Max and Karel Guefen Foundation
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation is a private foundation, based in Culver City, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $340K. Net investment income was $323K.
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation at a glance
In short: Max and Karel Guefen Foundation gave $340K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $57K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $340,000
- +16.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $56,667
- -42.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $7,578,636
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Max and Karel Guefen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was College Match ($105K). Together the top 6 received $340K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 23 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Max and Karel Guefen Foundation gives
- Giving grew 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2020) to $340K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $340K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| College Match Los Angeles, CA | College match is a leading college access organization that helps high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds | $105,000 |
| My Friend's Place Los Angeles, CA | Assisting and inspiring homeless youth to build self-sufficient lives. | $100,000 |
| Community Effort Animal Rescue Littlerock, CA | Animal Rescue | $75,000 |
| National Veterans Network Torrance, CA | Mission is to educate current and future generations about the extraordinary legacy of American wwii soldiers of japanese ancestry in order to promote equality and justice. | $25,000 |
| Saints of the West Sparks, NV | We are a saint bernard rescue & adoption facility. | $20,000 |
| Compton Paw Patrol Compton, CA | Rescuing and caring for abandoned and abused dogs in compton takes resources | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,578,636 | $1,138,300 | $382,956 | $340,000 | 6 | $343,562 | $322,588 | $342,900 |
| 2024 | $6,821,303 | $971,609 | $329,236 | $293,000 | 3 | $293,000 | $163,087 | $305,650 |
| 2023 | $5,871,210 | $711,715 | $286,388 | $256,950 | 6 | $256,950 | $100,266 | $256,240 |
| 2022 | $4,947,583 | $851,085 | $256,127 | $233,180 | 5 | $233,180 | $57,657 | $229,743 |
| 2021 | $4,861,478 | $834,623 | $235,427 | $215,117 | 3 | $215,117 | $57,415 | $212,996 |
| 2020 | $4,098,353 | $815,449 | $82,036 | $70,000 | 1 | — | $48,204 | $168,748 |
| 2019 | $3,244,902 | $810,235 | $125,804 | $120,000 | 2 | — | $28,029 | $132,200 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Max and Karel Guefen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $343K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation is led by Eric Guefen, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eric Guefen
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Max and Karel Guefen Foundation
How much does Max and Karel Guefen Foundation give each year?
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation gave $340K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $293K across 3 grants.
What is Max and Karel Guefen Foundation's typical grant size?
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $56,667, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Max and Karel Guefen Foundation give grants?
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation gives mostly in California: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Nevada (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Max and Karel Guefen Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Max and Karel Guefen Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Max and Karel Guefen Foundation's largest grantees?
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include College Match ($105,000), My Friend's Place ($100,000) and Community Effort Animal Rescue ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Max and Karel Guefen Foundation?
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation reported $7.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $344K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $343K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Max and Karel Guefen Foundation's EIN?
Max and Karel Guefen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-7214164. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 22, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Max and Karel Guefen Foundation funds
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