The Rady Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2002 by Ernest and Evelyn Rady. Located in San Diego, California, the foundation operates as a highly selective family foundation providing multi-year support to a carefully curated group of grantees. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invitation-only basis.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$81.4M
-4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+34.0% YoY
Grant Count
11
+22.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$358K
+9.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rady Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on health and human services, education, Jewish causes, and arts and culture, primarily in San Diego and Southern California with some national and Canadian grants.
The foundation's grantmaking philosophy is centered on Ernest Rady's "Return on Life (ROL)" approach, which emphasizes helping resources "produce the most benefits for the most people" and creating a "multiplier effect" through strategic investments in organizations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $400,000 to $1,000,000, with larger gifts available for naming opportunities
Average Grant
** $358,000
Invitation Only
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grantmaking is by invitation only.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus on San Diego and Southern California, with some national and Canadian grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $81.4 million (2024)
Annual Giving: $3.9 million (2024), representing a 34% increase year-over-year
Total Assets Trend: $81.4 million (2024), $85.5 million (2023), $68.2 million (2022)
Qualifying Distributions: $4.1 million (2024)
Net Investment Income: $2.4 million (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $81,370,040 | $85,519,700 | $68,205,605 |
| Revenue | $-478,142 | $20,129,624 | $10,201,151 |
| Expenses | $4,145,749 | $3,153,354 | $2,808,353 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,117,769 | $3,116,553 | $2,709,370 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,365,061 | $1,987,823 | $2,596,048 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,701,700 | $2,505,868 | $2,449,685 |
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
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Diego Symphony ($1,610,000), Jewish Federation- SD ($1,000,000), Jewish Family Service ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation- SD San Diego, CA | General Endowment | $1,000,000 |
| San Diego Symphony San Diego, CA | General Endowment | $1,610,000 |
| Jewish Family Service San Diego, CA | General Endowment | $1,000,000 |
| Nice Guys Inc San Diego, CA | General Endowment | $2,500 |
| Feeding San Diego San Diego, CA | General Endowment | $5,000 |
| Friends of the IDF New York, NY | General Endowment | $15,000 |
| UCSD Sullivan Center La Jolla, CA | General Endowment | $200,000 |
| San Diego Air Space Museum San Diego, CA | General Endowment | $100 |
| American Friends of Shamir Medical Brooklyn, NY | General Endowment | $100,000 |
| Congregation Beth Israel San Diego, CA | Hunger Project | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ernest Rady — Co-founder. Born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1937. Investor and entrepreneur who founded American Assets Trust, a financial services and real estate firm, and formerly chaired Insurance Company of the West. Signatory to the Giving Pledge in 2018.
Evelyn Rady — Co-founder. Former social worker who held senior positions at Jewish Family Service. Signatory to the Giving Pledge in 2018.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest S Rady | Trustee | 10 | — |
| Min Zheng | CFO | — | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Since signing the Giving Pledge in 2018, Ernest and Evelyn Rady have significantly increased their philanthropic giving, with total contributions to causes exceeding $400 million.
Return on Life: Evelyn and Ernest Rady Commit $100 million to Support RadyContact Information
Address: 3430 Carmel Mountain Rd., Ste. 150, San Diego, CA 92121-1078
Phone: (858) 345-1463
EIN: 85-0715670
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3), tax-exempt since May 2020
Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not provide contact methods for grant inquiries.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rady Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on health and human services, education, Jewish causes, and arts and culture, primarily in San Diego and Southern California with some national and Canadian grants. The foundation's grantmaking philosophy is centered on Ernest Rady's "Return on Life (ROL)" approach, which emphasizes helping resources "produce the most benefits for the most people" and creating a "multiplier effect" through strategic investments in organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Rady Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $400,000 to $1,000,000, with larger gifts available for naming opportunities **Annual Giving:** $3.9 million (2024) **Grant Count:** 11 grants in 2024 **Average Grant Size:** $358,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grantmaking is by invitation only. **Decision Timeline:** Not applicable due to invitation-only model
Where does Rady Foundation make grants?
Primary focus on San Diego and Southern California, with some national and Canadian grants.
What size grants does Rady Foundation award?
In 2024, Rady Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $3.9M — an average of about $358K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Rady Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rady Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Rady Foundation's EIN?
Rady Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-0715670. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rady 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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