Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation

Mission

To support charitable causes in the areas of education, religion, health, human services, and the arts to organizations located in or serving citizens of Los Angeles County, California, and South Dakota.

Annual application deadlines

June 30

Program areas

Arts, culture, and humanities
Education
Health
Human services
Religion

Program limitations

The Foundation makes annual grants to organizations in the areas of education, religion, health, human services, and the arts. In keeping with the donor’s desires, for grants to religious organizations, strong preference will be given to Roman Catholic institutions.

States served

California, South Dakota

Geographic limitations

In accordance with the wishes of the donor, the Foundation supports only charitable organizations located in or serving citizens of Los Angeles County, California, and South Dakota.

Trustees

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, and scientific purposes. In accordance with the wishes of the donor, the Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation supports only charitable organizations located in or serving citizens of Los Angeles County, California, and South Dakota.

Requirements

• To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Limitations

In keeping with the donor’s desires, for grants to religious organizations, strong preference will be given to Roman Catholic institutions.

The foundation will not consider funding requests for the following:

• Political campaigns or lobbying activities
• Fundraising campaigns
• Endowment campaigns
• Individuals
• Travel for groups or individuals
• Conferences, seminars, workshops, or symposia
• Benefits or fundraisers
• No capital requests will be considered unless solicited by the Foundation's advisory board.

Grantmaking priorities

Social service organizations and programs serving the needs of women, particularly victims of domestic violence and women who are mentally ill.

Special consideration will be given to organizations that:

• Were supported by the donor during her lifetime
• Provide emergency and/or transitional housing
• Promote self-sufficiency through education, training, or employment
• Assist women in improving their parenting skills
• Serve the poor and needy
• Support music and performing arts with special consideration given to programs serving high school and college-age students of theatre, vocal, or orchestral music.

Average giving

Average grant size: $5,000 to $20,000
Average number of grants per year: 30 to 50
Average total giving per year: $1,000,000 to $1,600,000

Annual application period and deadlines

Applications are accepted year-round. Applications must be submitted by June 30th to be reviewed at the annual grant meeting that occurs in September.

Communications

Applicants will receive an automated email confirming their submission. Grant decisions are generally communicated by November for applications received by the deadline.

Required agreements and reports

Except as otherwise specified when a grant is awarded, a progress report must be submitted within 6 months after receiving funds.

About the Foundation

Mary Mastrovich Adams, born in 1898 in Lead, South Dakota, was the only daughter among the four children born to Eli and Anna Mastrovich. Of Yugoslavian heritage, Mrs. Adams was strongly influenced by the Catholic Church throughout her life.

Widowed at a young age in 1917, she married her second husband William Emory Adams II in 1927. Adams was a prominent businessman in Deadwood, South Dakota, as well as its mayor for six terms during the 1920s. The couple maintained residences in both South Dakota and California. Their home in Deadwood now belongs to the City of Deadwood, and it is open to the public as the Historic Adams House.

After William’s death in 1934, Mary continued to divide her time between the West and Midwest. She also traveled extensively in Europe, making numerous trips to her ancestral home in Yugoslavia.

During those years, she deepened her commitment to education and the performing arts and helped many young students obtain their musical training. She also donated generously to a scholarship fund at Loyola Marymount University and to other institutions of higher learning, particularly those with programs in vocal and instrumental performance. In addition, she shared her resources with several Roman Catholic parishes, hospitals, museums, and libraries, as well as programs for battered women and an organization serving delinquent teenage boys. The Adams-Mastrovich Foundation was established in 1957 to sustain her philanthropic interests.

After suffering a stroke in 1988, Mary entered the Marycrest Manor Home in Culver City, California, where she resided until her death in 1993.