The Goldhirsh Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, with additional offices in Pacific Palisades, California. Founded in 2000 by Bernard A. Goldhirsh following his brain cancer diagnosis, the foundation has evolved from its original focus on brain tumor research into a comprehensive social innovation funder. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and describes itself as "a fund for social good" that seeks to advance human life and well-being while catalyzing human potential.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.6M
-11.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.7M
+78.4% YoY
Grant Count
74
+80.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$63K
-1.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Goldhirsh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to advance human life and well-being, and catalyze human potential by connecting emerging innovations with the financial, social, and human capital needed for success. The foundation recognizes and utilizes marketing and storytelling as powerful tools, providing training and support to grantees and investments in areas including communications, design, event space, and financial capital development.
Primary funding interests include:
- Social innovation and emerging innovations
- Education
- Human services
- Brain tumor research (national focus)
- Community development and civic engagement (particularly in Los Angeles)
Grantmaking
The LA2050 Grants Challenge is the foundation's flagship program, launched in 2013. This community-driven initiative has distributed over $20 million to hundreds of Los Angeles organizations. The program asks community members to identify priority issues, then funds solutions in those areas. Recent LA2050 rounds have awarded nearly $3 million to 55-60 nonprofit organizations, with the foundation partnering with other foundations to expand impact.
Grant Range
s and Range:**
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Los Angeles, California. The LA2050 initiative specifically targets Los Angeles-based organizations and community challenges. Secondary geographic focus areas include California, New York, and Massachusetts. Brain tumor research funding extends nationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue:
- Total assets: $45.6 million (2024)
- Annual income: $14.7 million (2024)
- Total revenues: $980,195 (2024)
- Total expenses: $6.84 million (2024)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2024)
Endowment: The foundation's endowment became 100% mission-aligned in 2023, meaning all investments are directed toward advancing the foundation's mission.
Historical Giving Trends: Annual giving has fluctuated, with $6.1 million distributed in 2022 and $2.6 million in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,575,008 | $51,439,579 | $53,896,132 |
| Revenue | $980,195 | $2,291,381 | $-3,489,023 |
| Expenses | $6,844,766 | $4,808,357 | $5,259,243 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,310,070 | $6,095,283 | $4,521,106 |
| Net Investment Income | $667,787 | $979,443 | $523,772 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,791,402 | $2,861,451 | $3,411,921 |
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
241 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Columbia Graduate School of Journalism ($200,000), Birthworkers of Color Collective ($75,000), Ca Conference for Equality and Justice ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A FIGHTING CHANCE ORANGE, CA | LA 2050 CHALLENGE GRANT | $50,000 |
| A SENSE OF HOME HAWTHORNE, CA | VOLUNTEER ACTIVATION GRANT - REPLACEMENT FOR 4/17 CHECK | $5,000 |
| ADVENTURES TO DREAMS ENRICHMENT LONG BEACH, CA | LA 2050 CHALLENGE GRANT | $50,000 |
| ARTS FOR HEALING AND JUSTICE NETWORK LONG BEACH, CA | LA 2050 CHALLENGE GRANT | $50,000 |
| BIRTHWORKERS OF COLOR COLLECTIVE LONG BEACH, CA | LA 2050 CHALLENGE GRANT | $75,000 |
| BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER LOS ANGELES, CA | LA 2050 CHALLENGE GRANT | $5,000 |
| BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE LOS ANGELES, CA | LA 2050 CHALLENGE GRANT | $50,000 |
| BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY BROOKLYN, NY | 1ST OF 3 PAYMENTS | $65,000 |
| CA CONFERENCE FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE LONG BEACH, CA | LA 2050 CHALLENGE GRANT | $75,000 |
| CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | LA2050 GRANTS CHALLENGE (VOTER EDUCATION SUPPORT) | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Ben Goldhirsh – Chairman (son of founder Bernard A. Goldhirsh)
- Claire Hoffman – Board member (daughter of founder Bernard A. Goldhirsh)
- Tara Roth – President, overseeing all aspects of the foundation including sourcing and vetting investments. Roth previously served as founding COO of GOOD and has held positions at Franklin Templeton and New Schools Venture Fund. She holds an MBA from Oxford University and serves on multiple boards including the Ad Council, AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, and UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.
- Ruth Wernig – Chief Investment Officer
- Jeremy Rosenberg – Director of Communications
- Leann Kelch – Director of Grants and Programs
- Carla Fuentes – Social Innovation Manager
Notable Governance Development: In March 2024, the foundation appointed an all-female investment committee, believed to be the first of its kind at an organization of comparable size and scope.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN A GOLDHIRSH | PRESIDENT | 1 | $40,000 |
| CLAIRE DENISE HOFFMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $25,000 |
| TARA ROTH | TREASURER | 40 | $409,011 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The LA2050 Grants Challenge continues as the foundation's primary community engagement initiative. Recent announcements include:
LA2050 Grants Challenge Asks Angelenos What Issues Matter Most**2024 LA2050 Grants Challenge:** The foundation awarded nearly $3 million to 55 Los Angeles nonprofits through the community-driven challenge, with the program bringing together nine foundations to expand collective impact.
LA2050 Grants Challenge Asks Angelenos What Issues Matter Most**Investment Committee Expansion:** The appointment of an all-female investment committee in March 2024 represents a significant governance milestone for the foundation.
**Mission-Aligned Investing:** The foundation completed its transition to 100% mission-aligned investing in 2023, integrating social impact considerations across its entire investment portfolio.
The foundation maintains active engagement with Los Angeles's social impact community, regularly convening leaders and organizations to address civic challenges through its LA2050 initiative.
Goldhirsh Foundation\u2019s LA2050 Grants Challenge Brings Nine Foundations\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Goldhirsh Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to advance human life and well-being, and catalyze human potential by connecting emerging innovations with the financial, social, and human capital needed for success. The foundation recognizes and utilizes marketing and storytelling as powerful tools, providing training and support to grantees and investments in areas including communications, design, event space, and financial capital development. Primary funding interests include: • Social innovation and emerging …
How do I apply for a grant from Goldhirsh Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Range:** • Typical grant awards range from $50,000 to $100,000 • LA2050 Grants Challenge awards up to $75,000 • Individual grants have historically ranged from $1,000 to $300,000 • Average award: approximately $47,000 • Median grant: $50,000 **Annual Giving:** • Approximately $2.6 million annually (2023) • Total giving reported at $4.68 million (2024) • The foundation has made 187 grants totaling $8.7 million across available records **Signature Initiative:** The LA2050 Grants…
Where does Goldhirsh Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Los Angeles, California. The LA2050 initiative specifically targets Los Angeles-based organizations and community challenges. Secondary geographic focus areas include California, New York, and Massachusetts. Brain tumor research funding extends nationally.
What size grants does Goldhirsh Foundation award?
In 2024, Goldhirsh Foundation awarded 74 grants totaling $4.7M — an average of about $63K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Goldhirsh Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Goldhirsh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Goldhirsh Foundation's EIN?
Goldhirsh Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2824140. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Goldhirsh 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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