Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Created and funded by Ella Fitzgerald in 1993, it makes charitable grants to help disadvantaged, at-risk, and needy people and to advance children’s education, music, and health-related support.
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation gave $1.5M across 127 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in California. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,501,558
- +2.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 127
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,823
- +12.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $9,888
- Total assets
- $17,895,317
- +5.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (32 of 125, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. No particular form or materials are prescribed; awards are at the board’s discretion.
- Contact
Application contact: Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundati
Mailing address: 11693 San Vicente Bl 356, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (310) 571-3822
Website: https://ellafitzgerald.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was VAR Charitable Orgs 3500 Books ($60K). Together the top 10 received $362K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,037), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
631 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 626 grants of 631 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 8% to New York, 5% to the District of Columbia, 4% to North Carolina, and 3% to Michigan. The largest listed grant was to a Los Angeles recipient. These figures describe the location of recipients and do not establish a broader geographic eligibility policy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 127 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 32 of 125 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 78% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 139% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $842K (2021) to $1.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 127 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VAR Charitable Orgs 3500 Books Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $60,452 |
| Ncuu Foundation Inc Durham, NC | Scholarship | $50,649 |
| Salvation Army Varcenterspgms Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $35,985 |
| Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $34,559 |
| My Stuff Bags Foundation Westlake Village, CA | Unrestricted | $31,626 |
| Eisner Health Pediatric Med Ctr Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $30,413 |
| Venice Family Clinic -Early Head St Santa Monica, CA | Unrestricted | $30,020 |
| Skirball Cultural Center Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| American Heart Association Dallas, TX | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Spread the Word NV Henderson, NV | Unrestricted | $28,634 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $17,895,317 | $3,014,921 | $2,136,546 | $1,501,558 | 127 | $1,814,608 | $863,698 | — |
| 2023 | $16,915,273 | $3,373,070 | $2,028,195 | $1,466,019 | 140 | $1,818,714 | $445,061 | — |
| 2022 | $15,610,162 | $1,926,444 | $1,604,542 | $1,067,292 | 116 | $1,403,021 | $421,748 | $1,009,891 |
| 2021 | $15,239,065 | $2,375,946 | $1,256,458 | $842,366 | 96 | $1,133,721 | $1,075,520 | $963,438 |
| 2020 | $14,115,485 | $1,245,961 | $1,356,630 | $944,721 | 152 | — | $303,866 | $900,485 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation seeks to help people of all races, cultures, and beliefs achieve a better quality of life. Its four stated areas of interest are creating educational and other opportunities for children; fostering a love and knowledge of music, including assistance to music students; providing health care, food, shelter, and counseling to people in need; and supporting medical care and research, especially in diabetes, vision problems, and heart disease.
The foundation emphasizes grants for disadvantaged and at-risk children, including after-school enrichment, learning, and reading programs. It may also make grants to organizations to fund college scholarships, but does not make scholarship grants directly to individuals. It supports organizations providing free or low-cost health and dental care, food, and shelter, as well as medical research in areas it identifies.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of grantees. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank says its mission is to mobilize resources to fight hunger; My Stuff Bags Foundation says it provides new belongings, comfort, and hope to children rescued from abuse, neglect, and abandonment. The Skirball Cultural Center describes its work as welcoming people across communities and generations through cultural experiences. Jazz at Lincoln Center says it advances jazz through performance, education, and advocacy. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 127 grants totaling $1,501,558. Grants ranged from $500 to $60,452, with a median grant of $9,888. Its largest listed awards included $60,452 to VAR CHARITABLE ORGS 3500 BOOKS for an unrestricted purpose and $50,649 to NCUU Foundation Inc. for a scholarship. Other awards included $35,985 to the Salvation Army VARCenterSPGMS, $34,559 to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and $31,626 to My Stuff Bags Foundation, all for unrestricted purposes.
The foundation’s website describes an A BOOK JUST FOR ME! program involving book donations. In a June 2020 update, it reported donating more than 20,000 new books since lockdown began.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard D. Rosman as president and director; Alan Watenmaker, Irene Romero, and Perry E. Maguire as directors; Fran Morris Rosman as executive director; and Randal I. Rosman as vice president.
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation is led by Fran Morris Rosman, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 3 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Fran Morris Rosman
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $106K (2024)
Richard D. Rosman
President & Director
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $40K (2024)
Alan Watenmaker
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irene Romero
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Perry E. Maguire
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randal I. Rosman
Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$56K (2020) → $85K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $106K, to Fran Morris Rosman (Executive Direc). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
How much does Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation give each year?
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation gave $1.5M across 127 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 140 grants.
What is Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $9,888, and its average grant was $11,823, across 127 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation give grants?
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (39 grants), New York, NY (10 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants) and Santa Monica, CA (4 grants).
Does Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (125 of 127) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include VAR Charitable Orgs 3500 Books ($60,452), Ncuu Foundation Inc ($50,649) and Salvation Army Varcenterspgms ($35,985), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,037), which are not listed by name. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation?
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation reported $17.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $3.0M.
What does Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation seeks to help people of all races, cultures, and beliefs achieve a better quality of life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4419236. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ella-fitzgerald-charitable-foundation-morg_f70c5001aed9434995e84fdecb7bf33f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954419236_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ella-fitzgerald-charitable-foundation-morg_f70c5001aed9434995e84fdecb7bf33f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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