Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation
The Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Monica, California. It makes charitable contributions to organizations; its 2024 filing states that it gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation at a glance
In short: Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation gave $516K across 90 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $515,500
- +2.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 90
- +2.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,728
- +0.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $12,229,997
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (54% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2811 Wilshire Blvd 700, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Phone: (310) 829-7654
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Brazil Foundation ($70K). Together the top 10 received $244K.
Grant Size Distribution
181 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 181 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in California (54%) and New York (28%), followed by the District of Columbia (7%), Virginia (3%), and Florida (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 90 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation gives
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $377K (2020) to $578K (2021). In 2024 it made 90 grants totaling $516K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil Foundation New York, NY | Charitable | $70,000 |
| Museum Associates - Lacma Los Angeles, CA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| United States Fund for UNICEF New York, NY | Charitable | $25,000 |
| American Jewish Committee New York, NY | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Rand Corporation Santa Monica, CA | Charitable | $18,000 |
| Braille Institute of America Los Angeles, CA | Charitable | $16,000 |
| Defenders of Wildlife Washington, DC | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (WHC) Los Angeles, CA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Shelter Partnership Inc Los Angeles, CA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| The Music Center Los Angeles, CA | Charitable | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lucille Ellis Simon 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 | $12,229,997 | $961,278 | $719,195 | $515,500 | 90 | $578,657 | $830,740 | $575,414 |
| 2023 | $11,366,671 | $562,850 | $703,549 | $503,000 | 88 | $564,573 | $440,560 | $536,417 |
| 2022 | $10,323,363 | $1,125,453 | $638,541 | $495,000 | 1 | $524,400 | $1,024,901 | $528,900 |
| 2021 | $11,927,232 | $796,518 | $725,268 | $577,500 | 1 | $615,759 | $687,009 | $563,146 |
| 2020 | $10,843,547 | $580,241 | $501,579 | $376,500 | 1 | — | $485,898 | $484,544 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $575K 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
A mission statement for the foundation is not provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in varied areas. For example, Brazil Foundation says it mobilizes resources for efforts to promote equality, social justice, and economic opportunity in Brazil. Shelter Partnership says it works collaboratively to address homelessness in Los Angeles County through policy analysis, program design, resource development, and advocacy. Defenders of Wildlife describes its work as protecting native animals and plants in their natural communities.
Other 2024 grantees include organizations whose stated missions concern children’s well-being (United States Fund for UNICEF), the lives of people with vision loss (Braille Institute of America), Jewish well-being and human rights (American Jewish Committee), and public broadcasting (PBS Foundation).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 90 grants totaling $515,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $70,000, with a median of $3,000. Its largest grants included $70,000 to Brazil Foundation, $50,000 to Museum Associates–LACMA, $25,000 to United States Fund for UNICEF, $20,000 to American Jewish Committee, and $18,000 to RAND Corporation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Pamela Simon Jensen as president and director, Eric Simon as vice president and director, Douglas Simon as secretary and director, and William E Greaney as treasurer.
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation is led by Pamela Simon Jensen, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Pamela Simon Jensen
President & Director
Chair & Director → President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Simon
Secretary & Director
Chair & Director → Secretary & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Simon
Vice President & Director
President & Director → Vice President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William E. Greaney
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
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 Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation
How much does Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation give each year?
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation gave $516K across 90 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $503K across 88 grants.
What is Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's typical grant size?
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $5,728, across 90 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation give grants?
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation gives mostly in California: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (28%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (31 grants), New York, NY (9 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants) and Santa Monica, CA (6 grants).
Does Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 90 grants with a stated purpose on Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (90 grants).
Who are Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's largest grantees?
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Brazil Foundation ($70,000), Museum Associates - Lacma ($50,000) and United States Fund for UNICEF ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation?
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation reported $12.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $579K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $575K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation fund?
A mission statement for the foundation is not provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in varied areas. For example, Brazil Foundation says it mobilizes resources for efforts to promote equality, social justice, and economic opportunity in Brazil. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's EIN?
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6035906. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lucille Ellis Simon 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
Other open foundation grants in California
California Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
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
The Rose Hills Foundation
Pasadena, CA
The Rose Hills Foundation funds qualified nonprofits working in education, arts and culture, support for at-risk youth and families, and human services, primarily benefiting Los Angeles County and Southern California. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $1 million, with a median of $50,000. It accepts applications year-round from eligible organizations, but does not accept unsolicited requests from certain large medical and educational institutions.
Assets
$561.2M
Grants
297
Total Given
$27.9M
The Ahmanson Foundation
Beverly Hills, CA
The Ahmanson Foundation funds Los Angeles County nonprofits in arts and humanities, education, health care, human services, homelessness, and environmental preservation, often for construction, equipment, or other one-time project costs. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $6.3 million, with a median of $50,000. It encourages applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry, but the profile does not explicitly state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
442
Total Given
$65.5M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles supports human services, health, education, Jewish life, arts and culture, Israel-related work, and nonprofit capacity and capital projects, with a focus on Los Angeles and also giving in Israel and beyond. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. General Community grants are by invitation only and do not accept unsolicited applications; current procedures should be verified.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,063
Total Given
$142.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lucille-ellis-simon-foundation-morg_6c627d9625da4837a0c6d6cea2f7983b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956035906_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lucille-ellis-simon-foundation-morg_6c627d9625da4837a0c6d6cea2f7983b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Lucille Ellis Simon 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.
Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?