Pfaffinger Foundation
Pfaffinger Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. It supports eligible employees and retirees of companies formerly affiliated with The Times Mirror Company through its Individual Grants program, and awards community grants to nonprofits serving the Los Angeles area.
Pfaffinger Foundation at a glance
In short: Pfaffinger Foundation gave $3.3M across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $99K), mostly in California. 3% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,255,187
- +12.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- -10.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $98,642
- +26.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $91,345,232
- +2.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (100% 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 Pfaffinger Foundation
- How to Apply
Community-grant applicants submit an online application with proof of 501(c)(3) status, the preceding year’s Form 990, a W-9, audited financial statements from the preceding year, a summary of the organization’s…
Community-grant applicants submit an online application with proof of 501(c)(3) status, the preceding year’s Form 990, a W-9, audited financial statements from the preceding year, a summary of the organization’s mission and programs, and a current-year budget. For Individual Grants, applicants must verify eligibility and submit an application with required documents. The Foundation assists employees and retirees of eligible former Times Mirror companies through that program.
- Review Cycle
- The community-grant page lists an application period of May 1 through June 30, with decisions communicated in late October. The FAQ lists applications as accepted from May 1 through July 31.
- Deadline
- The community-grant page lists an application period of May 1 through June 30, with decisions communicated in late…
- Contact
Application contact: Pfaffinger Foundation Attn Sally Me
Mailing address: 420 East Third Street Suite 1010, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone: (213) 680-7460
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Pfaffinger Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Individual Assistance-Miscellaneous ($644K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
188 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 145 grants of 188 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Community grants support Los Angeles-area nonprofits. The Foundation’s Individual Grants program serves eligible employees and retirees connected to former Times Mirror companies, including people associated with newspaper companies and subsidiaries listed on its eligibility page.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Pfaffinger Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 31 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $93K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 124% 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 $2.7M (2020) to $3.3M (2021). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Assistance-Miscellaneous Los Angeles, CA | Miscellaneous Living Expenses | $643,975 |
| Individual Assistance-Discretionary Los Angeles, CA | Assistance for Essential Needs | $407,209 |
| Individual Assistance-Nursing Servi Los Angeles, CA | Nursing Service Expenses | $383,651 |
| Individual Assistance-Doctors and M Los Angeles, CA | Doctors and Miscellaneous Medical Expenses | $305,928 |
| Individual Assistance-Recurring Mon Los Angeles, CA | Retirees Monthly Assistance | $178,088 |
| Individual Assistance-Retirement Fa Los Angeles, CA | Rest and Convalescent Home Expenses | $173,590 |
| Individual Assistance-Funerals Los Angeles, CA | Funeral Expenses | $111,342 |
| Family Self Sufficiency Program Los Angeles, CA | Miscellaneous Living Expenses | $94,888 |
| Individual Assistance-Holiday Gifts Los Angeles, CA | Holiday Gifts | $44,000 |
| All Peoples Community Center Los Angeles, CA | General Operating 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 | $91,345,232 | $7,656,859 | $5,521,692 | $3,255,187 | 33 | $4,879,577 | $7,390,647 | $3,943,973 |
| 2023 | $89,100,108 | $3,998,977 | $4,509,182 | $2,893,406 | 37 | $3,725,912 | $3,334,720 | $3,720,629 |
| 2022 | $82,664,304 | $3,659,314 | $4,760,112 | $2,936,882 | 45 | $4,065,478 | $2,871,628 | $4,173,660 |
| 2021 | $97,909,650 | $8,515,412 | $5,206,906 | $3,257,145 | 43 | $4,543,747 | $8,075,462 | $4,409,505 |
| 2020 | $89,342,330 | $3,079,418 | $4,628,499 | $2,748,066 | 30 | — | $2,317,713 | $3,892,703 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pfaffinger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated purpose includes assisting needy employees and former employees of Times Mirror companies. Its Individual Grants program provides eligible employees and retirees with help for medical care, prescriptions, health insurance premiums, short-term rent or utility bills, and funeral expenses for immediate family members before a funeral. The Foundation also provides case management and may connect clients to services such as job training, housing resources, financial education, credit counseling, and food assistance.
