$57 million in charitable grants places Mellody Hobson and George Lucas among the nation’s most influential private philanthropists ahead of the fall 2026 opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
The Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation distributed approximately $57 million in charitable grants, part of a portfolio that now exceeds $1.2 billion in assets.
Those numbers place Mellody Hobson and George Lucas among the country’s most significant private philanthropists, reflecting not only the scale of their resources but also the consistency with which they deploy them.
In 2026, the foundation continues to operate as a quiet but powerful engine behind their philanthropy, sustaining high-level support for education, arts and culture, film, and human services while advancing a slate of major, multi-year commitments.
Within that broad giving footprint, Hobson and Lucas continue to set a remarkable standard for modern philanthropy, distinguished by both vision and intentionality. Their work exemplifies how thoughtful leadership and strategic generosity can expand access to education, culture, and opportunity while celebrating the full breadth of human creativity and potential.
In recent years, grants have included eight‑figure commitments to institutions such as Princeton University and New York University, as well as significant support for the University of Southern California, the Barack Obama Foundation, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and a range of other organizations advancing equity, storytelling, and civic life. Across these efforts runs a through line: a belief that capital, when deployed with purpose, can shape a more inclusive and inspired future.
In the year ahead, much of that vision will come to life with the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles on September 22, 2026.
As co‑chairs, Hobson and Lucas have guided the development of this ambitious cultural institution with extraordinary care and commitment.
Spanning a 300,000‑square‑foot campus, including 100,000 square feet of gallery space, the museum is designed to make narrative and representational art both accessible and meaningful to broad audiences. Its collection—centered on storytelling through visual media—invites visitors to see themselves and others reflected in works that capture everyday experiences and universal themes.
Backed by a long‑term investment reported to be in the range of a billion dollars for construction, collection, and endowments, the museum stands as a powerful cultural legacy that will nurture creativity, curiosity, and connection for generations.
In parallel, the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation’s grantmaking remains robust. The 2024 tax year alone shows hundreds of individual awards, from transformative eight‑figure gifts to cornerstone universities to substantial support for youth programs, film institutions, civil rights organizations, and donor‑advised funds, all extending their reach even further.
While detailed 2026 grant data is not yet out, the pattern is clear: a sustained, multi‑year deployment of capital toward institutions and initiatives that align with their core values of equity, education, storytelling, and opportunity.