Tomlinson Foundation
Tomlinson Foundation is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California. Its 2024 filing lists grants to charitable organizations in California and Idaho, including organizations providing vocational services, youth support, housing, and community programs.
Tomlinson Foundation at a glance
In short: Tomlinson Foundation gave $1.8M across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $223K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,783,333
- +111.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $222,917
- +58.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $225,000
- Total assets
- $85,400,957
- +24.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (64% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Tomlinson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4225 Executive Square Suite 1150, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 558-9200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tomlinson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Teri Campus of Life ($500K). Together the top 8 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 10 grants of 33 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed to recipients in California (64%) and Idaho (36%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Tomlinson Foundation gives
- Giving fell 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 49% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2019) to $3.3M (2020). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Teri Campus of Life Oceanside, CA | Construction of Vocational Center | $500,000 |
| YMCA San Diego, CA | General Support | $300,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Ada County Garden City, ID | General Support | $250,000 |
| Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Boise, ID | General Support | $250,000 |
| Villa Esperanza Services Pasadena, CA | General Support | $200,000 |
| Just in Time for Foster Youth San Diego, CA | General Support | $150,000 |
| Bluum Inc (Idaho Charter School Network) Boise, ID | General Support | $83,333 |
| Treasure Valley Family YMCA Boise, ID | Aquatics Center | $50,000 |
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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 | $85,400,957 | $17,446,902 | $2,101,709 | $1,783,333 | 8 | $1,839,283 | $8,273,123 | $3,782,899 |
| 2023 | $68,671,226 | $6,962,454 | $1,026,805 | $843,333 | 6 | $896,540 | $6,902,855 | $3,233,844 |
| 2022 | $65,174,387 | $5,312,109 | $3,752,784 | $1,643,334 | 7 | $1,680,124 | $5,444,526 | $3,026,466 |
| 2021 | $61,631,059 | $28,008,355 | $2,842,107 | $2,505,000 | 6 | $2,542,808 | $7,623,362 | $712,173 |
| 2020 | $32,429,480 | $28,660,557 | $3,341,217 | $3,250,000 | 6 | — | $556,178 | $921,573 |
| 2019 | $7,110,140 | $2,013,019 | $136,822 | $30,000 | 2 | — | $41,126 | $263,711 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tomlinson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M 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
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in several areas. For example, Villa Esperanza Services says its mission is to provide education, training, and support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Just in Time for Foster Youth describes its work as developing durable change for transition-age foster youth through relationships and resources that help young people thrive and become confident, capable, and connected.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $1,783,333 through eight grants. Grants ranged from $50,000 to $500,000, with a median grant of $225,000.
Its largest 2024 grants included $500,000 to TERI Campus of Life for construction of a vocational center; $300,000 to YMCA in San Diego for general support; $250,000 each to Boys & Girls Club of Ada County and Interfaith Sanctuary Housing for general support; $200,000 to Villa Esperanza Services for general support; and $150,000 to Just in Time for Foster Youth for general support. It also gave $83,333 to Bluum Inc (Idaho Charter School Network) for general support and $50,000 to Treasure Valley Family YMCA for an aquatics center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lynora S. Brown as president, Mark W. Lindsay as vice president and secretary, and Steve Totten as vice president and treasurer.
Tomlinson Foundation is led by Lynora S. Brown, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lynora S. Brown
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark W. Lindsay
Vice President & Secretary
Secretary → Vice President & Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Totten
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: David Turnbull (2019–2020) — Vice President & Treasurer
- Former: Thomas W. Tomlinson (2019) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Tomlinson Foundation
How much does Tomlinson Foundation give each year?
Tomlinson Foundation gave $1.8M across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $843K across 6 grants.
What is Tomlinson Foundation's typical grant size?
Tomlinson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $225,000, and its average grant was $222,917, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tomlinson Foundation give grants?
Tomlinson Foundation gives mostly in California: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Idaho (36%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boise, ID (3 grants) and San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does Tomlinson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Tomlinson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Tomlinson Foundation's largest grantees?
Tomlinson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Teri Campus of Life ($500,000), YMCA ($300,000) and Boys & Girls Club of Ada County ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Tomlinson Foundation?
Tomlinson Foundation reported $85.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.8M (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 Tomlinson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in several areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tomlinson Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Tomlinson Foundation's EIN?
Tomlinson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0383793. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does Tomlinson 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 5, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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