The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation located in Burbank, California, dedicated to animal welfare and advocacy. Established in 2008 by Nancy and Katherine Heigl, the foundation operates as a non-profit organization focused on eliminating animal suffering through rescue, rehabilitation, and support for companion animals in need.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$128K
-61.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$141K
-84.9% YoY
Grant Count
18
-48.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-70.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to eliminating the needless suffering inflicted on animals by human cruelty, indifference, and ignorance. Primary focus areas include:
- Spay/Neuter Programs: Funding affordable and accessible spay/neuter surgery in low-income areas to address pet overpopulation and reduce shelter intake and euthanasia rates
- Dog Rescue & Rehabilitation: Operating rescue programs focused on animals often overlooked by other rescues, particularly vulnerable dogs from high-kill shelters in Southern California
- Veterinary Care: Financing medical treatment and veterinary services for shelter and rescue animals, including treatment for parvo and other medical ailments
- Animal Transport: Facilitating transport services to move animals from kill shelters to safe rescues and adoptive homes
- Advocacy & Awareness: Increasing awareness of inhumane practices including puppy mills and dogfighting, and ensuring perpetrators of animal abuse are held accountable
- Organizational Support: Supporting non-profit animal rescue and advocacy organizations in their efforts to save shelter animals and place them in loving homes
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes grants to various animal welfare organizations. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
Grant Range
**: Distributes grants under $5,000 to various grantees, with median grant sizes around $9,900 and average grant sizes of approximately $24,200
Average Grant
s of approximately $24,200
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Southern California, with particular emphasis on:
- Southern California shelter and rescue organizations
- Riverside County animal services partnerships
- Regional spay/neuter clinics and programs serving low-income areas
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Revenue: $1,998,088
- Total Expenses: $2,323,327
- Total Assets: $128,348
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Revenue: $1.97 million
- Total Expenses: $2.05 million
- Total Assets: $331,038
Historical Giving:
- Total Giving: $932,534 to $1.1 million annually
- Number of Grants: 44 grants (historical data)
The foundation is funded entirely through voluntary donations and the philanthropic support of its founders.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $128,348 | $331,038 | $336,320 |
| Revenue | $1,998,088 | $1,971,292 | $1,754,956 |
| Expenses | $2,323,327 | $2,051,133 | $1,680,800 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,234,718 | $1,825,909 | $1,575,113 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
122 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Jason Debus Heigl Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Nancy Heigl - President and Co-Founder
- Katherine Heigl - Co-Founder
Nancy and Katherine Heigl have personally contributed more than $8 million to support the foundation's mission and activities since its inception.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANCY E HEIGL | PRESIDENT | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Impact Metrics:**
25,000+ lives saved through rescue, rehabilitation, and placement in forever homes
21,000+ animals spayed or neutered
7,500+ animals transported from kill shelters to safety
**Recent Initiatives:**
February 2026: Riverside County Animal Services partnership to bring low-cost spay and neuter services to the East County area
Actress Katherine Heigl And Her Mom Commit To Helping Riverside County PetsOngoing rescue and rehabilitation programs featuring individual animal success stories
Website redesign and updates to showcase adoptable dogs and program information
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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