includes rescuing waterbirds in crisis.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $19,679,939. Grant amounts ranged from $3,000 to $13,224,815, with a median of $119,062. The largest grant was $13,224,815 to American Endowment Foundation for the MT Onward Charitable Fund; the stated purpose was a contribution to a donor-advised fund for charitable purposes, not taken as a qualified distribution. Other large grants included $4,683,062 to Global Gifted Foundation for education and research, $800,000 to UC-Irvine Foundation for education and research, and $350,000 to Pacific Symphony for music. Southern California Public Radio received $250,000 for public media.
In 2023, the foundation reported 9 grants totaling $3,967,500. In 2022, it reported 13 grants totaling $4,642,300. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 11 grants totaling $19.7 million.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Tu as chairman and Jonathan Tu and Albert Kong as directors.
The Tu Foundation is led by John Tu, Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John Tu
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Albert Kong
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Tu
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mary Tu (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Tu Foundation
How much does The Tu Foundation give each year?
The Tu Foundation gave $19.7M across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.0M across 9 grants.
What is The Tu Foundation's typical grant size?
The Tu Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $119,062, and its average grant was $1,789,085, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Tu Foundation that year got $4.5M on average.
Where does The Tu Foundation give grants?
The Tu Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were Irvine, CA (2 grants).
Does The Tu Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Tu Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Tu Foundation's largest grantees?
The Tu Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Endowment Foundation FBO Mt Onward Charitable Fund ($13,224,815), Global Gifted Foundation ($4,683,062) and Uc-Irvine Foundation ($800,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Tu Foundation?
The Tu Foundation reported $10.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Tu Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for education and research, music and other arts, public media, religion, journalism, humanitarian aid, and wildlife conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Tu 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 Tu Foundation's EIN?
The Tu Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1598417. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Tu 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tu Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Tu Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-tu-foundation-morg_32f9caf70bbe463c9ab4adc97e717d6b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_271598417_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Tu Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-tu-foundation-morg_32f9caf70bbe463c9ab4adc97e717d6b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Tu 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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