Pacific Legal Foundation
Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) litigates nationwide to secure all Americans' inalienable rights to live responsibly and productively in their pursuit of happiness. for full mission.
Pacific Legal Foundation at a glance
In short: Pacific Legal Foundation gave $145K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $145,000
- +262.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +350.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,111
- -19.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $118,927,949
- +4.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (17% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Pacific Legal Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Talent Market ($25K). Together the top 9 received $145K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 19 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2024) to $145K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $145K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Talent Market Washington, DC | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Pelican Institute for Public Policy New Orleans, LA | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Platte Insitute for Economic Research Omaha, NE | Program Support | $15,000 |
| The John Locke Foundation Raleigh, NC | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Mountain States Policy Center Inc Coeur d'Alene, ID | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Georgia Public Policy Foundation Atlanta, GA | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty Milwaukee, WI | Program Support | $15,000 |
| The James Madison Institute Tallahassee, FL | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Iowans for Tax Relief Waukee, IA | Program Support | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Pacific Legal Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $118,927,949 | $31,598,514 | $35,539,848 | $145,000 | 9 | $4,257,297 |
| 2024 | $113,554,835 | $47,934,509 | $27,024,089 | $40,000 | 2 | $3,393,415 |
| 2023 | $85,220,260 | $25,069,324 | $25,562,157 | $120,000 | 8 | $2,137,389 |
| 2022 | $76,776,179 | $28,245,541 | $20,203,674 | — | — | $1,632,962 |
| 2021 | $79,792,141 | $18,386,652 | $17,088,511 | — | — | $865,217 |
| 2020 | $64,175,752 | $16,552,123 | $16,476,681 | — | — | $2,218,074 |
About Pacific Legal Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Pacific Legal Foundation is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Sacramento, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $118.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $145K. Net investment income was $4.3M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Pacific Legal Foundation is led by Steven D Anderson, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 14 of 30 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Steven D Anderson
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$481K (2020) → $673K (2025)
Robert D Connors
Chair of the Board
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Chair of the Board, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Simpson
Director of Sop
Senior Attorney → Director of Sop, 2024
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$193K (2020) → $279K (2025)
Amy Brigham Boulris
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
April J Morris
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian G Cartwright
Trustee
Chair → Chair of the Board, 2022
Chair of the Board → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce C Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Platt Liebau
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles W Trainor
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg M Evans
Trustee
Chair of the Board → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey E Warren
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Yoo
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert K Best
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald E Van Buskirk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ross Borba Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Gerson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles E Wilcox IV
Treasurer & Vice President of Opp.
Treasurer, CFO & COO → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Treasurer & Vice President of Opp., 2025
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$213K (2020) → $288K (2025)
Damien Schiff
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$188K (2020) → $225K (2025)
James S Burling
Senior Legal Counsel
Vice President Legal Affair → Vice President of Legal Affairs, 2024
Vice President of Legal Affairs → Senior Legal Counsel, 2025
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$275K (2020) → $249K (2025)
John M Groen
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Executive Vice President & General Counsel → Executive Vice President, 2022
Executive Vice President → Executive Vice President & General Counsel, 2025
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$294K (2020) → $360K (2025)
Joshua P Thompson
Dir.of Equ & Opp Lit.
Director of Legal Operations → Dir.of Equality & Opportunity Litigation, 2023
Dir.of Equality & Opportunity Litigation → Dir.of Equ & Opp Lit., 2024
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$193K (2020) → $239K (2025)
Larry G Salzman
Secretary, Vice President for Lit. & Strategy
Secretary & Director of Li → Secretary & Director of Litigation, 2021
Secretary & Director of Litigation → Secretary, Vice President for Lit. & Strategy, 2025
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$190K (2020) → $301K (2025)
Scott Barton
Vice President of Committee & Marketing
Senior Director of Communications & Outreach → Vice President of Committee & Marketing, 2024
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$172K (2020) → $234K (2025)
Jan Breemer
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$210K (2024) → $217K (2025)
Robert Thomas
Dir.of Prop Rights Lit.
