The Burnham Foundation
Invitation OnlySan Diego, California · EIN 95-3565278 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2025)$1.8M
Organizations funded42
Typical grant$10,000
Total assets$4.3M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $25,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2025 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
0% of grants went outside California.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego History Center | San Deigo, CA | History center sustaining council. | $700,000 |
| J Craig Venter Institute | LA Jolla, CA | Advancing the science of genomics | $200,000 |
| National Conflict Resolution Center | San Diego, CA | Peacemaker honorary committee | $150,000 |
| Forever Balboa Park | San Deigo, CA | Matching grant to preserve, enhance and activate balboa park. | $100,000 |
| National Conflict Resolution Center | San Diego, CA | Peacemaker honorary committee. | $75,000 |
| San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 | San Deigo, CA | Support of the world design capital 2024 events in san diego & tijuana. | $54,000 |
| Institute of the Americas | LA Jolla, CA | Funding for the cross boarder steam lab | $50,000 |
| Sanford Burnham Prebys | LA Jolla, CA | Research for the cure to cancer. | $50,000 |
| San Diego Yacht Club | San Deigo, CA | Burnham sailing center building. | $36,770 |
| Installation Gallery | San Diego, CA | Binational collaborative arts partnership | $25,000 |
| San Diego Regional Economic Corporation | San Deigo, CA | Promote business in san diego. | $25,000 |
| San Diego Regional Economic Corporation | San Deigo, CA | Promote business in san diego. | $25,000 |
| Sdyc Sailing Foundation | San Deigo, CA | Burnham sailing center building | $25,000 |
| Plhs-Pointer Asb | San Deigo, CA | Academics, arts and athletics. | $25,000 |
| San Diego Jazz Ventures | San Deigo, CA | Support the san diego tijuana international jazz festival. | $25,000 |
| San Ysidro Health | San Deigo, CA | Provide high quality, affordable health care for families | $25,000 |
| University of San Diego | LA Jolla, CA | Student scholarships | $24,988 |
| San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 | San Deigo, CA | Support of the world design capital 2024 events in san diego & tijuana | $22,000 |
| Iian-Lael Foundation | Julian, CA | Support for endowment fund | $10,000 |
| Julian Community Heritage Foundation | Julian, CA | Preserving the history and community of julian | $10,000 |
| Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership | San Deigo, CA | Increase reading literacy of grade school students. | $10,000 |
| Lucky Duck Foundation | San Deigo, CA | Prevent and alleviate suffering of homeless throughout san diego. | $10,000 |
| Us-Mexico Border Philanthropy | San Deigo, CA | Support of the smart border coalition | $10,000 |
| Voices of Our City Choir | San Deigo, CA | Emergency housing support for vulnerable choir members. | $10,000 |
| Junior Achievement | San Deigo, CA | Prepare young people to succeed in business | $9,000 |
| Uss Midway Foundation | San Deigo, CA | Preservation of naval aviation history. | $6,750 |
| Meals on Wheels | San Diego, CA | Feed elderly shut-ins | $5,000 |
| Rise Up Industries | Santee, CA | Gang prevention, gang intervention and post-detention reentry programs. | $5,000 |
| St Therese of Carmel | San Diego, CA | Fund construction at our lady of guadalupe. | $5,000 |
| San Diego Lgbtq Community Center | San Deigo, CA | Enhance and sustain the wellbeing of queer and transgendered people. | $5,000 |
| The Wednesday Club | San Deigo, CA | Arts & literacy awareness. | $5,000 |
| Trans Family Support Services | San Diego, CA | Support for transgendered and non-binary people and their families | $5,000 |
| Forever Balboa Park | San Deigo, CA | 2025 spark awards sponsorship | $5,000 |
| San Diego Scouting America | San Deigo, CA | 2025 champions of scouting event. | $3,500 |
| Las Patronas | LA Jolla, CA | Support rady children's hospital | $3,000 |
| Score San Diego | San Deigo, CA | Counseling and workshops for business. | $2,500 |
| San Diego Air and Space Museum | San Deigo, CA | Promote air and space programs. | $2,000 |
| Uss Midway Museum | San Diego, CA | Preservation of naval aviation history | $2,000 |
| Kcsd-Fm | San Deigo, CA | Ongoing programming support of jazz radio. | $2,000 |
| Sharp Hospice Care | LA Mesa, CA | Homes for hospice | $1,500 |
| LA Jolla United Methodist Church | LA Jolla, CA | Support church activities | $1,000 |
| San Diego Yacht Club | San Deigo, CA | Burnham sailing center building. | $1,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,767,008 | 42 |
| 2024 | $467,243 | 25 |
| 2023 | $713,824 | 37 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed Aug 27, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202642399349100214
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 95-3565278
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.