The Lanza Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1996 by Frank and Patricia Lanza, following Frank's success as co-founder of L-3 Communications Holdings, a defense contractor. Based in Harrison, New York, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since March 1998. The foundation is currently led by Louis Lanza (President), with brothers Anthony Lanza (Treasurer) and James Lanza (Secretary) serving as key officers.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.3M
+6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+8.3% YoY
Grant Count
106
-5.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+14.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lanza Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on helping minorities overcome financial impediments to achieve equal opportunities. The foundation also supports first responders, veterans, children, and under-represented voices in society.
In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation established the Million Gallons Fund, which utilized contributions to open a soup kitchen in the Peekskill, New York area to provide meals to individuals unable to obtain food due to financial hardship.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates without formally structured grant programs. Grants appear to be made through trustee discretion rather than a public application process.
Grant Range
$11,100
Average Grant
$11,100
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on Westchester and Putnam Counties in New York. Under Louis Lanza's leadership, the foundation has adopted a more focused geographic approach, concentrating on areas where the foundation can directly observe the impact of its giving. The foundation also makes grants in South Carolina and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total assets: $28,320,724
- Total revenue: $2,941,844
- Total expenses: $1,597,921
- Total giving: $1,299,015–$1,320,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,320,724 | $26,660,096 | $25,463,817 |
| Revenue | $2,941,844 | $2,157,429 | $517,671 |
| Expenses | $1,597,921 | $1,547,213 | $1,573,964 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,320,713 | $1,210,625 | $1,328,978 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,669,786 | $1,862,841 | $275,573 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,346,108 | $1,249,797 | $1,353,247 |
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
231 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include El Centro Hispano Inc ($159,850), Feeding Westchester ($63,000), Children's Village ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABLE SOUTH CAROLINA COLUMBIA, SC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $3,500 |
| ALS RIDE FOR LIFE STONY BROOK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN LEGION INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ARTS 10566 PEEKSKILL, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| BE THE CHANGE CHARLESTON CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $7,750 |
| BEYOND EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE SUMMERVILLE, SC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,900 |
| BEYOND OUR WALLS N CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| BLACK BEING INGLEWOOD, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BLUE PATH SERVICE DOGS HOPEWELL JUNCTION, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,500 |
| CAMP HAPPY DAYS CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $9,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
| Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Louis Lanza | President | $0 |
| Anthony Lanza | Treasurer | $0 |
| James Lanza | Secretary | $0 |
All three officers work approximately 5 hours per week and receive no compensation. The foundation has limited or no paid staffing.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOUIS LANZA CO PKF O'CONNOR | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| ANTHONY LANZA CO PKF O'CONNOR | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| JAMES LANZA CO PKF O'CONNOR | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Westchester Children's Association filed a lawsuit against the Lanza Family Foundation regarding a $500,000 pledge, indicating potential legal disputes over grant commitments.
Westchester Children's Association sues Lanza Family Foundation over $500,000Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lanza Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on helping minorities overcome financial impediments to achieve equal opportunities. The foundation also supports first responders, veterans, children, and under-represented voices in society. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation established the Million Gallons Fund, which utilized contributions to open a soup kitchen in the Peekskill, New York area to provide meals to individuals unable to obtain food due to financial hardship.
How do I apply for a grant from Lanza Family Foundation?
The foundation operates without formally structured grant programs. Grants appear to be made through trustee discretion rather than a public application process. **Grant Activity:** • Annual grants: Approximately 112–118 grants per year • Total giving (2024): $1,299,015–$1,320,000 • Average grant size: $11,100 • Median grant size: $3,800–$5,000 • Grant range: $300–$160,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not have a public website or published application guidelines. The foundation …
Where does Lanza Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on Westchester and Putnam Counties in New York. Under Louis Lanza's leadership, the foundation has adopted a more focused geographic approach, concentrating on areas where the foundation can directly observe the impact of its giving. The foundation also makes grants in South Carolina and Florida.
What size grants does Lanza Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Lanza Family Foundation awarded 106 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lanza Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lanza Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lanza Family Foundation's EIN?
Lanza Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3922706. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lanza Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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