Dir.of Prop Rights Lit → Dir.of Prop Rights Lit., 2025
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$215K (2024) → $237K (2025)
Austin Raynor
Senior Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$279K (2025)
Britany Skipper
Treasurer & CFO
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$34K (2025)
Mark Miller
Senior Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$210K (2025)
George Kimball
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Doug Kruse (2020–2024) — Vice President for Development
- Former: Todd F Gaziano (2020–2024) — Seperation of Powers
- Former: Deborah LaFetra (2024) — Senior Attorney
- Former: Lawrance Salzman (2024) — Secretary
- Former: James L Cloud (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Len Frank (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jerry WP Schauffler (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Leonard S. Frank (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Alexander F. Cohen (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Donald Joe Willis (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $673K, to Steven Anderson (President & CEO). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Pacific Legal Foundation
How much does Pacific Legal Foundation give each year?
Pacific Legal Foundation gave $145K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $40K across 2 grants.
What is Pacific Legal Foundation's typical grant size?
Pacific Legal Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,111, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Pacific Legal Foundation give grants?
Pacific Legal Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Louisiana (10%) and Nebraska (10%).
Does Pacific Legal Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Pacific Legal Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (9 grants).
Who are Pacific Legal Foundation's largest grantees?
Pacific Legal Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Talent Market ($25,000), Pelican Institute for Public Policy ($15,000) and Platte Insitute for Economic Research ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pacific Legal Foundation?
Pacific Legal Foundation reported $118.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.6M.
What is Pacific Legal Foundation?
Pacific Legal Foundation is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Sacramento, CA. It holds $118.9M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Pacific Legal Foundation's EIN?
Pacific Legal Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2197343. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Pacific Legal Foundation funds
Crime & Legal Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pacific Legal Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
State Policy Network
Arlington, VA
State Policy Network funds state think tanks and affiliated organizations for policy research, education, issue campaigns, and policy opportunities across the states. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $166,625, with a median of $52,500; grants are based on reviewed proposals, but the profile does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$24.6M
Grants
46
Total Given
$3.2M
The Roe Foundation
Greenville, SC
The Roe Foundation supports nonprofit educational institutions that promote understanding of human and economic freedom within a moral framework. Its recent giving has ranged from $312,000 across nine grants to $600,000 in one grant, with reported 2025 funding going to Ohio; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$600K
Charles Koch Institute
Arlington, VA
The Charles Koch Institute funds educational programs and dialogue focused on individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and related principles, including classroom education for people affiliated with grantee organizations. Recent filings show grants ranging from about $386,000 to $769,000 total per year, but do not specify typical award sizes or geographic limits. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$445.9M
Grants
1
Total Given
$386K
Atlas Economic Research Foundation
Arlington, VA
Atlas Network funds independent think tanks and nonprofit partners working on individual freedom, free-market policy, public advocacy, education, and organizational capacity, with grants reported worldwide. Its 2025 grants ranged from $9,462 to $409,000, with a median of $31,000. It accepts applications through competitive grant programs; some are limited to Atlas Network partners, while organizational-capacity grants are open to non-partners too.
Assets
$18.6M
Grants
40
Total Given
$2.0M
R Street Institute
Washington, DC
The R Street Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-policy research organization ("think tank"). Our mission is to engage in policy research and outreach to promote free markets and limited, effective government.
Assets
$8.9M
Grants
3
Total Given
$285K
Adolph Coors Foundation
Denver, CO
The Adolph Coors Foundation funds youth development, adult job training and economic opportunity, and public policy aligned with self-reliance and personal responsibility, primarily in Colorado, with special consideration for rural areas; it considers out-of-state requests in public policy. Its 2025 grants ranged from $4,500 to $500,000, with a median of $40,000; it does not accept letters of inquiry, but uses an online application process.
Assets
$204.0M
Grants
128
Total Given
$10.3M
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 Pacific Legal 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.
Pacific Legal Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?