Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation
The Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1968, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with the primary purpose of distributing funds to qualified charities to support their activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.3M
-6.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$612K
+16.3% YoY
Grant Count
25
+13.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+2.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Medical research and assistance
- Education
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Social issues including immigration and climate concerns
- Small business assistance, particularly for organizations impacted by COVID-19
- Resources for children's learning
Grantmaking
The foundation made 28 grants in 2024, with typical award amounts ranging from $100,000 to $105,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates in Los Angeles, California and surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $2,310,752
- Total giving: $611,700
- Total revenues: $492,898
- Total expenses: $660,530
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,310,752 | $2,479,357 | $894,313 |
| Revenue | $492,898 | $2,268,596 | $237,624 |
| Expenses | $660,530 | $683,552 | $455,004 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $611,700 | $526,100 | $421,025 |
| Net Investment Income | $444,048 | $123,247 | $176,721 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,078 | $28,366 | $199,980 |
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
120 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Community Foundation ($175,000), Saint John's Health Center Foundation ($100,000), Mothers 2 Mothers ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE NEW YORK, NY | General | $500 |
| Jewish Community Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General | $175,000 |
| CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | General | $10,000 |
| Mothers 2 Mothers LOS ANGELES, CA | General | $75,000 |
| Adat Ari El Valley Village, CA | General | $60,000 |
| FRIENDS OF LARC LOS ANGELES, CA | General | $1,000 |
| Cedars Sinai Medical Center LOS ANGELES, CA | General | $2,000 |
| Jewish Federation Los Angeles, CA | General | $25,000 |
| PANCAN MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | General | $50,000 |
| SAINT JOHN'S HEALTH CENTER FOUNDATION SANTA MONICA, CA | general | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sondra Smalley | President | 0.5 | — |
| Debra Smalley | Secretary/CFO | 0.5 | — |
| Jeffrey Smalley | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Scott Smalley | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Lori Smalley Schwartz | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Medical research and assistance • Education • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Social issues including immigration and climate concerns • Small business assistance, particularly for organizations impacted by COVID-19 • Resources for children's learning
How do I apply for a grant from Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 28 grants in 2024, with typical award amounts ranging from $100,000 to $105,000. **Recent Grants (2024):** • The Jewish Community Foundation: $175,000 • Saint John's Health Center Foundation: $100,000 • Adat Ari El: $60,000 Notable grantees include American Jewish University and other qualified charitable organizations.
Where does Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates in Los Angeles, California and surrounding areas.
What size grants does Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation award?
In 2024, Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $612K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation's EIN?
Marvin and Sondra Smalley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-2535589. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Marvin and Sondra Smalley 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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