The GUESS Foundation is a private family foundation of the Marciano family based in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1995, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN 95-4500475. The foundation is located at 1444 S Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021-2433.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$106K
-49.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$610K
-38.6% YoY
Grant Count
26
-18.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
-24.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Guess Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to pursue social, health, and educational opportunities that enhance the well-being, development, protection, and assistance to men, women, and children. The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and has funded initiatives including sponsorships for educational materials, veterans affairs supportive housing, and cultural organizations.
Recent grant activity demonstrates support across diverse areas, including Black History Month donations, arts and cultural programming, and community health initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications and is open to new applicants.
Grant Range
$25,000
Ready to take the next step with Guess Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple states, with primary focus in California. Geographic funding distribution includes California, New York, Georgia, Colorado, Maryland, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia. Major cities funded include Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total assets: $105,592
- Total revenues: $506,314
- Total expenses: $611,077
- Number of employees: 0
2023 Financial Data:
- Total assets: $210,355
- Total expenses: $995,886
- Total revenues: $26,051
Historical Assets:
- 2022: $1.2 million
The foundation's giving rate exceeds 100% of assets, indicating it distributes more annually than its asset base.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $105,592 | $210,355 | $1,180,190 |
| Revenue | $506,314 | $26,051 | $10,059 |
| Expenses | $611,077 | $995,886 | $470,706 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $611,077 | $995,885 | $470,706 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,314 | $26,051 | $10,059 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,704 | $32,130 | $64,978 |
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
121 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Black Design Collective ($65,000), The World Stage ($65,000), Feeding the Carolinas ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Autism Speaks Washington, DC | Donation for Los Angeles Gala | $25,000 |
| Children's Diabetes Foundation Aurora, CO | To support Carousel of Hope Ball sponsorship. | $25,000 |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | To support Make March Matter campaign 2024. | $25,000 |
| CHP 11-99 Foundation Costa Mesa, CA | To Support Bob Weinberg Golf Tour & Evening Celebration Fundraiser. | $5,000 |
| Black Design Collective Los Angeles, CA | To support Black History month donation. | $65,000 |
| The Get In Touch Foundation Milford, CT | To support Breast Health Awareness month donation. | $10,000 |
| Black Girls Tennis Club Virginia Beach, VA | to support Black History month donation. | $35,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA Belflower, CA | To support 2024 Playhouse build. | $25,000 |
| Boys Girls Club of Hollywodd Los Angeles, CA | to support Photo 24 donation | $7,000 |
| Feeding the Carolinas Clemmons, NC | To suport Hurricane Helene donation. | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Maurice Marciano - Director
- Paul Marciano - President
- Fabrice Benarouche - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
- Susan Tenney - Secretary
None of the personnel receive compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAURICE MARCIANO | Director | — | — |
| PAUL MARCIANO | President | 0.3 | — |
| Fabrice Benarouche | CFO & Treasurer | 0.1 | — |
| Susan Tenney | Secretary | 0.05 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Guess Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to pursue social, health, and educational opportunities that enhance the well-being, development, protection, and assistance to men, women, and children. The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and has funded initiatives including sponsorships for educational materials, veterans affairs supportive housing, and cultural organizations. Recent grant activity demonstrates support across diverse areas, including Black…
How do I apply for a grant from Guess Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $610,000 • Number of grants: 26 • Median grant size: $25,000 • Grant range: $5,000 - $65,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Black Design Collective: $65,000 (Black History Month support) • World Stage Performance Gallery: $65,000 (Black History Month support) • RxArt: $50,000 (Greatest Hits Coloring Book support) **Historical Giving:** • 2023: $993,000 across 32 grants (median $25,000) • 2022: $470,000 across 22 grants (median $14,000) The foundation acce…
Where does Guess Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple states, with primary focus in California. Geographic funding distribution includes California, New York, Georgia, Colorado, Maryland, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia. Major cities funded include Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta.
What size grants does Guess Foundation award?
In 2024, Guess Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $610K — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Guess Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Guess Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Guess Foundation's EIN?
Guess Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4500475. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Guess Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Guess Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Guess Foundation to a real strategy.