Eileen Harris Norton Foundation
The Eileen Harris Norton Foundation is a private independent foundation established in California in 2009. Based in Los Angeles, it operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting social and environmental justice through strategic philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
-9.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
-20.2% YoY
Grant Count
15
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
+6.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Eileen Harris Norton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to achieve social and environmental justice through supporting organizations dedicated to education, families, and the environment.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education — Supporting educational initiatives and programs
- Families — Focusing on parental engagement and youth development
- Environment — Environmental justice and sustainability efforts
- Arts — Support for creation of artistic works
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. It operates on an invitation-only basis and prefers a proactive approach to grantmaking. The foundation maintains a low profile with limited public information about grantmaking strategies and priorities.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $1,000,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on the Los Angeles area, with some national giving in California, New York, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $4.2–$4.23 million
- Total Revenues: $465,229
- Total Expenses: $1.33 million
- Investment Income: $174,804
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Giving Rate: 30.7% of assets
Tax Status:
- EIN: 26-4465556
- 501(c)(3) designation
- Tax-exempt since April 2009
- Files Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,807,785 | $4,226,000 | $5,088,147 |
| Revenue | $646,907 | $465,229 | $476,793 |
| Expenses | $1,066,086 | $1,327,376 | $1,348,874 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,043,059 | $1,306,422 | $1,309,988 |
| Net Investment Income | $629,880 | $447,176 | $455,257 |
| Distributable Amount | $266,329 | $266,636 | $366,291 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
100 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cal Arts ($1,000,000), Art and Practice Foundation ($10,000), Hcc Foundation ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ART AND PRACTICE FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | TO FURTHER SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO EXPLORE THE ARTS. | $10,000 |
| CAL ARTS VALENCIA, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY PROJECTS | $1,000,000 |
| CAMFED USA FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION FOR GIRLS. TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF POVERTY AND INEQUALITY AMONG GIRLS IN AFRICA. | $2,500 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY | TO SUPPORT CHILDREN | $500 |
| HCC FOUNDATION TAMPA, FL | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS TO HELP INSPIRE AND ENGAGE STUDENTS AND FOSTER GOOD LEARNING HABITS. | $5,000 |
| HEART RIVER CENTER NEW YORK, NY | TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO UNDERPRIVILEDGED CHILDREN | $5,000 |
| KCRW SANTA MONICA, CA | PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND OTHER RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT KCRW CAN MAINTAIN AND EXPAND ITS MISSION CONSISTENT WITH ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS. | $250 |
| PBS ARLINGTON, VA | TO MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF CHILDREN | $500 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD LOS ANGELES, CA | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND SEXUAL HEALTH INFORMATION. | $2,000 |
| PROPUBLICA NEW YORK, NY | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Eileen Harris Norton — Founder and Trustee
Eileen Harris Norton was raised in the Watts section of Los Angeles and earned her bachelor's degree from UCLA and a master's degree in bilingual education from USC. She worked as a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District before becoming an active art collector based in Los Angeles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EILEEN NORTON | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a major gift to CalArts to create the Charles Gaines Faculty Chair, supporting equity efforts at the institution.
Major Gift from Philanthropist Eileen Harris Norton Creates the Charles GainesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Eileen Harris Norton Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to achieve social and environmental justice through supporting organizations dedicated to education, families, and the environment. Primary funding areas include: • **Education** — Supporting educational initiatives and programs • **Families** — Focusing on parental engagement and youth development • **Environment** — Environmental justice and sustainability efforts • **Arts** — Support for creation of artistic works
How do I apply for a grant from Eileen Harris Norton Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,000 to $1,000,000 • Median grant size: $2,500–$3,000 • Recent annual giving: Approximately $1.3 million (2023) • Number of grants: 18–21 grants annually **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. It operates on an invitation-only basis and prefers a proactive approach to grantmaking. The foundation maintains a low profile with limited public information about grantmaking strategies and priorities. **Rece…
Where does Eileen Harris Norton Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on the Los Angeles area, with some national giving in California, New York, and Virginia.
What size grants does Eileen Harris Norton Foundation award?
In 2024, Eileen Harris Norton Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Eileen Harris Norton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Eileen Harris Norton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Eileen Harris Norton Foundation's EIN?
Eileen Harris Norton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4465556. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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