Friends of Golf Inc
Friends of Golf Inc. (FOG) is a Los Angeles, California public charity formed in 1979. It raises and distributes money to support golf programs and scholarships, with a focus on helping young golfers access opportunities to play, compete, and continue their education.
Friends of Golf Inc at a glance
In short: Friends of Golf Inc gave $447K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $32K), mostly in California. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $447,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- Average grant
- $31,929
- Median grant
- $23,000
- Total assets
- $980,265
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (2 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed). New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Friends of Golf Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1880 Century Park East Suite 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (310) 553-1707
Website: https://friendsofgolf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Friends of Golf Inc
Friends of Golf Scholarship
Friends of Golf Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Ben Hogan Award
Friends of Golf Inc
Amount
Scholarships awarded to finalist universities; 2021: $48,000 total distribution ($24,000 to Florida State, $12,000 each to University of Texas and University of Georgia)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Friends of Golf Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bel-Air Country Club ($125K). Together the top 10 received $408K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 35 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
FOG’s website describes its scholarship’s geographic scope as the SCGA region in Southern California. It says its high school team support covers the Los Angeles, Southern, and San Diego CIF sections, and that it directly funds California colleges and universities. In 2024, 92% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in California; the remaining shares went to Illinois (4%), Oklahoma (2%), and Maryland (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Friends of Golf Inc open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 14 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $73K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $73K first-time, $23K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $134K (2021) to $447K (2024, 18 months). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $447K.
*2024: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
*2024: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bel-Air Country Club Los Angeles, CA | Payments to organizations in support of the advancement of women's golf | $125,000 |
| University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Payments to Universities for Support of Golf Programs. | $65,000 |
| CIF Southern Section Los Alamitos, CA | Payments to high schools for support of golf programs. | $47,000 |
| CIF Los Angeles City Section Los Angeles, CA | Payments to high schools for support of golf programs. | $30,000 |
| SCGA Youth on Course Studio, CA | Payments to other organizations for support of golf programs. | $30,000 |
| Pepperdine University Malibu, CA | Payments to Universities for Support of Golf Programs. | $25,000 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | Payments to Universitites for Support of Golf Programs | $25,000 |
| SCPGA Foundation Ontario, CA | Payments to other organizations for support of golf programs. | $21,000 |
| Evans Scholars Foundation Golf, IL | Payments to other organizations for support of golf programs. | $20,000 |
| TGR Foundation Irvine, CA | Payments to other organizations for support of golf programs | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024* | $980,265 | $752,208 | $605,063 | $447,000 | 14 | $38,971 |
| 2022 | $898,853 | $197,689 | $415,082 | $307,100 | 13 | $43,126 |
| 2021 | $1,252,414 | $169,580 | $228,113 | $133,600 | 8 | $49,723 |
*2024: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
FOG states that its mission is to raise money for organizations—primarily colleges and universities—to establish or maintain golf programs or provide scholarships to students. Its filing describes payments to universities, high schools, and other organizations for golf-program support.
The grantees’ own stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Bel-Air Country Club describes its mission as promoting members’ benefit, pleasure, and recreation through a golf and social club. CIF Los Angeles City Section says it supports member schools’ interscholastic athletics and seeks to increase student participation opportunities. Pepperdine University describes itself as a Christian university committed to academic excellence and Christian values. The SCPGA Foundation says it provides opportunities, especially for youth, to develop life skills and values through golf. Evans Scholars Foundation says it provides scholarships and educational opportunities for caddies.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, FOG reported 14 grants totaling $447,000. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $125,000, with a median of $23,000. The largest listed grants were $125,000 to Bel-Air Country Club, $65,000 to UCLA, $47,000 to CIF Southern Section, and $30,000 each to CIF Los Angeles City Section and SCGA Youth on Course. Other listed recipients included Pepperdine University ($25,000), the University of Southern California ($25,000), SCPGA Foundation ($21,000), Evans Scholars Foundation ($20,000), and TGR Foundation ($20,000).
