Emerson Family Foundation
The Emerson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. In its 2024 filing, it reported 14 grants totaling $4,784,480, with the largest grant going to Bradley Impact Fund in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Emerson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Emerson Family Foundation gave $4.8M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $342K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,784,480
- +1473.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +180.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $341,749
- +462.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $593,834
- -91.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Emerson Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1522 Ensley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310) 553-4151
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Emerson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bradley Impact Fund ($4.4M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 38 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. The remaining reported shares went to New York (4%), Pennsylvania (1%), New Jersey (1%), and Illinois (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
How Emerson Family Foundation gives
- 25% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 3258% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $50K (2020) to $4.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $4.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bradley Impact Fund Milwaukee, WI | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $4,181,810 |
| Bradley Impact Fund Milwaukee, WI | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $205,670 |
| American Conservation Appleton, WI | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $75,000 |
| Central Fund of Isreal Cedarhurst, NY | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $50,000 |
| Friends of Elnet European Leadershi New York, NY | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $50,000 |
| Report Inc Southhampton, PA | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $50,000 |
| American Technion Society New York, NY | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $50,000 |
| Fuente Latina Cherry Hill, NJ | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $25,000 |
| Central Fund of Isreal Cedarhurst, NY | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $25,000 |
| Central Fund of Israel Cedarhurst, NY | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 organization | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Emerson Family Foundation?
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 | $593,834 | $-613,536 | $4,848,944 | $4,784,480 | 14 | $4,784,480 | $109,639 | $266,048 |
| 2023 | $7,038,263 | $-1,072,423 | $328,042 | $304,000 | 5 | $304,000 | $132,312 | $340,259 |
| 2022 | $8,438,728 | $259,997 | $347,491 | $325,000 | 10 | $325,000 | $243,283 | $390,335 |
| 2021 | $8,526,222 | $2,238,573 | $195,970 | $142,500 | 7 | $142,500 | $1,793,020 | $412,375 |
| 2020 | $6,265,980 | $56,308 | $74,705 | $50,000 | 2 | — | $88,082 | $235,805 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Emerson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general-use support for charitable organizations. Among the recipients, Bradley Impact Fund describes itself as a donor-advised fund that advises donors and promotes high-impact giving and protection of donor intent. Friends of ELNET says its mission is to educate leaders and citizens about Israel and improve diplomatic and cultural relations between regions. Central Fund of Israel says it was established to enable donations to reach charities in Israel.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $4,784,480. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $4,181,810, with a median grant of $37,500.
The largest grants included $4,181,810 and $205,670 to Bradley Impact Fund, and $75,000 to American Conservation. Other reported grants included $50,000 each to Central Fund of Israel, Friends of ELNET European Leadership, Report Inc, and American Technion Society. Friends of ELNET received $25,000, and Tribe Media Corp received $10,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists J Steven Emerson as President/CEO, Rita Emerson as Director/Secretary, and Brian Emerson as Secretary.
Emerson Family Foundation is led by J. Steven Emerson, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
J. Steven Emerson
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rita Emerson
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Emerson
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Emerson Family Foundation
How much does Emerson Family Foundation give each year?
Emerson Family Foundation gave $4.8M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $304K across 5 grants.
What is Emerson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Emerson Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $37,500, and its average grant was $341,749, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Emerson Family Foundation give grants?
Emerson Family Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cedarhurst, NY (3 grants), Milwaukee, WI (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Emerson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Emerson Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Emerson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Emerson Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Bradley Impact Fund ($4,387,480 across 2 grants), Central Fund of Isreal ($75,000 across 2 grants) and American Conservation ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Emerson Family Foundation?
Emerson Family Foundation reported $594K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $266K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Emerson Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general-use support for charitable organizations. Among the recipients, Bradley Impact Fund describes itself as a donor-advised fund that advises donors and promotes high-impact giving and protection of donor intent. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Emerson Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Emerson Family Foundation's EIN?
Emerson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3997556. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Emerson Family 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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Emerson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
David & Janet Polak Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The foundation funds strategic projects in Israel and Jewish communities, as well as medical care, scientific research, and education; its 2024 grants ranged from $1,800 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000. Giving is concentrated in California and New York, with additional grants in other states, and it funds only preselected organizations, not unsolicited requests.
Assets
$70.4M
Grants
82
Total Given
$2.3M
Hochberg Family Foundation
Skokie, IL
The foundation supports a range of charitable work, including Israel-related causes, healthcare, and children’s music programs, with 2025 grants from $100 to $102,500 and a median of $3,000. Its grants went mainly to organizations in New York, California, Washington, DC, Illinois, and Tennessee. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$9.3M
Grants
99
Total Given
$914K
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Donors Trust Inc
Alexandria, VA
Donors Trust supports charities and programs in social welfare, health, the environment, economics, governance, foreign relations, and arts and culture, with a strong emphasis on conservative and libertarian policy and education groups. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000, though awards ranged from $5,038 to $35 million, and recipients were concentrated in Washington, D.C., Virginia, New York, Texas, and California. It does not accept unsolicited requests; donor-advisors recommend grants through their accounts.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
919
Total Given
$282.1M
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma
San Francisco, CA
The Federation funds Jewish life and identity, antisemitism response, crisis relief, human services, and justice and inclusion, with work in the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,050 to $2,405,915, with a median of $22,750. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about new Bay Area programs; no current organization grant opportunities were listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
The Randolph Foundation
New York, NY
In 2024, the foundation supported nonprofits working in areas including public policy, civic engagement, journalism, and reporting, with grants ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 and a median of $5,250. It is based in New York, and its 2024 grants most often went to organizations in DC, NY, and MA. It accepts written proposals with an IRS exemption letter; no deadline is stated.
Assets
$51.0M
Grants
95
Total Given
$1.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Emerson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/emerson-family-foundation-morg_bd9f53328548438591845466875a050c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203997556_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Emerson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/emerson-family-foundation-morg_bd9f53328548438591845466875a050c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Emerson Family 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.
Emerson Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?