Assistance League of Santa Monica
Assistance League of Santa Monica is a nonprofit organization comprised of member-volunteers who assist children and families in the Santa Monica Bay Area through a variety of philanthropic programs.
Assistance League of Santa Monica at a glance
In short: Assistance League of Santa Monica gave $272K across 8 grants in 2026 (avg $34K), mostly in California. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $272,225
- -6.6% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 8
- -33.3% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $34,028
- +40.1% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $15,200
- Total assets
- $1,210,344
- +3.0% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated September 2026.
Who Assistance League of Santa Monica funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Pali Institute ($64K). Together the top 5 received $159K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($112,792), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 32 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Assistance League of Santa Monica gives
- Giving grew 123% from 2023 to 2026. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $900 (2021) to $291K (2025). In 2026 it made 8 grants totaling $272K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $112,792 |
| Pali Institute Running Springs, CA | Camping for Youth | $63,503 |
| Westchester Family YMCA Los Angeles, CA | Camping for Youth | $55,930 |
| Westside Food Bank Santa Monica, CA | FOOD | $20,000 |
| Growing Side by Side Santa Monica, CA | Families with Neuro-Diverse Youth | $10,000 |
| Western La County Council Van Nuys, CA | Camping for Youth | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,210,344 | $546,277 | $529,117 | $272,225 | 8 | $23,629 |
| 2025 | $1,174,692 | $501,243 | $536,307 | $291,420 | 12 | $24,394 |
| 2024 | $1,211,991 | $660,331 | $422,067 | $194,635 | 7 | $12,166 |
| 2023 | $967,263 | $373,976 | $318,224 | $122,140 | 5 | $146 |
| 2022 | $911,104 | $232,608 | $183,677 | $1,925 | Total only | $238 |
| 2021 | $860,058 | $181,161 | $200,611 | $900 | Total only | $1,113 |
| 2020 | $881,820 | $361,130 | $356,391 | $5,000 | Total only | $1,206 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Assistance League of Santa Monica
Based on IRS filings
Assistance League of Santa Monica is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Santa Monica, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 8 grants totaling $272K. Net investment income was $24K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Assistance League of Santa Monica is led by Gaye Saxon, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 11 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Gaye Saxon
President
Vice President Resource Development → Marketing Committee, 2023
Marketing Committee → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
14 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gloria Fowler
Secretary Recording
Bylaws → Vice President Philantrhop., 2024
Vice President Philantrhop. → Secretary Recording, 2026
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Nordby
Treasurer
Recording Secretary → President, 2021
President → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Ferrell
Membership Acting
Vice President Philanthrop → Vice President Membership, 2022
Vice President Membership → Membership Acting, 2025
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Clark
Vice President Resource Development
Marketing Committee → President, 2023
President → Vice President Resource Development, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Charchut
Vice President Membership
Member Activiti → Recording Secretary, 2025
Recording Secretary → Vice President Membership, 2026
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debbie Barnett
Property Mang
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carla Galias
Night Lights
On filings since 2025
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Hill
Corresponding
On filings since 2025
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vivien O'Connor
Vice President Philantropy
Director → Vice President Philantropy, 2026
On filings since 2025
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Demers
Strg Plan Educ
New on the 2026 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Margaret Brown (2020–2025) — Chair Educ & Plan
- Former: Mary Lazzara (2024–2025) — Vice President Membership
- Former: Mary Ann Lesson (2023–2024) — Corresponding
- Former: Nancy Kearsley (2023–2024) — Vice President Resource
- Former: Fay Herzog (2024) — Nl Representative
- Former: Lisa Riddle (2024) — Chair Educ & Plan
- Former: Gina Peled (2020–2023) — Vice President Philanthropi
- Former: barbrara feick (2020–2022) — Parlimentarian
- Former: joyce landsverk (2020–2022) — Correspon Secretary
- Former: mary clark (2020–2022) — Events Social
- Former: Carla Galais (2021–2022) — Night Lights Ch
- Former: Carolyn De Mers (2021–2022) — Education Plan
- Former: Daveda Shapiro (2021–2022) — Night Lights Ch
- Former: jeannine richards (2020–2021) — Parliamentarian
- Former: Thelma Orosco (2020) — Property Mang
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Assistance League of Santa Monica
How much does Assistance League of Santa Monica give each year?
Assistance League of Santa Monica gave $272K across 8 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $291K across 12 grants.
What is Assistance League of Santa Monica's typical grant size?
Assistance League of Santa Monica's median grant in 2026 was $15,200, and its average grant was $34,028, across 8 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.
Where does Assistance League of Santa Monica give grants?
Assistance League of Santa Monica gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Monica, CA (2 grants).
Does Assistance League of Santa Monica give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Assistance League of Santa Monica's 2026 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Camping for Youth" (3 grants).
Who are Assistance League of Santa Monica's largest grantees?
Assistance League of Santa Monica's largest 2026 grantees include Pali Institute ($63,503), Westchester Family YMCA ($55,930) and Westside Food Bank ($20,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($112,792), which are not listed by name. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Assistance League of Santa Monica?
Assistance League of Santa Monica reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $546K.
What is Assistance League of Santa Monica?
Assistance League of Santa Monica is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Santa Monica, CA. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2026.
What is Assistance League of Santa Monica's EIN?
Assistance League of Santa Monica's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-1647807. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 26, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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