FOG’s website says it funds 18 California colleges and universities directly and, through its Evans Scholars Foundation partnership, supports another 27 colleges and universities across the country. It also says its CIF donations support more than 500 high school golf teams across the Los Angeles, Southern, and San Diego sections.
FOG’s website lists the Friends of Golf Scholarship as an annual scholarship for Southern California high school seniors preparing for college. The described criteria include academic performance, junior golf participation and achievement, and volunteer involvement in junior golf instruction. The website also lists the Ben Hogan Award, a national annual award for men’s college golfers; it says scholarships are distributed to finalists’ universities. The award listing gives a range of $12,000–$48,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sal Cimbolo as CEO; William L. Harper Jr. as treasurer; and William Anderson, Kevin G. Boylan, Ian He Crockett, Tom Debrowski, Sharon Hills, John Hoffman, David Houck, and Al Keahi as directors.
Friends of Golf Inc is led by Sal Cimbolo, CEO on every filing since 2021; none of the 38 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sal Cimbolo
CEO
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Peter Best
President
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Al Keahi
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Alex Chehansky
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Andrew McDonald
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Bob Somers
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Brent Gledhill
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Cade McNown
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Dave Podas
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
David Houck
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
David Reneker
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Frank Verducci
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Garret Bland
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Gregory W. Penske
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Ian He Crockett
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
John G. Morris
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
John Hoffman
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Joseph Fields
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Joseph Sindelar Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Kevin G. Boylan
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Mason Merrins
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Pat Posey
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Rick Taylor
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Robert French
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Sharon Hills
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Stephen Lombardo
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Thomas L. Roley
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Tom Debrowski
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
William Anderson
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Andrew Kipper
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Ed Wilson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
James Widdoes
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
John Fechushak
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Kai Sato
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Pj Gilbert
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Ross Levinsohn
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Ted Coyne
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
William L. Harper Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Barry Thurston (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Richard P. Crane Jr. (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Scott Diehl (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: William Coffin (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: William Finestone (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Winslow E. Uebel (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Christopher Moore (2021) — Director
- Former: Dana Anderson (2021) — Director
- Former: Dave Mullen (2021) — Director
- Former: Eddie Merrins (2021) — Director
- Former: Kenneth Fearn (2021) — Director
- Former: Michael F. Baxter (2021) — Director
- Former: Robert Dowling (2021) — Director
- Former: Robert H. Tourtelot (2021) — Director
- Former: Robert Rehme (2021) — Director
- Former: Ronald V. Paolucci (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Friends of Golf Inc
How much does Friends of Golf Inc give each year?
Friends of Golf Inc gave $447K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. The 2024 filing year covers 18 months because its fiscal year-end changed.
What is Friends of Golf Inc's typical grant size?
Friends of Golf Inc's median grant in 2024 was $23,000, and its average grant was $31,929, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Friends of Golf Inc that year got $73K on average.
Where does Friends of Golf Inc give grants?
Friends of Golf Inc gives mostly in California: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (4 grants).
Does Friends of Golf Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Friends of Golf Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Payments to High Schools for Support of Golf Programs." (3 grants) and "Payments to Universities for Support of Golf Programs." (3 grants).
Who are Friends of Golf Inc's largest grantees?
Friends of Golf Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Bel-Air Country Club ($125,000), University of California Los Angeles ($65,000) and CIF Southern Section ($47,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Friends of Golf Inc?
Friends of Golf Inc reported $980K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $752K.
What does Friends of Golf Inc fund?
FOG states that its mission is to raise money for organizations—primarily colleges and universities—to establish or maintain golf programs or provide scholarships to students. Its filing describes payments to universities, high schools, and other organizations for golf-program support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Friends of Golf Inc?
Friends of Golf Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check friendsofgolf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Friends of Golf Inc's EIN?
Friends of Golf Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3668541. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friends of Golf Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Friends of Golf Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/friends-of-golf-inc-morg_29d7e6a740fa414282210e1d93e0412b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_953668541_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Friends of Golf Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/friends-of-golf-inc-morg_29d7e6a740fa414282210e1d93e0412b},
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 Friends of Golf Inc'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.
Friends of Golf Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?