Llww Foundation

PASADENA, CA EIN: 95-3464689

The LLWW Foundation is a private foundation established in 1980 and based in Pasadena, California. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization classified as a family foundation. The foundation functions primarily as a grantmaking entity supporting nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$38.5M

+17.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$886K

-4.1% YoY

Grant Count

+9.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$39K

-12.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Llww Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Primary funding areas include:

Arts and culture
Museums and historic buildings
Education and higher education
Philanthropy and grantmaking
Human services
Creative writing and journalism

Grantmaking

Notable grantees include the Colburn School of Performing Arts.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Maine, with a concentration on California-based nonprofits.

Grant Distribution by State

California $4.0M (74%)

New York $1.2M (23%)

Colorado $115K (2%)

Pennsylvania $40K (1%)

Maine $10K (0%)

District of Columbia $5K (0%)

Utah $5K (0%)

States

California Colorado District of Columbia Maine New York Pennsylvania Utah

Cities

AltaAnnadaleon HudsonAnnandaleonhudsonAspenAvalonBeaconBeverly HillsCaribouCarmelDavisLong Island CityLorettoLos AngelesMontecitoNew YorkNew York CityNorth Los AngelesPasadenaPortola ValleySan Marino

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $32.7 million
Total Revenue: $490,028
Total Expenses: $1.17 million
Total Liabilities: $659,000

Funding Source: The foundation receives support from the L. K. Whittier Foundation, which provided $328,541 in general operating support (2024).

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$38,495,257	$32,686,616	$27,329,811
Revenue	$1,694,107	$490,028	$785,200
Expenses	$1,582,479	$1,174,294	$997,378
Qualifying Distributions	$1,110,392	$1,121,388	$1,069,635
Net Investment Income	$2,009,622	$825,302	$662,640
Distributable Amount	$1,771,178	$1,502,598	$1,391,865

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

113 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for Curatorial Studies Bard College ($250,000), Regents of the University of California Davis ($102,000), Center for Curatorial Studies Bard College ($100,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CENTER FOR CURATORIAL STUDIES BARD COLLEGE ANNANDALEONHUDSON, NY	EXPANDING THE CCS BARD LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES	$250,000
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS DAVIS, CA	CALIFORNIA STATE SUMMER SCHOOL FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE (COSMOS) CURRENT USE STUDENT FINANCIAL AID.	$102,000
CENTER FOR CURATORIAL STUDIES BARD COLLEGE ANNANDALEONHUDSON, NY	CCS ENDOWMENT FUND	$100,000
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA) LOS ANGELES, CA	TO SUPPORT THE EXHIBITION ED RUSCHA / NOW THEN.	$100,000
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY SANTA BARBARA, CA	SBMNH 2024 PROGRAMS	$50,000
READING IS FUNDAMENTAL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC LOS ANGELES, CA	MOTIVATIONAL READING PROGRAM	$50,000
CALIFORNIA HERITAGE MUSEUM SANTA MONICA, CA	2024 CALIFORNIA HERITAGE MUSEUM PROGRAMS	$50,000
ELINGS PARK FOUNDATION SANTA BARBARA, CA	UPGRADE & ADA COMPLIANCE IN GODRIC GROVE	$50,000
MUSIC ASSOCIATES OF ASPEN INC DBA ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL ASPEN, CO	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TALENTED MUSIC STUDENTS FROM CALIFORNIA	$30,000
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART NEW YORK, NY	$10K ANNUAL FUND/$10K EDUCATION FUND	$20,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
LAURA-LEE W WOODS	PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	2	—
LINDA J BLINKENBERG	VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	2	—
KRISTINA HERNANDEZ	SECRETARY	2	—
GREG E CUSTER	CFO/DIRECTOR	2	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Llww Foundation fund?

The foundation emphasizes support for the arts, including museums, with additional giving directed toward education and social services. Recent grantmaking has focused on program support and opera league programs. Primary funding areas include: • Arts and culture • Museums and historic buildings • Education and higher education • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Human services • Creative writing and journalism

How do I apply for a grant from Llww Foundation?

**Grant Activity (2023):** • Number of grants: 38 grants made • Total giving: $886,000 • Typical award range: $500–$250,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation (Armstrong Fund): $50,000 • California Heritage Museum (General Operating Support): $50,000 • Ganna Walska Lotusland (Endowment Support in Honor of Arthur Gaudi): $50,000 • Regents of the University of California Davis (COSMOS: Student Financial Aid, Scholarship Endowment, and Site Expansion): $250,000 Notable gr…

Where does Llww Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Maine, with a concentration on California-based nonprofits.

What size grants does Llww Foundation award?

In 2024, Llww Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $886K — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Llww Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Llww Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.