Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research
Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $375K in total assets. In 2025, it made $55K in qualifying distributions.
Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research at a glance
- Total assets
- $374,826
- -10.7% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $48,717
- +8.2% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $54,969
- +1.0% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $108,056
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research gives
- In 2025 it paid out 281% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $47K (2021) to $64K (2020). In 2021 it made 2 grants totaling $47K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Autry Museum of the American West Los Angeles, CA | Grant to Support Research Fellow | $41,634 |
| Fowler Museum at UCLA Los Angeles, CA | Marla C. Berns Exhibition Fund | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $374,826 | $48,717 | $108,056 | — | — | $54,969 | $19,534 |
| 2024 | $419,726 | $45,043 | $107,481 | — | — | $54,432 | $22,248 |
| 2023 | $459,209 | $30,186 | $107,648 | — | — | $54,703 | $23,572 |
| 2022 | $482,567 | $23,451 | $108,836 | — | — | $55,991 | $27,359 |
| 2021 | $688,483 | $46,916 | $181,318 | $46,634 | 2 | $122,199 | $34,986 |
| 2020 | $752,097 | $-44,773 | $259,620 | $64,000 | 3 | — | $38,417 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research is led by Barry Munitz, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barry Munitz
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$103K (2020) → $103K (2025)
Jolie Godoy
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kamyab Hashemi-Nejad
CFO
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Margit Cotsen (2020–2021) — Chair Person of the Board
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $103K, to Barry Munitz (President).
Frequently asked questions about Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research
How large is Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research?
Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research reported $375K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $55K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research?
Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Los Angeles, CA. It holds $375K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research operate?
Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research has awarded grants in California, Maryland, Wisconsin.
What is Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research's EIN?
Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0794202. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Live grants for the work Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cotsen Foundation for Academic Research's focus areas in our free grants database
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