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.
Key facts about Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation
- EIN
- 95-4124379
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,883,871
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- Average grant
- $65,543
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $13,339,590
- Primary geography
- California (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation's 44 itemized 2024 grants were California (79%) and Kansas (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (20 grants), Santa Monica, CA (5 grants), San Pedro, CA (2 grants) and New York City, NY (2 grants). None of its 44 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Kayne Opportunity Fund" (19 grants), "Annual Discretionary Giving" (14 grants) and "RMZ Community Giving Program" (7 grants).
How Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation gives
- 11% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 131% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 276% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation
- How to evaluate Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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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
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
**
Ready to take the next step with Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation?
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
Share of all 44 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 recipients include Combat Hate Foundation ($500,000), Ready to Succeed ($461,160), Steinberg Institute ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COMBAT HATE FOUNDATION Moundridge, KS | ANNUAL DISCRETIONARY GIVING | $500,000 |
| READY TO SUCCEED Santa Monica, CA | KAYNE SCHOLARS RECRUITING AFFILIATES | $461,160 |
| STEINBERG INSTITUTE Sacramento, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $300,000 |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GRANTMAKERS Los Angeles, CA | ANNUAL DONATION | $205,500 |
| KCRW FOUNDATION INC Santa Monica, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $153,611 |
| LA-TECHORG Los Angeles, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $129,250 |
| 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 |
| IMAGINE LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $100,000 |
| THE MAYOR'S FUND FOR LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CA | KAYNE OPPORTUNITY FUND | $100,000 |
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 IRS 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?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.