Annual Report

The State of the Mission 

Annual Report for July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024

The past fiscal (2023-2024) and calendar (2024) year were great for Mission San Juan Capistrano. We are pleased to share that in most cases attendance, participation, impact, support, and programming improved over the prior year. The investment in the care and programming of this outstanding historic site by others, whether they be individuals or corporations, remained robust, uncompromised by politics, weather, and a changing world. This report shows how Mission San Juan Capistrano continues to evolve, to withstand the test of time and serve a community that cannot be defined by physical boundaries. 

In the non-profit setting every year is always a year of a lot of hard work, planning, budgeting, fundraising, teaching, and hosting. Additionally, at a historic landmark and non-profit setting things become even more complicated since in addition to running smooth operations and events, the entity must always strive to take good and diligent care of the place. This means working every day to ensure that stewardship goals are always wrapped up in guest experience values. It is like trying to deliver hope wrapped up in confetti. 

Father Serra never imagined a new world held together by an Internet. He never envisioned 25 decades later the Mission would stand solid as an institution that could continue to inspire, educate, entertain, and serve. 

In a world that provides immediate feedback we continue to see the Mission highly valued in social media and guest experience surveys. Our growth in membership renewals and the high percentage of returning field trips continued to reinforce that in the 21st century this 250-year-old landmark is a cherished place that serves the community.

Tangible proof of the Landmark’s impact shone bright in the hundreds and thousands of personal letters received from school children (funded through the Adopt-A-Class Scholarship program) who wrote to thank the Mission’s generous donors. For sure there is nothing like a heartfelt, hand penned endorsement from an unfiltered fourth grader to keep us all going. In fact, one such student recently wrote to say, “Thank you for one of the best days of my whole entire childhood. It was the best, most fun field trip ever!” 

From visitors we see how Mission San Juan Capistrano continues to connect people to a past while inspiring us all ever forward. By enveloping hearts and minds through beauty and history the Mission nurtures an escape to somewhere else within. The value of this total effect is immeasurable and not easily replicated. Some of what we do cannot be tangibly felt but its impact is there. It’s how the Mission makes you feel upon leaving and it’s how you feel upon arriving. It’s what one takes away with them, and in some cases, how one changes from experience. The Mission’s impact is real. And we have you all to thank for that.

Thank you all so much for your continued investment and generosity supporting Mission San Juan Capistrano as it approaches its 250th anniversary next year. For now, the future is promising because of you. Please read on as the following report summarizes some of the key milestones and people who helped make 2023-2024 a success. 

Mission San Juan Capistrano 2023/2024 in review: