The Frome Family Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 2003 and based in Costa Mesa, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and focuses on philanthropic giving to support community wellbeing across Southern California.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.4M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$830K
+1.7% YoY
Grant Count
66
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+1.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frome Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $787K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on supporting foundational elements within the community to ensure the wellbeing of current and future generations. Primary funding areas include:
- Health and medicine
- Mental health
- Housing
- Education
- The arts
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Networking with past grantees may present funding opportunities for small- to medium-sized local organizations, particularly those working with youth or vulnerable populations.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations located in Southern California, with a particular emphasis on Orange County.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $14,435,537
- Total revenues: $705,805
- Total expenses: $1,050,482
- Total grants, contributions: $60,000
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $14,800,000
- Total revenues: $996,000
- Total expenses: $1,020,000
- Investment income and dividends: $409,340
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,435,537 | $14,780,214 | $14,808,562 |
| Revenue | $705,805 | $995,900 | $1,314,335 |
| Expenses | $1,050,482 | $1,024,248 | $963,712 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $829,521 | $815,334 | $776,325 |
| Net Investment Income | $262,664 | $788,930 | $310,272 |
| Distributable Amount | $787,034 | $750,635 | $790,151 |
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 Hoag Hospital Foundation ($60,000), CHOC Childrens Foundation ($60,000), Kidworks ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Teresa Orange, CA | Social Services | $25,000 |
| Mercy House Santa Ana, CA | Social Services | $5,000 |
| Orangewood Foundation Santa Ana, CA | Social Services | $20,000 |
| Special Olympics OC Santa Ana, CA | Social Services | $25,000 |
| Human Options Irvine, CA | Social Services | $10,000 |
| Orange County Teen Challenge Santa Ana, CA | Social Services | $5,000 |
| OC Rescue Mission Tustin, CA | Social Services | $5,000 |
| Hoag Hospital Foundation Newport Beach, CA | Medical Research | $60,000 |
| Miracles For Kids Irvine, CA | Social Services | $19,500 |
| Share Our Selves SOS Costa Mesa, CA | Social Services | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Stan Frome - Trustee
- Walter A. Frome III - Trustee
- Mary Frome - Co-founder (passed away in 2023)
The foundation was originally established by Walter A. Frome Jr., a real estate developer, and his wife Mary. The family is behind Frome Investments, a real estate development and property management company in Southern California. The foundation is now steered by next-generation family members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stan Frome | President | — | — |
| Walter A Frome III | Secretary | — | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation provided Platinum sponsorship for Hope Builders' "10 Days for Launching Careers" program, demonstrating ongoing commitment to youth workforce development in Orange County. The foundation has provided sustained support to health-related organizations, including a $1 million donation to Hoag Hospital Foundation for emergency department improvements in the 2010s.
Foundation keeps Frome sisters\u2019 legacy alive - Frome TimesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frome Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on supporting foundational elements within the community to ensure the wellbeing of current and future generations. Primary funding areas include: • Health and medicine • Mental health • Housing • Education • The arts • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Frome Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $60,000 • The foundation made 69 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $829,521 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Hoag Hospital Foundation: $60,000 (medical research) • KidWorks Community Development Corporation: $40,000 (social services) • The Illumination Foundation: $30,000 (social services) **Application Process:** The foundation maintains a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Networking with past grante…
Where does Frome Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations located in Southern California, with a particular emphasis on Orange County.
What size grants does Frome Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Frome Family Foundation awarded 66 grants totaling $830K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Frome Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Frome Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $787K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Frome Family Foundation's EIN?
Frome Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0396894. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frome Family 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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