Dr Seuss Foundation
The Dr. Seuss Foundation is a private foundation based in San Diego, California, established in 1958 by Theodor Seuss Geisel, the renowned children's author. The foundation creates partnerships and funds programs that inspire learning, spark imagination, and expand opportunities for all children, with a particular emphasis on early childhood education and literacy development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$65.0M
+16.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+11.6% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.2M
+11.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dr Seuss Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to foster literacy in all its forms by financially supporting and partnering with organizations that share this goal.
Primary Focus:
- Early childhood literacy development from birth through kindergarten, with particular emphasis on the critical period when children's brains are 90 percent developed by age five
- Play-based learning, social-emotional development, and language development
- Supporting parents as primary teachers through singing, reading, writing, and creating activities
Five Interconnected Forms of Literacy: The foundation recognizes and invests in literacy beyond traditional reading and writing, including:
- Language development
- Social-emotional development
- Mathematical reasoning
- Environmental awareness
- Arts and creativity
Core Values:
- Creativity, Curiosity, and Imagination
- Education and Learning
- Community Equity
- Sustainable Impact
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts both unsolicited letters of intent (LOIs) and, occasionally, unsolicited applications. In January 2026, the Dr. Seuss Foundation and San Diego Foundation launched a common application that streamlines the process for nonprofits seeking funding from either or both organizations.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is San Diego County, California, though it also funds programs beyond the San Diego area. Most grantees are based in the San Diego region, serving young children and their families.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $64,969,085
- Total Annual Giving: $2,232,234 (based on 2024 IRS Form 990)
- Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since May 1960
- EIN: 95-6029752
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $64,969,085 | $55,778,403 | $47,766,281 |
| Revenue | $4,244,485 | $772,049 | $1,421,632 |
| Expenses | $3,317,362 | $2,978,215 | $3,168,267 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,509,825 | $2,167,076 | $74,967 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,035,732 | $1,632,904 | $1,604,056 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,184,871 | $2,258,299 | $2,145,472 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Dr Seuss Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Diego Foundation ($2,232,234).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION SAN DIEGO, CA | CONTRIBUTION MADE TO AWARD GRANTS TO VARIOUS CHARITIES THAT ENABLE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT LITERACY, LITERATURE, AND EDUCATION. | $2,232,234 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Katie Rast – Chief Executive Officer
- Jay Hill – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAUDIA PRESCOTT | PRESIDENT EMERITA | 1 | — |
| BRIAN SCHOTTLAENDER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JAY HILL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $192,684 |
| TED OWENS | VISE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| SATOMI SAITO | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| KATIE RAST | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| LUCIA WIECHERS GARAY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRIEA EMORY | PROGRAM MANAGER | 40 | $81,790 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Ready to Learn Initiative (March 2025)**
The Dr. Seuss Foundation and San Diego Foundation launched Ready to Learn, a joint initiative to support early literacy development for young children in San Diego County. The initiative is established through a $15 million endowment created by the Dr. Seuss Foundation with San Diego Foundation. This permanent fund is invested to generate revenue in perpetuity, ensuring long-term financial support for early childhood literacy in the region. The inaugural grants totaled $1,050,000 distributed to 18 local literacy nonprofits.
Dr. Seuss Foundation and San Diego Foundation Offer $2 Million in Early Literacy**Common Application Launch (January 2026)**
San Diego Foundation, Dr. Seuss Foundation Launch Joint Grant ApplicationThe Dr. Seuss Foundation and San Diego Foundation released a new common application providing nonprofits access to two early childhood grant opportunities totaling $2 million. The coordinated approach supports early literacy, school readiness, and social-emotional development for children from birth through age 8, reducing administrative burden for applicants while expanding access to critical resources across San Diego County.
Dr. Seuss Foundation and San Diego Foundation Offer $2 Million in Early Literacy**Ongoing Partnership**
The Dr. Seuss Foundation and San Diego Foundation have maintained a successful three-year collaboration that has provided more than $3 million in grants to expand access to early educational opportunities and improve reading skills for children in the region.
Dr. Seuss Foundation and San Diego Foundation Offer $2 Million in Early LiteracyFrequently Asked Questions
What does Dr Seuss Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to foster literacy in all its forms by financially supporting and partnering with organizations that share this goal. **Primary Focus:** • Early childhood literacy development from birth through kindergarten, with particular emphasis on the critical period when children's brains are 90 percent developed by age five • Play-based learning, social-emotional development, and language development • Supporting parents as primary teachers through singing, reading, writing, …
How do I apply for a grant from Dr Seuss Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $1 to $2,232,234 • Total annual giving: $2,232,234 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing for 2024) **Recent Grant Activity:** • In 2024, the foundation awarded almost $900,000 in grants to local literacy programs • The foundation awarded $1,050,000 in grants to 18 local literacy nonprofits through the inaugural Ready to Learn initiative (March 2025) **Application Process:** The foundation accepts both unsolicited letters of intent (LOIs) and, occasi…
Where does Dr Seuss Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is San Diego County, California, though it also funds programs beyond the San Diego area. Most grantees are based in the San Diego region, serving young children and their families.
What size grants does Dr Seuss Foundation award?
In 2024, Dr Seuss Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $2.2M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dr Seuss Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dr Seuss Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Dr Seuss Foundation's EIN?
Dr Seuss Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6029752. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dr Seuss Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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