Guess Foundation
Guess Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in Los Angeles in 1994, it states that its mission is to foster social, health, and educational opportunities that help people live their best lives.
Guess Foundation at a glance
In short: Guess Foundation gave $718K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in California. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $718,000
- +17.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -19.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,190
- +45.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $63,853
- -39.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (5 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Guess Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants may contact any officer or director. There is no specific form, and the filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Any Officer Or Director Of Foundati
Mailing address: 1444 South Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Phone: (213) 765-3100
Website: https://journal.guess.eu
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Guess Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Friends of United Hatzalah ($150K). Together the top 10 received $550K.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 122 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 31% to recipients in New York. The remaining reported shares went to recipients in Washington, DC, Colorado, and Ohio, at 3% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Guess Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 21 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 53% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $470K (2022) to $1.3M (2020). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $718K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of United Hatzalah New York City, NY | To support United Hatzalah Gala. | $150,000 |
| CORE Community Organized Relief Eff Los Angeles, CA | To suport CORE fire relief match with licenses. | $100,000 |
| Black Design Collective Los Angeles, CA | To support 2025 donation. | $50,000 |
| Dream Center Foundation Los Angeles, CA | To support LA Wildfire relief. | $50,000 |
| The World Stage Performance Gallery Los Angeles, CA | To support 2025 donation. | $50,000 |
| Project Legacy Brooklyn, NY | To support congressional dinner sponsorship. | $50,000 |
| Autism Speaks Washington, DC | Donation for light up the blues 7 | $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 2025. | $25,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA Belflower, CA | To support Rebuild LA donation. | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Guess Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,853 | $678,160 | $719,899 | $718,000 | 21 | $719,899 | $3,160 | $4,223 |
| 2024 | $105,592 | $506,314 | $611,077 | $610,000 | 26 | $611,077 | $6,314 | $6,704 |
| 2023 | $210,355 | $26,051 | $995,886 | $993,000 | 32 | $995,885 | $26,051 | $32,130 |
| 2022 | $1,180,190 | $10,059 | $470,706 | $470,000 | 22 | $470,706 | $10,059 | $64,978 |
| 2021 | $1,640,837 | $2,507 | $628,189 | $626,112 | 21 | $628,189 | $2,507 | $95,591 |
| 2020 | $2,266,519 | $15,415 | $1,337,461 | $1,336,566 | 20 | — | $15,415 | $131,865 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Guess Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its mission as fostering social, health, and educational opportunities. Its 2025 grants included support for a gala benefiting United Hatzalah, wildfire relief in Los Angeles, a children’s hospital campaign, a diabetes organization, and a fashion scholarship fund.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. For example, Friends of United Hatzalah says it raises and provides funding for nonprofit medical and trauma-related first-responder services. The Dream Center Foundation says it partners with community-centered organizations to provide services such as housing, food, medical care, training, and education. Black Design Collective says it creates opportunities for Black apparel, accessory, and costume designers through mentorship, education, scholarships, and community activities. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $718,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $150,000, with a median of $25,000. Notable awards included $150,000 to Friends of United Hatzalah for its gala; $100,000 to CORE Community Organized Relief Eff for a fire-relief match; and $50,000 each to Black Design Collective, Dream Center Foundation, The World Stage Performance Gallery, and Project Legacy. Other reported awards included $25,000 each to Autism Speaks, Children’s Diabetes Foundation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA, Fashion Scholarship Fund, and We Matter Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Maurice Marciano as Director, Paul Marciano as President, Fabrice Benarouche as CFO and Treasurer, and Susan Tenney as Secretary.
Guess Foundation is led by Paul Marciano, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul Marciano
President
Director & CEO → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maurice Marciano
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Fabrice Benarouche
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Tenney
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Debora Herdere (2020–2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Guess Foundation
How much does Guess Foundation give each year?
Guess Foundation gave $718K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $610K across 26 grants.
What is Guess Foundation's typical grant size?
Guess Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $34,190, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Guess Foundation that year got $50K on average.
Where does Guess Foundation give grants?
Guess Foundation gives mostly in California: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (31%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (8 grants), New York City, NY (2 grants) and Beverly Hills, CA (2 grants).
Does Guess Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Guess Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Guess Foundation's largest grantees?
Guess Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Friends of United Hatzalah ($150,000), CORE Community Organized Relief Eff ($100,000) and Black Design Collective ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Guess Foundation?
Guess Foundation reported $64K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $720K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Guess Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its mission as fostering social, health, and educational opportunities. Its 2025 grants included support for a gala benefiting United Hatzalah, wildfire relief in Los Angeles, a children’s hospital campaign, a diabetes organization, and a fashion scholarship fund. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Guess Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Guess Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Guess Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/guess-foundation-morg_bf511041e68b4c9f85da35b2ae10e2e2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954500475_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Guess Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/guess-foundation-morg_bf511041e68b4c9f85da35b2ae10e2e2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Guess Foundation'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.
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