James J Cotter Foundation
The James J Cotter Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. In 2024, it reported 18 grants totaling $260,175, including grants to educational, religious, community, health, and motion-picture-related organizations.
James J Cotter Foundation at a glance
In short: James J Cotter Foundation gave $260K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $14K), mostly in California. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $260,175
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $14,454
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $5,717,490
- -0.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (51% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James J Cotter Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2818 Dumfries Road, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: (310) 710-3637
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James J Cotter Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Georgetown University ($70K). Together the top 10 received $228K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 79 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in California (51%), the District of Columbia (27%), Rhode Island (13%), New York (8%), and North Carolina (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is James J Cotter Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 18 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $219K (2021) to $261K (2023). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $260K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | Unrestricted Program Services | $70,000 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | Unrestricted Program Services | $35,000 |
| Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Program Services | $35,000 |
| The Paulist Fathersst Paul the Apostle Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Program Services | $26,500 |
| Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Program Services | $16,225 |
| Variety Boys and Girls Club Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Program Services | $13,000 |
| Marymount High School Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Program Services | $10,000 |
| Xavier High School New York, NY | Unrestricted Program Services | $10,000 |
| Providence Mission Hospital Laguna Beach Laguna Beach, CA | Unrestricted Program Services | $6,000 |
| The Motion Picture Club Foundation New York, NY | Unrestricted Program Services | $6,000 |
Ready to take the next step with James J Cotter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,717,490 | $263,312 | $269,807 | $260,175 | 18 | $260,175 | $260,812 | $254,662 |
| 2023 | $5,723,985 | $242,554 | $264,242 | $261,000 | 18 | $261,000 | $242,554 | $260,287 |
| 2022 | $5,745,673 | $580,405 | $257,578 | $250,000 | 18 | $250,000 | $67,891 | $261,969 |
| 2021 | $5,422,846 | $683,823 | $232,041 | $218,610 | 13 | $218,610 | $490 | $248,919 |
| 2020 | $4,971,064 | $703,303 | $251,643 | $242,093 | 12 | — | $19,969 | $227,173 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James J Cotter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $255K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. Georgetown University describes its mission as fostering understanding through discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs, and a commitment to justice and the common good. Harvard-Westlake School says it pursues educational excellence in a diverse and inclusive community. Village School, Inc. describes itself as an inclusive learning community serving students from transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $260,175. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $70,000, with a median of $6,000. The largest awards included $70,000 to Georgetown University, $35,000 to Brown University, $35,000 to Harvard-Westlake School, and $26,500 to The Paulist Fathers St Paul the Apostle. The listed grants were for unrestricted program services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ellen M. Cotter and Margaret Cotter as trustees.
James J Cotter Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ellen M. Cotter
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Margaret Cotter
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 James J Cotter Foundation
How much does James J Cotter Foundation give each year?
James J Cotter Foundation gave $260K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $261K across 18 grants.
What is James J Cotter Foundation's typical grant size?
James J Cotter Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,000, and its average grant was $14,454, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James J Cotter Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does James J Cotter Foundation give grants?
James J Cotter Foundation gives mostly in California: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (27%) and Rhode Island (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (8 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does James J Cotter Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of James J Cotter Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James J Cotter Foundation's largest grantees?
James J Cotter Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Georgetown University ($70,000), Brown University ($35,000) and Harvard-Westlake School ($35,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is James J Cotter Foundation?
James J Cotter Foundation reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $260K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $255K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James J Cotter Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James J Cotter Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James J Cotter Foundation's EIN?
James J Cotter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5691089. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does James J Cotter Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work James J Cotter Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James J Cotter Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Mbia Foundation
Purchase, NY
MBIA Foundation made grants to preselected 501(c)(3) organizations, with no specific funding areas stated; its two reported 2024 grants were for general operating support to New York organizations. Recent grants were $20,800 each, and the foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests; it also appears to have dissolved during 2024.
Assets
—
Grants
2
Total Given
$42K
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation supports education, health services, homeless shelters, and youth programs, while its scholarship program serves eligible children of Farmers Insurance Group employees and agents. In 2024, grants ranged from $3,000 to $1.55 million, with a median of $3,000; funding is usually in Southern California, and most reported grant dollars went to California. The foundation accepts requests by letter to its trustees.
Assets
$342.2M
Grants
185
Total Given
$14.6M
University of Notre Dame du Lac
Notre Dame, IN
The University of Notre Dame supports student aid, Catholic education and mission, research, academics, athletics, and other university priorities, with grants reported to organizations and institutions in multiple U.S. states. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,500 to $36.5 million, with a median of $30,480; some specific programs solicit eligible proposals, but no general policy on unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
$29.6B
Grants
462
Total Given
$84.8M
Mutual of America Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$136K
Grants
539
Total Given
$839K
Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles supports human services, health, education, Jewish life, arts and culture, Israel-related work, and nonprofit capacity and capital projects, with a focus on Los Angeles and also giving in Israel and beyond. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. General Community grants are by invitation only and do not accept unsolicited applications; current procedures should be verified.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,063
Total Given
$142.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James J Cotter Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-j-cotter-foundation-morg_08e5c519f882407aab7cb8a98520f404
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205691089_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James J Cotter Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-j-cotter-foundation-morg_08e5c519f882407aab7cb8a98520f404},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 James J Cotter 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.
James J Cotter Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?