Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation
The Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation is a private foundation established in 1987 by Ric and Suzanne Kayne to support education, arts, and social service nonprofit organizations. Based in Los Angeles, California, the foundation formalizes the Kayne family's philanthropic efforts and operates with a commitment to meaningful collaboration and community advancement.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.3M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
+39.6% YoY
Grant Count
44
+193.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
-52.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to empowering individuals and communities in Los Angeles by investing in opportunities that foster economic mobility and community well-being. Their philanthropic approach emphasizes thoughtful stewardship to provide people with the tools and resources needed for positive transformation.
Primary focus areas include:
Education & Youth Development: Supporting pathways for advancement, particularly for youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Investments focus on increasing postsecondary participation, expanding career opportunities, and supporting community health.
Economic Empowerment: Advancing economic mobility through scholarship and training programs.
Community Well-Being: Supporting initiatives that strengthen community health and social services.
Arts: Supporting arts organizations and cultural initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 44 grants in its most recent fiscal year, with a median grant size of $25,000 and a range from $100 to $500,000. Total giving in 2024 was approximately $2.8 million.
Grant Range
of $25,000 and a range from $100 to $500,000. Total giving in 2024 was approximately $2.8 million.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Los Angeles, California. The foundation also maintains philanthropic efforts in Aotearoa (New Zealand) alongside its Los Angeles work.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $13,339,590
- Total Revenue: $2,737,407
- Total Expenses: $3,475,736
- Total Giving: $2,883,871
Staffing: The foundation has one full-time employee (Sarah Ali, Managing Director, with compensation of $311,000 in 2024). Board members serve with minimal hours reported.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,339,590 | $13,029,662 | $12,372,737 |
| Revenue | $2,737,407 | $2,586,828 | $4,091,891 |
| Expenses | $3,475,736 | $1,344,220 | $2,634,825 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,161,622 | $2,188,274 | $1,982,215 |
| Net Investment Income | $426,110 | $1,463,585 | $1,154,315 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,144,558 | $605,016 | $498,253 |
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
88 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Combat Hate Foundation ($500,000), Ready to Succeed ($461,160), Steinberg Institute ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE COLLEGE LOS ANGELES, CA | ANNUAL DISCRETIONARY GIVING | $15,000 |
| ALTASEA AT THE PORT LOS ANGELES SAN PEDRO, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN WILD HORSE PRESERVATION CAMPAIGN DAVIS, CA | ANNUAL DISCRETIONARY GIVING | $5,000 |
| BISHOP MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL TORRANCE, CA | RMZ COMMUNITY GIVING PROGRAM | $500 |
| BLACK OWNED AND OPERATED COMMUNITY LAND TRUST INC DBA PLANT CHICA LOS ANGELES, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $30,000 |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH RESEARCH FOUNDATION LONG BEACH, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $125,000 |
| CAMINO NUEVO CHARTER ACADEMY LOS ANGELES, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $120,000 |
| COMBAT HATE FOUNDATION MOUNDRIDGE, KS | ANNUAL DISCRETIONARY GIVING | $500,000 |
| COMMUNITITES IN SCHOOLS LOS ANGELES, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $20,000 |
| DESTINATION CRENSHAW LOS ANGELES, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Staff:
- Suzanne L. Kayne - CEO/President
- Richard A. Kayne - Director (Founder)
- Saree Kayne - CFO/Secretary. Saree is a medical student and cultural anthropologist who earned her doctorate in anthropology from Stanford University in 2020 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago. She also serves on the board of the KCRW Foundation, an NPR affiliate in Los Angeles. She is deeply invested in collaborative efforts to uplift community health and empower young people across Southern California and Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Jennifer Kayne-Ehrlich - Director
- Maggie Kayne - Director
- Sarah Ali - Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer. Sarah is a leader in philanthropy, impact strategy, and education who works across Los Angeles and Aotearoa New Zealand, leading investments in economic empowerment, community well-being, and postsecondary opportunity.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUZANNE L KAYNE | CEO/PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| RICHARD A KAYNE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SAREE KAYNE | CFO/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER KAYNE-EHRLICH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAGGIE KAYNE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARAH ALI | MANAGING DIRECTOR | 40 | $311,133 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to empowering individuals and communities in Los Angeles by investing in opportunities that foster economic mobility and community well-being. Their philanthropic approach emphasizes thoughtful stewardship to provide people with the tools and resources needed for positive transformation. Primary focus areas include: • **Education & Youth Development**: Supporting pathways for advancement, particularly for youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Invest…
How do I apply for a grant from Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 44 grants in its most recent fiscal year, with a median grant size of $25,000 and a range from $100 to $500,000. Total giving in 2024 was approximately $2.8 million. **Notable Grantees & Initiatives:** • **Kayne Scholars**: A scholarship program dedicated to advancing first-generation college students to graduate from California State University or University of California system, with focus on STEM or business-related fields. • **Kayne Opportunity Fund**…
Where does Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Los Angeles, California. The foundation also maintains philanthropic efforts in Aotearoa (New Zealand) alongside its Los Angeles work.
What size grants does Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation award?
In 2024, Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $66K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation's EIN?
Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4124379. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ric & Suzanne Kayne 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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