Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation
The Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Santa Monica, California. Established in 1960, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and has been recognized as tax-exempt since September 1963. The foundation is managed by an uncompensated board of directors and supports a wide range of charitable causes across the United States.
Key facts about Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation
- EIN
- 95-6035906
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $515,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 90
- Average grant
- $5,728
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $12,229,997
- Primary geography
- California (54% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis for new applicants. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's 90 itemized 2024 grants were California (54%), 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). None of its 90 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (90 grants).
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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation
- How to evaluate Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.2M
+7.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$516K
+2.5% YoY
Grant Count
90
+2.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+0.2% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Jewish organizations
- Education
- Health services
- The environment
- Art organizations
- Human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Social justice and human rights initiatives
- Disaster preparedness and relief
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000–$70,000
Average Grant
amount: $24
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, with particular focus on:
- California
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- Additional coverage in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 90 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving:
- Total assets: $11.4–$12.2 million
- Total annual giving: $503,000–$515,500
- Annual expenses: approximately $703,549
- Annual revenue: approximately $562,850
- Giving rate: 4.4% of assets
Financial Status:
- Total liabilities: $0
- No employees listed on staff
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,229,997 | $11,366,671 | $10,323,363 |
| Revenue | $961,278 | $562,850 | $1,125,453 |
| Expenses | $719,195 | $703,549 | $638,541 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $578,657 | $564,573 | $524,400 |
| Net Investment Income | $830,740 | $440,560 | $1,024,901 |
| Distributable Amount | $575,414 | $536,417 | $528,900 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
181 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Brazil Foundation ($70,000), Museum Associates - Lacma ($50,000), United States Fund for Unicef ($25,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's board includes:
- Pamela Simon Jensen (Chair/Director)
- Eric Simon (President/Director)
- Douglas Simon (Chair/Director)
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pamela Simon Jensen | Pres/Director | 3 | — |
| Eric Simon | Vice Pres/Director | 1 | — |
| Douglas Simon | Secretary/Director | 1 | — |
| William E Greaney | Treasurer | 0.1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Jewish organizations • Education • Health services • The environment • Art organizations • Human services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Social justice and human rights initiatives • Disaster preparedness and relief
How do I apply for a grant from Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis for new applicants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, with particular focus on: • California • New York • District of Columbia • Massachusetts • Additional coverage in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia
What size grants does Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation award?
In 2024, Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation awarded 90 grants totaling $516K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $575K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.