Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation
The Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Rancho Santa Fe, California. In 2024, it gave $184,880 through 20 grants to charitable organizations, with nearly all grant dollars going to recipients in California.
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation gave $185K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in California. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $184,880
- +13.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- -13.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,244
- +30.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,525,940
- -4.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (8 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (98% 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 Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 576, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Phone: (858) 756-3594
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Uc Santa Cruz Foundation ($90K). Together the top 10 received $178K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 97 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 2% to New York, and less than 1% to Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 20 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $106K (2022) to $185K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $185K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uc Santa Cruz Foundation Santa Cruz, CA | Support Organization Missions | $90,000 |
| Duwara Consciousness Foundation Oceanside, CA | Support Organization Missions | $25,000 |
| Jewish Family Service of San Diego San Diego, CA | Support Organization Missions | $15,000 |
| Ilan Lael Foundation Santa Ysabel, CA | Support Organization Missions | $12,500 |
| American Friends of Combatants for Peace Pasadenac, CA | Support Organization Missions | $10,000 |
| Warrior Foundation Freedom Station San Diego, CA | Support Organization Missions | $10,000 |
| The Americas Foundation Solana Beach, CA | Support Organization Missions | $6,000 |
| Volunteer Collective Santa Monica, CA | Support Organization Missions | $5,000 |
| Triform Camphill Community Hudson, NY | Support Organization Missions | $2,500 |
| Donkeyland Riverside, CA | Support Organization Missions | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family 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 | $1,525,940 | $255,727 | $318,961 | $184,880 | 20 | $184,880 | $123,075 | $186,956 |
| 2023 | $1,589,174 | $253,469 | $250,375 | $163,310 | 23 | $163,310 | $169,564 | $187,666 |
| 2022 | $1,586,080 | $252,180 | $225,150 | $105,871 | 8 | $105,971 | $133,868 | $183,501 |
| 2021 | $1,559,050 | $255,853 | $318,968 | $171,000 | 14 | $171,000 | $114,083 | $141,553 |
| 2020 | $1,622,165 | $248,397 | $275,485 | $184,600 | 32 | — | $164,599 | $138,079 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $187K 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 grantees describe work that includes benefiting the University of California, Santa Cruz; teaching compassion and providing relief from poverty, as described by Duwara Consciousness Foundation; and building a stronger, healthier, more resilient San Diego, as described by Jewish Family Service of San Diego. Other grantees describe work supporting military personnel and their families, connecting volunteers with neighbors facing hunger, housing, and health challenges, assisting the Triform Camphill Community, funding projects for needy populations in Israel, and protecting donkeys and wild burros.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $184,880. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $90,000, with a median grant of $2,000.
Its largest 2024 grants included $90,000 to UC Santa Cruz Foundation, $25,000 to Duwara Consciousness Foundation, $15,000 to Jewish Family Service of San Diego, $12,500 to Ilan Lael Foundation, and $10,000 each to American Friends of Combatants for Peace and Warrior Foundation Freedom Station.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Heidi Auerbach Farkash and John Farkash as directors.
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Heidi Auerbach Farkash
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John Farkash
Director
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 Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation
How much does Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation give each year?
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation gave $185K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $163K across 23 grants.
What is Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $9,244, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation give grants?
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (4 grants).
Does Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Organization Missions" (20 grants).
Who are Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Uc Santa Cruz Foundation ($90,000), Duwara Consciousness Foundation ($25,000) and Jewish Family Service of San Diego ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation?
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $185K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $187K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's EIN?
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4228771. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family 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 Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
LPL Financial Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Assets
$7.8M
Grants
55
Total Given
$2.3M
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
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation funds a broad range of causes, with strategic priorities in military and veteran support, education, and healthy communities; its giving reaches San Diego County and organizations nationally and internationally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though awards varied widely; donor-advised funds do not accept unsolicited requests, and Community Impact Fund applications are by invitation only.
Assets
$188.7M
Grants
253
Total Given
$14.3M
The Nordson Corporation Foundation
Westlake, OH
The Nordson Corporation Foundation primarily funds education, especially programs that build job readiness and pathways to higher education, while also supporting arts, culture, and human welfare. Its 2025 grants ranged from $7,500 to $601,500, with a median of $20,000, and focused on communities near Nordson facilities, particularly in Ohio. It accepts applications by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$35.9M
Grants
159
Total Given
$5.5M
Price Philanthropies Foundation
La Jolla, CA
Price Philanthropies Foundation supports opportunities for underserved youth and families, including early education and childcare, youth mental health, and organizations that strengthen San Diego communities; it offers general operating, program, and capital grants. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $19.1 million, with a median of $22,410, and funding is primarily focused on San Diego—especially City Heights—with additional stated interests in PriceSmart communities in Latin America and the Caribbean and Israel. The foundation says it does not accept unsolicited grant requests at this time.
Assets
$446.8M
Grants
246
Total Given
$33.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lisa-and-ernest-auerbach-family-foundation-morg_c0fbbf6075c04103b8243b0286d94bbd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_264228771_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lisa \& Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lisa-and-ernest-auerbach-family-foundation-morg_c0fbbf6075c04103b8243b0286d94bbd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family 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.
Lisa & Ernest Auerbach Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?