Maurice Amado Foundation
The Maurice Amado Foundation is a family foundation established in 1961 and based in Los Angeles, California. It has operated continuously since its founding, directing grants to a variety of worthy organizations across the United States and internationally.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.3M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
+76.3% YoY
Grant Count
65
-11.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
+98.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Maurice Amado Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Historically, the foundation primarily supported organizations serving the Sephardic Jewish community and promoting knowledge of Sephardic Jewish culture and heritage. In recent years, the foundation has evolved to award grants to a wide array of charitable organizations that reflect the philanthropic interests of the foundation's directors and advisors, while maintaining a focus on Jewish ethics, civic responsibility, and community involvement.
The foundation's legacy includes endowing the Maurice Amado Program in Sephardic Studies at UCLA in 1989, which houses one of the most important chairs of Sephardic Studies in the United States.
Grantmaking
The Maurice Amado Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation generates its own requests for proposals and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$1,000 - $150,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across the United States and internationally, with particular activity in California, New York, and Texas. It funds major urban centers including Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2023:
- Total assets: $28,227,400
- Total revenue: $1,654,591
- Total expenses: $1,853,000
- Total liabilities: $92
- Number of employees: 1
Investment Income:
- Investment income and dividends: $697,395 (FYE 11/2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,335,606 | $28,227,400 | $28,683,724 |
| Revenue | $3,020,038 | $1,654,591 | $2,744,099 |
| Expenses | $2,912,227 | $1,853,000 | $1,950,802 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,756,107 | $1,636,076 | $1,750,444 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,859,721 | $1,486,172 | $2,579,040 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,692,431 | $1,547,080 | $1,606,305 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Community Foundation ($1,085,229), Brennan Center for Justice ($100,000), John Muir Health Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | OPERATING EXPENSES | $1,085,229 |
| BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $100,000 |
| JOHN MUIR HEALTH FOUNDATION WALNUT CREEK, CA | OPERATING EXPENSES | $100,000 |
| OSTROW SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY OF USC LOS ANGELES, CA | SCHOLARSHIPS | $100,000 |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | OPERATING EXPENSES | $98,804 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING EXPENSES | $92,500 |
| EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC OF HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | OPERATING EXPENSES | $90,000 |
| THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING EXPENSES | $60,000 |
| NATIONAL MARROW DONOR PROGRAM (NMDP) MINNEAPOLIS, MN | OPERATING EXPENSES | $50,000 |
| NEW MEXICANS TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE SANTA FE, NM | OPERATING EXPENSES | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Rick Amado
- Vice President: Susan Lindheim
- Executive Director: Pamela Kaizer
- Board Directors: Ted Amado, Susan Malcolm, Erin Tarica, Ellen Amado
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALVO LAVIS | PRESIDENT/CEO | 3 | $300 |
| DANIEL TARICA | CFO | 1 | $500 |
| JESSICA AMADO | SECRETARY | 1 | $500 |
| SUSAN LINDHEIM | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 12/31/24) | 2 | $5,500 |
| ERIN TARICA | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5,500 |
| ELLEN AMADO | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5,500 |
| SUSAN MALCOLM | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5,250 |
| RICK AMADO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Website: www.mauriceamadofoundation.org
Address: Los Angeles, California
EIN: 95-6041700
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3), tax-exempt since May 1963
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Maurice Amado Foundation fund?
Historically, the foundation primarily supported organizations serving the Sephardic Jewish community and promoting knowledge of Sephardic Jewish culture and heritage. In recent years, the foundation has evolved to award grants to a wide array of charitable organizations that reflect the philanthropic interests of the foundation's directors and advisors, while maintaining a focus on Jewish ethics, civic responsibility, and community involvement. The foundation's legacy includes endowing the Mau…
How do I apply for a grant from Maurice Amado Foundation?
The Maurice Amado Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation generates its own requests for proposals and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. **Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: Approximately $1.5 million (2023) • Number of grants: 83 grants in 2023 • Grant range: $1,000 - $150,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • UC Davis Foundation: $150,000 (Transplant Center Co…
Where does Maurice Amado Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across the United States and internationally, with particular activity in California, New York, and Texas. It funds major urban centers including Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities.
What size grants does Maurice Amado Foundation award?
In 2024, Maurice Amado Foundation awarded 65 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Maurice Amado Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Maurice Amado Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Maurice Amado Foundation's EIN?
Maurice Amado Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6041700. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Maurice Amado 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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