The Emmett Foundation is a private, independent family foundation established in 2003 and based in Los Angeles, California. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on supporting nonprofit organizations in key areas of public benefit.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$289K
-80.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
-11.5% YoY
Grant Count
84
-16.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+6.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Emmett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $620K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities focus on:
- Education
- Environment and Conservation
- Clean Water
- Wildlife Preservation
- Public Health
The foundation makes grants to various nonprofit organizations with emphasis on conservation, education, and environmental initiatives.
Grantmaking
The Emmett Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual distribution:
Grant Range
** $3,900
Average Grant
** $23,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation makes grants primarily in:
- California
- District of Columbia
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024)
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $289,026 |
| Total Revenue | $1,838,011 |
| Total Expenses | $2,966,948 |
| Total Giving | $2,940,768 |
Historical Financial Data (2023)
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Revenue | $2.41 million |
| Expenses | $3.36 million |
| Total Assets | $1.44 million |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
The foundation maintains no employees and operates as a grantmaking entity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $289,026 | $1,441,963 | $2,415,452 |
| Revenue | $1,838,011 | $2,414,289 | $2,379,168 |
| Expenses | $2,966,948 | $3,359,778 | $2,285,750 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,966,948 | $3,359,778 | $2,285,750 |
| Net Investment Income | $638,011 | $1,574,474 | $2,219,403 |
| Distributable Amount | $619,783 | $591,714 | $1,160,250 |
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 Cate School ($1,581,698), Stanford University ($500,000), Yale University ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ONE PERCENT FOR THE PLANET BURLINGTON, VT | TO SUPPORT AN ALLIANCE OF BUSINESSES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS WASHINGTON, DC | TO PROTECT WILD RIVERS, RESTORE DAMAGED RIVERS, AND CONSERVE CLEAN WATER FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE | $2,500 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER SANTA BARBARA, CA | TO BENEFIT ENDEAVORS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION | $15,000 |
| HEAL THE OCEAN SANTA BARBARA, CA | TO BENEFIT ENDEAVORS TO PREVENT OCEAN POLLUTION | $15,000 |
| ISLAND PRESS WASHINGTON, DC | TO BENEFIT ENDEAVORS TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN THE ENVIRONMENT | $10,000 |
| LOS ANGELES WATERKEEPER SANTA MONICA, CA | TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF CLEAN WATER | $5,000 |
| LOS PADRES FOREST WATCH SANTA BARBARA, CA | TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE LOS PADRES FOREST | $2,500 |
| RESTORE HETCH HETCHY BERKELEY, CA | TO SUPPORT RESTORING THE HETCH HETCHY VALLEY TO NATURAL SPLENDOR | $5,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA CHANNELKEEPER SANTA BARBARA, CA | TO BENEFIT ENDEAVORS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL | $2,500 |
| SOUTH FORK NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY | TO BENEFIT ENDEAVORS TO RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Dan A Emmett — Director & President
- Rae M Emmett — Director, Vice President & Assistant Secretary
- Rosalind Emmett Nieman — Director, Vice President & Assistant Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAN A EMMETT | DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT | — | — |
| RAE M EMMETT | DIRECTOR, VP & ASST. SECRETARY | — | — |
| ROSALIND EMMETT NIEMAN | DIRECTOR, VP & ASST. SECRETARY | — | — |
| DANIEL W EMMETT | DIRECTOR, VP & ASST. SECRETARY | — | — |
| MORGAN W EMMETT | DIRECTOR, VP & SECRETARY | — | — |
| TYLER A EMMETT | DIRECTOR, VP & ASST. SECRETARY | — | — |
| AMANDA WHITE | CFO, TRSR, & ASST. SECRETARY | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Emmett Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities focus on: • **Education** • **Environment and Conservation** • **Clean Water** • **Wildlife Preservation** • **Public Health** The foundation makes grants to various nonprofit organizations with emphasis on conservation, education, and environmental initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Emmett Foundation?
The Emmett Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual distribution: • **2024:** Made 89 grants totaling approximately $2.07 million • **Total giving (recent cycle):** $2.94 million • **Median grant size:** $3,900 • **Average grant size:** $23,000 • **Grant range:** $100 to $1,581,698 Notable recent grants include: • Cate School: $1,581,698 (Education) • Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): $50,000 (Land and Wildlife Preservation) • Tompkins Conservation: $50,000 (Wildlife) The foun…
Where does Emmett Foundation make grants?
The foundation makes grants primarily in: • California • District of Columbia • New York
What size grants does Emmett Foundation award?
In 2024, Emmett Foundation awarded 84 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Emmett Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Emmett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $620K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Emmett Foundation's EIN?
Emmett Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0429029. 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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