Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation
Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation is a private foundation, based in Carlsbad, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $233K. Net investment income was $256K.
Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation at a glance
In short: Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation gave $233K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $58K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $232,500
- +167.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $58,125
- +234.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $53,750
- Total assets
- $3,360,314
- +13.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish Family and Children's Service Inc ($100K). Together the top 4 received $233K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 25 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 152% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $87K (2024) to $600K (2020). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $233K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Family and Children's Service Inc San Francisco, CA | General SUpport | $100,000 |
| The Center for Jewish Campus Life Stanford, CA | General Support | $70,000 |
| Ronald C Wornick Jewish Day School Foster City, CA | General Support | $37,500 |
| Oshman Family Jewish Community Center Palo Alto, CA | General Support | $25,000 |
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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 | $3,360,314 | $274,524 | $260,399 | $232,500 | 4 | $238,866 | $256,382 | $157,658 |
| 2024 | $2,967,650 | $220,528 | $106,177 | $86,960 | 5 | $91,664 | $209,415 | $143,107 |
| 2023 | $2,644,233 | $252,725 | $154,701 | $136,900 | 7 | $140,409 | $240,933 | $119,550 |
| 2022 | $2,284,455 | $237,176 | $289,052 | $265,000 | 2 | $268,125 | $221,749 | $122,399 |
| 2021 | $2,838,211 | $289,222 | $415,108 | $390,500 | 7 | $391,900 | $271,014 | $137,958 |
| 2020 | $2,814,725 | $308,281 | $625,886 | $600,200 | 7 | — | $285,345 | $129,098 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $158K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Emma Sarnat
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lela Z Sarnat
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation
How much does Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation give each year?
Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation gave $233K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $87K across 5 grants.
What is Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation's typical grant size?
Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $53,750, and its average grant was $58,125, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation give grants?
Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation?
Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $239K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $158K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation's EIN?
Harold & Libby Ziff Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-2383366. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 2, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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