Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc
The Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. It supports free live music as a way to strengthen communities, partnering with local nonprofits and civic leaders to turn underused public spaces into community gathering places. The Foundation reports supporting more than 1,000 free outdoor concerts in over 100 towns and cities nationwide.
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc gave $3.0M across 91 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), top state California. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,964,300
- +3.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 91
- -34.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $32,575
- +58.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $199,275,145
- +17.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (34 of 91, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (23% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing says requests should be submitted in writing and lists Ms. Sharon Yazowski as the contact. It says the Foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None stated on the filing.
- Deadline
- None stated on the filing.
- Next open deadline
- November 20, 2026 (Levitt Festival Grant)
- Contact
Application contact: Ms Sharon Yazowski
Mailing address: 1910 W Sunset Blvd Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: (213) 201-6100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc
Levitt Festival Grant
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Expected ~November
Based on past cycles
Levitt Music Series Grants - AMP
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $120,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Levitt Music Series Grants - BLOC
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $120,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Friends of Levitt Pavilion Dayton ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
444 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 404 grants of 444 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its work as supporting communities nationwide. Its 2024 grants went to organizations in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars went to California (23%), Texas (9%), Ohio (8%), Colorado (8%), and Pennsylvania (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 91 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 91 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $46K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 43% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 503% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2020) to $3.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 91 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of Levitt Pavilion Dayton Dayton, OH | Community Programming Support | $250,000 |
| Friends of Levitt Pavilion Denver Denver, CO | Community Programming Support | $250,000 |
| Friends of Levitt Pavilion City of Angels Los Angeles, CA | Community Programming Support | $238,000 |
| Friends of Levitt Pavilion Arlington Arlington, TX | Community Programming Support | $225,000 |
| Friends of Levitt Pavilion Steelstacks Bethlehem, PA | Community Programming Support | $200,000 |
| Friends of Levitt Shell Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD | Community Programming Support | $200,000 |
| Imagine Los Angeles Inc Los Angeles, CA | Community Programming Support | $65,000 |
| Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose San Jose, CA | Community Programming Support | $60,000 |
| My Friend's Place Los Angeles, CA | Community Programming Support | $50,000 |
| International Latino Cultural Center Chicago, IL | Community Programming Support | $40,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $199,275,145 | $6,093,166 | $9,188,317 | $2,964,300 | 91 | $7,717,004 | $1,905,631 | $1,534,056 |
| 2023 | $169,756,709 | $3,040,839 | $8,558,604 | $2,865,480 | 139 | $8,623,622 | $1,726,563 | $1,645,016 |
| 2022 | $174,754,778 | $2,333,499 | $6,937,290 | $2,229,975 | 96 | $5,677,916 | $1,450,003 | $1,825,243 |
| 2021 | $181,707,670 | $14,665,647 | $5,262,590 | $2,065,807 | 62 | $3,924,537 | $2,373,038 | $2,075,712 |
| 2020 | $171,702,252 | $131,125,070 | $4,835,567 | $1,580,106 | 56 | — | $1,223,851 | $2,057,549 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation describes its mission as using free, live music to strengthen the social fabric of communities. Its filing says it supports local Friends of Levitt Pavilion organizations and other nonprofits through network activities and consultation, assists with producing free concerts, and guides civic and community leaders in developing local Levitt programs and concert series. It also supports the creation and development of Levitt pavilions and concert sites as community gathering spaces.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of local work. Friends of Levitt Pavilion Denver says its mission is to build community through music with free concerts and events in an accessible, all-ages outdoor setting. Friends of Levitt Pavilion Dayton describes its work as building community through free concerts and expanding access to the arts. Other grantees include Friends of Levitt Shell Sioux Falls, which operates a performing arts venue, and On Broadway Inc. in Green Bay, which works to strengthen its historic district as a business and residential center.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 91 grants totaling $2,964,300. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $250,000, with a median grant of $25,000. The largest awards included $250,000 each to Friends of Levitt Pavilion Dayton and Friends of Levitt Pavilion Denver; $238,000 to Friends of Levitt Pavilion City of Angels; $225,000 to Friends of Levitt Pavilion Arlington; and $200,000 each to Friends of Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks and Friends of Levitt Shell Sioux Falls. The filing lists community programming support as the purpose of these grants.
The Foundation’s program descriptions include Levitt Music Series grants under the BLOC, VIBE, and AMP names. They describe matching support of up to $120,000 for free outdoor concert programming. The descriptions specify that BLOC supports 7–10 concerts annually, VIBE targets urban neighborhoods in U.S. cities with populations over 250,000, and AMP supports concerts in small to mid-sized towns, with grants of up to $40,000 per year. Program materials also describe geographic-distance criteria in relation to existing Levitt series and venues.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John McNamara, Kathy Eberly Ovitt, Larry Chaifetz, Pasy Wang, Peter E. Levitt, Sharon Yazowski, and Helen Johnson as directors. Kathy Eberly Ovitt and Peter E. Levitt are listed as co-chairs. Pasy Wang is listed as treasurer, and Sharon Yazowski as secretary, president, and CEO.
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc is led by Sharon Yazowski, Director, Secretary, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sharon Yazowski
Director, Secretary, President & CEO
Secretary & Executive Director → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
Chief Executive Officer → Director, Secretary, President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$200K (2020) → $316K (2024)
John McNamara
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Eberly Ovitt
Director & Co-Chair
Director → Director & Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Chaifetz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pasy Wang
Director & Treasurer
Director & Treasurer** → Director & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter E. Levitt
Director & Co-Chair
Director → Director & Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helen Johnson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Andrew Hirsch (2020–2023) — Director & Vice President
- Former: Elizabeth Levitt-Hirsch (2020–2023) — Director & President
- Former: Joann Bourne (2020) — Director & Treasurer**
- Former: Stephen Douglass (2020) — Secretary**
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $316K, to Sharon Yazowski (Director/Sec/Pres/CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc
How much does Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc give each year?
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc gave $3.0M across 91 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 139 grants.
What is Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $32,575, across 91 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc that year got $11K on average.
Where does Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc give grants?
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc's top state is California, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (9%) and Ohio (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (17 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Arlington, TX (2 grants) and Kansas City, MO (2 grants).
Does Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 91 grants with a stated purpose on Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Programming Support" (91 grants).
Who are Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Friends of Levitt Pavilion Dayton ($250,000), Friends of Levitt Pavilion Denver ($250,000) and Friends of Levitt Pavilion City of Angels ($238,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc?
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc reported $199.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation describes its mission as using free, live music to strengthen the social fabric of communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc?
The filing says requests should be submitted in writing and lists Ms. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc's EIN?
Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6204678. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mortimer-and-mimi-levitt-foundation-inc-morg_cfe8e81701124f11a87bba0fa0cd6ab9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136204678_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mortimer-and-mimi-levitt-foundation-inc-morg_cfe8e81701124f11a87bba0fa0cd6ab9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation Inc'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.
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