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.
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
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis for new applicants.
Grant Range
$1,000–$70,000
Average Grant
amount: $24
How to Apply
**
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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
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 |
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
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brazil Foundation ($70,000), Museum Associates - Lacma ($50,000), American Jewish Committee ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 350ORG BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $3,000 |
| AHEAD WITH HORSES INC SHADOW HILLS, CA | CHARITABLE | $1,500 |
| AMANECER COMMUNITY COUNSELING SERVICE LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $7,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| AMERICANS FOR PEACE NOW INC WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $7,500 |
| ARMAND HAMMER MUSEUM -ART & CULTURE CNTR LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $3,000 |
| ARTTABLE INC NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $3,000 |
| BRAILLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $16,000 |
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $503,000–$515,500 • Number of grants: 88–231 grants annually (varies by year) • Typical grant range: $1,000–$70,000 • Median grant amount: $3,000 • Average grant amount: $24 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis for new applicants. **Recent Grants:** The foundation has supported organizations including the Dolphin Communication Project, which received a $2,000 grant…
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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