Lee and Anne Samson Charitable
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2025 grants supported organizations including a university-affiliated fundraising organization, a high school, arts and cultural organizations, and Jewish community and religious organizations.
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable at a glance
In short: Lee and Anne Samson Charitable gave $487K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in California. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $487,325
- +196.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -23.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,458
- +289.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,023
- Total assets
- $731
- -85.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (4 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (66% 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 Lee and Anne Samson Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1901 Avenue Of The Stars 1060, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (310) 385-1004
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lee and Anne Samson Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ariel University Foundation ($150K). Together the top 10 received $482K.
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 132 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 31% to recipients in Delaware, and 3% to recipients in New Jersey. The filing also reports 0% for New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lee and Anne Samson Charitable open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 16 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $39K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 71% 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 $164K (2024) to $1.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $487K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ariel University Foundation Middletown, DE | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $150,000 |
| Yula High School Los Angeles, CA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $125,000 |
| Los Angeles Philharmonic Association Los Angeles, CA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $60,000 |
| The Torah and Nature Foundation West Hollywood, CA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $60,000 |
| Simon Wiesenthal Center Inc Los Angeles, CA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $30,000 |
| Young Israel of North Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, CA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $29,600 |
| Friends of Nahal Haredi Inc Teaneck, NJ | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $13,700 |
| Kiryat Shemona Foundation West Hollywood, CA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $10,000 |
| Beth Jacob Congregation Margate, NJ | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $2,045 |
| Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $1,800 |
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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 | $731 | $489,000 | $493,175 | $487,325 | 16 | $493,175 | — | $592 |
| 2024 | $4,906 | $171,150 | $170,858 | $164,258 | 21 | $170,858 | — | $123 |
| 2023 | $4,614 | $1,127,501 | $1,146,182 | $1,139,322 | 31 | $1,144,870 | — | $2,848 |
| 2022 | $23,295 | $295,922 | $296,018 | $284,621 | 29 | $295,116 | $55,520 | $2,046 |
| 2021 | $31,843 | $1,375,000 | $1,371,422 | $1,361,570 | 35 | $1,371,361 | — | $3,470 |
| 2020 | $80,778 | $577,965 | $685,358 | $677,852 | 32 | — | $67,681 | $1,049 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lee and Anne Samson Charitable reported a distributable amount of $592 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Ariel University Foundation describes its role as raising funds for projects at Ariel University in Israel, while YULA High School says it provides Judaic and secular studies to prepare students to engage with contemporary society as Orthodox Jews. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association describes offering performances, media initiatives, and learning programs. The Simon Wiesenthal Center describes its work as confronting antisemitism and hate, standing with Israel, defending Jewish safety, and teaching the lessons of the Holocaust.
Other supported organizations describe work that includes raising funds for programs to help young adults receive an education and join the workforce (Friends of Nahal Haredi), supporting religious education for young men in Kiryat Shemona (Kiryat Shemona Foundation), and providing food and support for people in need (Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles).
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $487,325. Grant amounts ranged from $180 to $150,000, with a median grant of $6,022. The largest grants included $150,000 to Ariel University Foundation, $125,000 to YULA High School, $60,000 each to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and the Torah and Nature Foundation, and $30,000 to the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The filing describes the purposes of the listed grants as furthering each recipient’s exempt purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Lee C. Samson is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable is led by Lee C. Samson, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lee C. Samson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Lee and Anne Samson Charitable
How much does Lee and Anne Samson Charitable give each year?
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable gave $487K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $164K across 21 grants.
What is Lee and Anne Samson Charitable's typical grant size?
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable's median grant in 2025 was $6,023, and its average grant was $30,458, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lee and Anne Samson Charitable that year got $4K on average.
Where does Lee and Anne Samson Charitable give grants?
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable gives mostly in California: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Delaware (31%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (4 grants), West Hollywood, CA (3 grants) and Beverly Hills, CA (3 grants).
Who are Lee and Anne Samson Charitable's largest grantees?
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable's largest 2025 grantees include Ariel University Foundation ($150,000), Yula High School ($125,000) and Los Angeles Philharmonic Association ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lee and Anne Samson Charitable?
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable reported $731 in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $493K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $592 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lee and Anne Samson Charitable fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lee and Anne Samson Charitable?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lee and Anne Samson Charitable's EIN?
Lee and Anne Samson Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6139071. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Lee and Anne Samson Charitable 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lee and Anne Samson Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lee-and-anne-samson-charitable-morg_65d5716273ec4572a23ae628e2b1acd5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_816139071_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lee and Anne Samson Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lee-and-anne-samson-charitable-morg_65d5716273ec4572a23ae628e2b1acd5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Lee and Anne Samson Charitable'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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