For community grants, the Foundation describes its focus as case management, job training, safety-net services, financial education, and programs serving older adults. It awards general operating support to local nonprofits working to enhance self-sufficiency. Its stated priorities include organizations offering professional case management, job training, services that support older adults’ independent living, safety and wellbeing, and dedicated self-sufficiency or financial-literacy programs.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. St. Joseph Center describes its work as helping working-poor families and people experiencing homelessness become stable and self-supporting. JVS SoCal says it provides job training, mentoring, education, career guidance, and employer partnerships. OneGeneration describes work enriching the lives of seniors, children, and families, including services for vulnerable and impoverished seniors. Chrysalis says it supports people facing barriers to employment through job readiness, supportive services, and transitional employment. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 33 grants totaling $3,255,187. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $643,975, with a median of $40,000. Its community-grant page lists awards of $10,000 to $30,000; the 2024 filing’s overall grant figures also include substantial individual assistance.
Among the largest reported 2024 awards were $643,975 for miscellaneous living expenses, $407,209 for essential needs, $383,651 for nursing services, and $305,928 for doctors’ and miscellaneous medical expenses. The filing also lists $40,000 each for general operating support to All Peoples Community Center, Chrysalis Center, and Coalition for Responsible Community Development. Other 2024 nonprofit grantees receiving $40,000 each included St. Joseph Center, JVS SoCal, OneGeneration, Upward Bound House, Homeboy Industries, and Wise and Healthy Aging.
Community-grant applicants must be federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing and provide services within the Foundation’s focus areas in the Los Angeles area. The Foundation lists capital projects, medical institutions, education institutions or scholarships, housing developments, and organizations outside its priority focus areas among those it does not fund. Applications are submitted through its online grant portal and reviewed by staff, a board committee, and the full Board of Directors.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sally Melvin-Pick as President & CEO, Roger W. Smith as Chair of the Board, Kristal Miranda as Chief Financial Officer, and Mike Udovic as Director.
Pfaffinger Foundation is led by Sally Melvin-Pick, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sally Melvin-Pick
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$170K (2020) → $244K (2024)
Roger W. Smith
Chair of the Board
Chair of Policy & Program → Chair of the Board, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Udovic
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristal Miranda
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
22.5 hrs/week
$108K (2020) → $102K (2024)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Howard G. Weinstein (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Janet Clayton (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Karlene W. Goller (2020–2023) — Chair of Policy & Program
- Former: Stephen C. Meier (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Steven J. Cobb (2020–2023) — Chair of the Audit Committee
- Former: Susan E. Reardon (2020–2023) — Chair of Contributions
- Former: Alison Sowden (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Lois G. Ingham (2020–2021) — Director
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 $244K, to Sally Melvin-Pick (President & CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Pfaffinger Foundation
How much does Pfaffinger Foundation give each year?
Pfaffinger Foundation gave $3.3M across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 37 grants.
What is Pfaffinger Foundation's typical grant size?
Pfaffinger Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $98,642, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pfaffinger Foundation that year got $40K on average.
Where does Pfaffinger Foundation give grants?
Pfaffinger Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (22 grants), Santa Monica, CA (3 grants) and Long Beach, CA (2 grants).
Does Pfaffinger Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 70% of Pfaffinger Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Pfaffinger Foundation's largest grantees?
Pfaffinger Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Individual Assistance-Miscellaneous ($643,975), Individual Assistance-Discretionary ($407,209) and Individual Assistance-Nursing Servi ($383,651), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Pfaffinger Foundation?
Pfaffinger Foundation reported $91.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Pfaffinger Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose includes assisting needy employees and former employees of Times Mirror companies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pfaffinger Foundation?
Community-grant applicants submit an online application with proof of 501(c)(3) status, the preceding year’s Form 990, a W-9, audited financial statements from the preceding year, a summary of the organization’s… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Pfaffinger Foundation's EIN?
Pfaffinger Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-1661675. 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 September 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). Pfaffinger Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pfaffinger-foundation-morg_88ad06a4bfaa4a08a804b144a51e7259
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_951661675_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Pfaffinger Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/pfaffinger-foundation-morg_88ad06a4bfaa4a08a804b144a51e7259},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Pfaffinger 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.
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