Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation
The Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation is the grantmaking arm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, a prominent law firm founded in 1962. The foundation was established in 1982 and is funded by partner contributions from the firm. Based in Los Angeles, California, the foundation focuses on providing financial support to nonprofit organizations, with particular emphasis on legal services for underserved communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
+38.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+88.9% YoY
Grant Count
54
-3.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$60K
+95.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated mission is to make donations to organizations described in sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The foundation's primary funding focus includes:
- Legal services to underserved communities
- Nonprofits supported by the firm's clients
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
- Human rights and social justice
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes substantial annual funding, with aggregate donations exceeding $1 million per year. Based on the most recent financial data available, the foundation awarded $3,312,076 in total giving, with typical grant awards ranging from $5,150 to $1,883,592.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes funding in three primary geographic areas:
- Los Angeles, California
- San Francisco, California
- Washington, D.C.
The foundation also contributes to nonprofits supported by the firm's clients beyond these core regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,383,660
- Total Giving: $3,312,076
Prior Year Data (2019):
- Revenue: $1,207,475
- Expenses: $1,256,515
- Assets: $2,175,650
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,383,660 | $2,444,230 | $2,460,462 |
| Revenue | $4,253,986 | $1,839,229 | $1,968,598 |
| Expenses | $3,334,340 | $1,855,928 | $1,670,885 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $86,278 | $20,688 | $23 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 American Civil Liberties Union Foundation ($1,883,592), Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Fra ($242,005), Bet Tzedek ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABA JUDICIAL INTERN OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $32,500 |
| ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN OF NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR CHILDRENS RIGHTS LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,883,592 |
| BET TZEDEK LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| CALIFORNIA CHANGELAWYERS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $80,000 |
| CALIFORNIA WOMEN'S LAW CENTER EL SEGUNDO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,150 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Leadership information identified in available sources includes:
- Kathleen McDowell
- Robert Dell Angelo
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GINGER ANDERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PETER DETRE | DIRECTOR (THROUGH 12/1/2024) | — | — |
| COLIN DEVINE | DIRECTOR (THROUGH 4/1/2024) | — | — |
| ALAN FRIEDMAN | DIRECTOR (THROUGH 4/1/2024) | — | — |
| DAVID FRY | DIRECTOR (THROUGH 4/1/2024) | — | — |
| ADAM LAWTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RONALD OLSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GLENN POMERANTZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA SMOLOWE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DON VERRILLI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAX ROSEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRETT RODDA | CO-CHAIR (THROUGH 4/1/2024) | — | — |
| ALISON SIGURDSSON | DIRECTOR (THROUGH 4/1/2024) | — | — |
| BRAD BRIAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PETER GRATZINGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| APRIL HU | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACOB KRIELKAMP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOSEPH LEE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KURU OLASA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JUSTIN RAPHAEL | CO-CHAIR | 3 | — |
| KATHLEEN MCDOWELL | PRESIDENT (THROUGH 11/1/2024) | — | — |
| JENNIFER BRYAN | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation's parent firm, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, has demonstrated ongoing commitment to community impact and legal access initiatives:
Community ImpactThe firm sponsors the Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program
The firm has partnered with the Legal Education Access Pipeline (LEAP) to improve access to legal education by supporting students in gaining law school admission
In 2017, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles named its new headquarters the Ron Olson Justice Center in recognition of firm name partner Ron Olson's commitment to public service
The firm was recognized by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity as a 2024 Compass Award winner
The firm earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Corporate Equality Index
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated mission is to make donations to organizations described in sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation's primary funding focus includes: • Legal services to underserved communities • Nonprofits supported by the firm's clients • Education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services • Human rights and social justice
How do I apply for a grant from Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation?
The foundation distributes substantial annual funding, with aggregate donations exceeding $1 million per year. Based on the most recent financial data available, the foundation awarded $3,312,076 in total giving, with typical grant awards ranging from $5,150 to $1,883,592. The foundation makes grants to a diverse range of nonprofit organizations aligned with its focus areas, though specific application procedures are not detailed in available sources.
Where does Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes funding in three primary geographic areas: • Los Angeles, California • San Francisco, California • Washington, D.C. The foundation also contributes to nonprofits supported by the firm's clients beyond these core regions.
What size grants does Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation award?
In 2024, Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $60K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation's EIN?
Munger Tolles & Olson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3793858. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Munger Tolles & Olson 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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