Persian Heritage Foundation
The Persian Heritage Foundation (PHF) is a U.S.-registered, non-political, non-governmental charitable organization and private foundation based in Fresno, California. Originally established in 1983 as The Yarshater Fund through the efforts of Professor Ehsan Yarshater, the foundation supports and promotes research, appreciation, and academic studies of all aspects of Persianate culture from ancient times to the present.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.4M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$226K
-97.5% YoY
Grant Count
29
+93.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-98.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Persian Heritage Foundation reported a distributable amount of $759K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
PHF aims to support and promote research on all aspects of the Persianate world. The foundation engages in a variety of activities including:
- Grants and Fellowships: Awards for academic and arts projects
- Publications: Support for publication of monographs and collaborative academic works, including the History of Persian Literature series, the Persian Heritage Series (translations of Persian classics into major Western languages), the Persian Studies Series (monographs on scholarly subjects), and the Persian Art Series
- Book Awards: Sponsorship of awards for monographs of outstanding merit in Iranian Studies, nominated and selected through academic organizations such as the Association for Iranian Studies and Societas Iranologica Europaea
- Lecture Series and Academic Programs: Funding for invited lectures, postdoctoral fellowships, and other professional activities at academic institutions, including the Yarshater Lecture Series
- Seminars and Conferences: Limited funding for academic gatherings
Primary funding focus areas include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Arts, Culture & Humanities.
Grantmaking
PHF awards grants for a variety of academic research and activities. Based on recent filings:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds activities in California, though it supports academic institutions and programs nationally and internationally. Notable institutional partnerships include universities such as UCLA, the University of Maryland, and the London University School of Oriental and African Studies.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total assets: $10,447,113
- Total revenues: $953,345
- Total expenses: $720,534
- Number of employees: 0
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $10,200,000
- Total revenues: $1,840,000
- Total expenses: $9,740,000
The foundation is classified as a 501(c)(3) private foundation and has been tax-exempt since June 1984.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,447,113 | $10,230,976 | $18,280,334 |
| Revenue | $953,345 | $1,835,220 | $-331,375 |
| Expenses | $720,534 | $9,742,921 | $2,724,063 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $599,404 | $9,629,120 | $2,637,093 |
| Net Investment Income | $830,232 | $1,720,974 | $6,518 |
| Distributable Amount | $759,282 | $891,754 | $11,827,074 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Murphy Pearson ($51,364), Ali Sadr ($17,000), Ey Ly Lectureship ($11,060).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GRADUATE CENTER FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| JOHN BENSON FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF IRANI FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| YALE UNIVERSITY FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,000 |
| LEUVEN UNIVERSITY FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,758 |
| DENISE AIGLE FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,247 |
| MURPHY PEARSON FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $51,364 |
| CAMERON CROSS FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $4,000 |
| EY LY LECTURESHIP FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $11,060 |
| ALI SADR FRESNO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $17,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR ELTON DANIEL | BOARD MEMBER | 20 | $33,334 |
| DR RUDY MATTHEE | BOARD MEMBER | 20 | $33,333 |
| DR ALI GHEISSARI | BOARD MEMBER | 20 | $33,333 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation provided $11 million in funding to establish the Yarshater Center for the Study of Iranian Literary Traditions at UCLA, supporting long-term research and academic programming in Iranian literary studies.
The Saidi-Sirjani Book Award | Association for Iranian Studies (AIS)The foundation was a major funder of the Columbia Center for Iranian Studies (subsequently the Yarshater Center) until its closure.
The Saidi-Sirjani Book Award | Association for Iranian Studies (AIS)Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Persian Heritage Foundation fund?
PHF aims to support and promote research on all aspects of the Persianate world. The foundation engages in a variety of activities including: • **Grants and Fellowships**: Awards for academic and arts projects • **Publications**: Support for publication of monographs and collaborative academic works, including the History of Persian Literature series, the Persian Heritage Series (translations of Persian classics into major Western languages), the Persian Studies Series (monographs on scholarly …
How do I apply for a grant from Persian Heritage Foundation?
PHF awards grants for a variety of academic research and activities. Based on recent filings: • **Total giving (2025)**: $226,248 • **Number of grants (2025)**: 15 grants • **Typical award range**: $1,000–$9,000,000 • **Recent grantees** (2025) include: • Regents of the University of California / University of California ($5,000) • Iranian Culture and Art Club of Fresno ($5,000) • Persian Cultural Center ($3,000) The foundation is open to applications for lecture series at prestigious universit…
Where does Persian Heritage Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds activities in California, though it supports academic institutions and programs nationally and internationally. Notable institutional partnerships include universities such as UCLA, the University of Maryland, and the London University School of Oriental and African Studies.
What size grants does Persian Heritage Foundation award?
In 2025, Persian Heritage Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $226K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Persian Heritage Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Persian Heritage Foundation reported a distributable amount of $759K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Persian Heritage Foundation's EIN?
Persian Heritage Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3201819. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Persian Heritage 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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