Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California, established in 1993 by Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Song. The foundation was created to fulfill Fitzgerald's vision of using the fruits of her success to help people of all races, cultures, and beliefs, with a focus on improving quality of life for disadvantaged and at-risk populations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.9M
+5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+2.4% YoY
Grant Count
127
-9.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+12.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on four major areas of interest:
- Creating educational and other opportunities for children
- Fostering a love and knowledge of music, including assistance to students of music
- Providing health care, food, shelter, and counseling to those in need
- Supporting specific areas of medical care and research with an emphasis on diabetes, vision problems, and heart disease
The foundation operates to help the disadvantaged, at-risk, and needy populations, whether their circumstances arise from financial, medical, or other factors, with the goal of enabling them to achieve better quality of life and more meaningful lives for themselves and their families.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates "A Book Just For Me," a program providing new books to at-risk and disadvantaged youth. This program currently operates in more than 70 day care centers, after-school programs, and health clinics. The foundation also provides unsolicited contributions to public charities, including monetary grants and new book purchases for reading and literacy programs.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and the District of Columbia, with significant activity in the Los Angeles area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total assets: $17,895,317
- Total revenues: $3,014,921
- Total expenses: $2,136,546
- Total giving: $1,501,558
2022 Financial Data:
- Total assets: $15,600,000
- Revenue: $1,930,000
- Expenses: $1,600,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,895,317 | $16,915,273 | $15,610,162 |
| Revenue | $3,014,921 | $3,373,070 | $1,926,444 |
| Expenses | $2,136,546 | $2,028,195 | $1,604,542 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,814,608 | $1,818,714 | $1,403,021 |
| Net Investment Income | $863,698 | $445,061 | $421,748 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | $1,009,891 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Var Charitable Orgs 3500 Books ($60,452), Salvation Army Varcenterspgms ($35,985), Skirball Cultural Center ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PARA LOS NINOS LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $11,080 |
| ALTAMED WEST COVINA WEST COVINA, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $19,338 |
| LA'S BEST LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| A PLACE CALLED HOME LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $21,286 |
| STUDENTS RUN LA LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $7,050 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,840 |
| CITY OF HOPE DUARTE, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $15,705 |
| THE BOY'S GIRL'S CLUB LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $4,220 |
| BOOKS BETWEEN KIDS HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $5,126 |
| CSU LONG BEACH FOUNDATION LONG BEACH, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board members include Richard D. Rosman, Alan Watenmaker, and Irene Romero.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD D ROSMAN | PRES.&DIRECTOR | 12 | $40,000 |
| ALAN WATENMAKER | Director | 0.5 | — |
| IRENE ROMERO | Director | 0.5 | — |
| PERRY E MAGUIRE | Director | 0.5 | — |
| FRAN MORRIS ROSMAN | Executive Direc | 40 | $106,480 |
| RANDAL I ROSMAN | Vice President | 40 | $85,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported music education and scholarships across multiple institutions:
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation Funds Camp Broadway Scholarships inProvided a full-ride scholarship to Kansas City Kansas Community College
Funded Camp Broadway Scholarships in Atlanta
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation Funds Camp Broadway Scholarships inEstablished the Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship at USC's School of Dramatic Arts, advancing equity and diversity in musical theatre
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation to Provide New Full Ride Scholarship\Provided aid to San Jose Jazz's Progressions students
Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation Sends Aid to Progressions StudentsThe foundation maintains an active grantmaking program focused on education, human services, and music-related initiatives aligned with Ella Fitzgerald's legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on four major areas of interest: 1. Creating educational and other opportunities for children 2. Fostering a love and knowledge of music, including assistance to students of music 3. Providing health care, food, shelter, and counseling to those in need 4. Supporting specific areas of medical care and research with an emphasis on diabetes, vision problems, and heart disease The foundation operates to help the disadvantaged, at-risk, and needy populations, whether…
How do I apply for a grant from Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Total giving: $1,501,558 (2024) • Total assets: $17,895,317 (2024) • Typical award range: $167–$100,000 • Made 108 grants in 2024 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: $34,559 • My Stuff Bags Foundation: $31,626 • Skirball Cultural Center: $30,000 **Programs:** The foundation operates "A Book Just For Me," a program providing new books to at-risk and disadvantaged youth. This program currently operates in more than 70 day care centers, after…
Where does Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and the District of Columbia, with significant activity in the Los Angeles area.
What size grants does Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation awarded 127 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ella Fitzgerald Charitable 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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