The California State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 47-2908898

Leighton Foundation Inc

A private foundation in La Jolla, CA. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 45 grants and $569,740 paid in grants.

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2025

    $569,740

    Grants listed
    45
    Assets, end of year
    $6,644,666
  • Tax year 2024

    $169,500

    Grants listed
    20
    Assets, end of year
    $6,347,493
  • Tax year 2023

    $107,000

    Grants listed
    10
    Assets, end of year
    $4,459,917
  • Tax year 2022

    $135,900

    Grants listed
    10
    Assets, end of year
    $4,520,198
  • Tax year 2021

    $127,500

    Grants listed
    9
    Assets, end of year
    $4,966,161
  • Tax year 2020

    $60,000

    Grants listed
    4
    Assets, end of year
    $3,802,696

Grants paid in 2025

45 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Thurgood Marshall Middle SchoolSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $30,000
  2. Scripps Mesa Steam LabSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $30,000
  3. Formosa Generations of Family Chamber of MuSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $26,000
  4. SRHS Baseball Booster ClubSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $22,700
  5. Ellen Browning Scripps Elementary School (educational Field Trip)San Diego, CA

    General funds

    $20,000
  6. Marshall Mustang Organization Mmo Science OlympiadSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $20,000
  7. University of California San Digo Foundation OpalsLa Jolla, CA

    General funds

    $20,000
  8. Mirmar Ranch Elementary PTA Violin Ensemble Classes and Special Add ProgramSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $20,000
  9. SRHS Music BoostersSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $17,500
  10. Ebsjerebak Music ProgramSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  11. Ellen Browning Scripps Elementary SchoolSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  12. Marshall Mustang Organization Mmo Theater ProgramSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  13. Scripps Ranch High SchoolSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  14. Scripps Ranch Wrestling Booster ClubSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  15. Highland Ranch Elementary PTA Coding ClassesSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  16. SRHS Dance ClubSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  17. Community Montessori Farm ProjectEscondido, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  18. UC San Diego Foundation OpalsLa Jolla, CA

    General funds

    $15,000
  19. Aviara Oaks Middle OrchestraCarlsbad, CA

    General funds

    $14,200
  20. Valley Elementary School PTAPoway, CA

    General funds

    $13,400
  21. Dimensions Collaborative SchoolEscondido, CA

    General funds

    $12,660
  22. Chollas Mead Elementary PTASan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $12,000
  23. Jerabek Ffo Elementary Steam LabSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $12,000
  24. Mason Elementary SchoolSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $11,000
  25. Del Norte High SchoolSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $10,000
  26. California State University San Marcos ScholarshipSan Marcos, CA

    General funds

    $10,000
  27. Campanille Music FestivalSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $10,000
  28. Turtleback Elementary SchoolSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $10,000
  29. Hage Elementary School PTASan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $10,000
  30. Teralta ArtSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $10,000
  31. Logan Memorial Educational Campus Math ProgramSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $10,000
  32. San Elijo Middle School Band BoosterSan Marcos, CA

    General funds

    $8,500
  33. Valley Middle Band and OrchestraCarlsbad, CA

    General funds

    $8,400
  34. Solana Ranch Elementary School National History Day ProgramSolana Beach, CA

    General funds

    $8,200
  35. Westview Gold Booster (westview High School)San Diego, CA

    General funds

    $8,000
  36. Spark Enrichment (strings Ensemble Workshop)San Diego, CA

    General funds

    $7,500
  37. Spark Enrichment (music Stands Books Equipment)San Diego, CA

    General funds

    $7,500
  38. Scripps Ranch High School Olympiad ScienceSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $7,000
  39. Wolverine Athletic FoundationSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $6,800
  40. SRHS Music BoostersSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $6,500
  41. Black Mountain Middle SchoolSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $5,000
  42. Dingeman Elmentary Family Faculty Connection FFCSan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $5,000
  43. WildcoastDel Mar, CA

    General funds

    $2,400
  44. Canyon Crest AcademySan Diego, CA

    General funds

    $2,000
  45. WildcoastDel Mar, CA

    General funds

    $480

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture1 grant $10,00051% of the total
  2. Education1 grant $6,80035% of the total
  3. Environment2 grants $2,88015% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. California45 grants $569,740

Officers, directors and trustees

3 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Rufina ChenCEO Hours 4Pay $0
  • Anthony ChenSECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
  • Chiu Shan ChenCFO Hours 2Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (arts and culture), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. M & I Pfister FoundationLa Jolla, CA 11 grants Accepts applications $748,250 giving
  2. Georges & Germaine Fusenot Charity Foundation IncLa Jolla, CA 62 grants Preselected only $297,000 giving
  3. HG FoundationLa Jolla, CA 12 grants Preselected only $208,140 giving
  4. Joseph Aw Clayes III Charitable TrustLa Jolla, CA 1 grant Preselected only $1,700,000 giving
  5. Julia Richardson Brown FoundationLa Jolla, CA 4 grants Preselected only $182,500 giving