Maximum Difference Foundation
Maximum Difference Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $304K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $316K. Net investment income was $68K.
Maximum Difference Foundation at a glance
In short: Maximum Difference Foundation gave $316K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $315,739
- -32.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- -42.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $39,467
- +18.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $21,656
- Total assets
- $303,937
- +21.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Maximum Difference Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Farhang Foundation ($144K). Together the top 8 received $316K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 68 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Maximum Difference Foundation gives
- Giving fell 51% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $272K (2020) to $651K (2021). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $316K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Farhang Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $143,927 |
| American Near East Refugee Aid Washington, DC | General Support | $50,000 |
| The Village School Santa Monica, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Sociarts Productions LLC Santa Monica, CA | Production for documentary movie for the founder of amin arasteh foundation | $23,312 |
| Iranian Muslim Association of North Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Middle East Children's Alliance Berkeley, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Bubbles Dog Rescue Santa Monica, CA | General Support | $7,500 |
| National Ms Society Santa Monica, CA | General Support | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Maximum Difference Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $303,937 | $402,086 | $347,939 | $315,739 | 8 | $345,936 | $68,268 | $10,446 |
| 2023 | $249,890 | $592,197 | $476,159 | $466,455 | 14 | $466,000 | — | $17,219 |
| 2022 | $132,849 | $115,053 | $330,234 | $325,500 | 14 | $330,140 | — | $10,450 |
| 2021 | $348,030 | $790,031 | $664,381 | $650,875 | 13 | $654,350 | — | $20,574 |
| 2020 | $222,380 | $251,364 | $276,462 | $272,025 | 19 | — | — | $11,024 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Maximum Difference Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Maximum Difference Foundation is led by Mahmood Amin, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mahmood Amin
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Parvin Kermani
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosella De Laza
CFO
On filings since 2020
1.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shirin Amin
Secretary
Sectretary → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Maximum Difference Foundation
How much does Maximum Difference Foundation give each year?
Maximum Difference Foundation gave $316K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $466K across 14 grants.
What is Maximum Difference Foundation's typical grant size?
Maximum Difference Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $21,656, and its average grant was $39,467, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Maximum Difference Foundation give grants?
Maximum Difference Foundation gives mostly in California: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Monica, CA (4 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Maximum Difference Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Maximum Difference Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Maximum Difference Foundation's largest grantees?
Maximum Difference Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Farhang Foundation ($143,927), American Near East Refugee Aid ($50,000) and The Village School ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Maximum Difference Foundation?
Maximum Difference Foundation reported $304K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $346K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Maximum Difference Foundation?
Maximum Difference Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Los Angeles, CA. It holds $304K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Maximum Difference Foundation's EIN?
Maximum Difference Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-1127669. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Maximum Difference Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
HAND Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The HAND Foundation supports charitable organizations working in areas such as hunger relief, humanitarian response, education, research, public policy, and community services, with most 2025 funding going to California organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $370,962, with a median of $25,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.1M
Grants
25
Total Given
$1.0M
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, with listed awards generally between $1,500 and $2,500, though the available figures do not establish a typical grant size or geographic focus. The foundation has wound down: its 2026 filing reports no grants or assets, and no current application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
Redwood City, CA
The Board of Trustees of Stanford University supports education, research, health care, and related organizations, including universities and medical research institutions. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,000 to $50 million, with a median of $40,000, and went mainly to recipients in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and California. No process for unsolicited requests is specified.
Assets
$68.7B
Grants
115
Total Given
$112.1M
Synchrony Foundation
Stamford, CT
In 2024, Synchrony Foundation supported charitable organizations across workforce development, education, financial assistance, and giving, with grants ranging from $150 to $2.6 million and a median of $10,000. Its largest shares of grant funding went to Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina, followed by the District of Columbia and New Jersey; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.
Assets
$72.3M
Grants
394
Total Given
$20.5M
The Yelp Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$6.2M
Grants
644
Total Given
$886K
Pledgeling Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Pledgeling Foundation regrants donor-directed contributions to a wide range of eligible U.S. public charities and vetted international charities, with no stated issue-area focus. Its 2024 grants had a median of $12,301 and ranged from $5,001 to $1.6 million; funding goes worldwide, with the largest share in California. It processes grants based on donor recommendations, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.3M
Grants
918
Total Given
$31.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Maximum Difference Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Maximum Difference Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?