Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation
The Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1987 by Ric and Suzanne Kayne, it supports education, arts, and social service nonprofit organizations, with activities focused on Los Angeles and Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation at a glance
In short: Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation gave $2.9M across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $66K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,883,871
- +39.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- +193.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $65,543
- -52.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $13,339,590
- +2.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. It encourages prospective grantees to learn from and engage with grantees featured on its website.
- Contact
Mailing address: 11620 Wilshire Blvd 350, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: (310) 282-7913
Website: https://kaynefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Combat Hate Foundation ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 88 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as place-based, with activities focused in Los Angeles County and Aotearoa (New Zealand). In 2024, 79% of its grant dollars went to recipients in California, 17% to Kansas, 2% each to Massachusetts and New York, and less than 1% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
Cities
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 grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $1.2M (2021) to $2.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation?
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 | $13,339,590 | $2,737,407 | $3,475,736 | $2,883,871 | 44 | $3,161,622 | $426,110 | $1,144,558 |
| 2023 | $13,029,662 | $2,586,828 | $1,344,220 | $2,065,124 | 15 | $2,188,274 | $1,463,585 | $605,016 |
| 2022 | $12,372,737 | $4,091,891 | $2,634,825 | $1,790,298 | 5 | $1,982,215 | $1,154,315 | $498,253 |
| 2021 | $9,812,343 | $1,390,396 | $1,844,184 | $1,246,054 | 7 | $1,712,007 | $160,416 | $418,586 |
| 2020 | $8,430,794 | $576,565 | $2,769,332 | $2,380,810 | 17 | — | $396,941 | $522,655 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation prioritizes education, economic mobility, arts, and other mission-aligned initiatives. Its education work includes increasing access to postsecondary and employment opportunities that can lead to career advancement and financial independence. Its economic mobility work emphasizes inclusion, self-determination, and multi-generational wealth building. The foundation also invests in creative people and spaces, and describes a leaders investment strategy intended to recognize and support community leaders.
Its grants include support for organizations working in education, youth opportunity, arts and culture, mental health, housing, and community initiatives. For example, Ready to Succeed describes its work as helping foster youth in college prepare for careers through advising, professional networks, and paid internships. Camino Nuevo Charter Academy says it provides a college-preparatory education centered on critical thinking and social justice. KCRW Foundation describes its work as delivering NPR and local news, music, and culture to communities. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 44 grants totaling $2,883,871. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $25,000. Among its largest grants were:
The foundation describes Kayne Opportunity Fund as an initiative focused on youth who are not in education, employment, or training, with investments intended to support postsecondary participation, career opportunities, and community health. Kayne Scholars is a scholarship program for first-generation college students pursuing degrees in the California State University or University of California systems and careers in STEM or business-related fields.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Suzanne L. Kayne as CEO/President; Richard A. Kayne as Director; Saree Kayne as CFO/Secretary; Jennifer Kayne-Ehrlich and Maggie Kayne as Directors; and Sarah Ali as Managing Director.
Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation is led by Suzanne L. Kayne, CEO & President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Suzanne L. Kayne
CEO & President
President → CEO & President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Ali
Managing Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$203K (2023) → $311K (2024)
Jennifer Kayne-Ehrlich
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maggie Kayne
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard A. Kayne
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Saree Kayne
CFO & Secretary
Treasury & Secretary → CFO & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $311K, to Sarah Ali (Managing Director).
Frequently asked questions about Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation
How much does Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation give each year?
Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation gave $2.9M across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 15 grants.
What is Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation's typical grant size?
Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $65,543, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation give grants?
Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation gives mostly in California: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was 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).
Does Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF 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).
Who are Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation's largest grantees?
Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Combat Hate Foundation ($500,000), Ready to Succeed ($461,160) and Steinberg Institute ($300,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation?
Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation reported $13.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation fund?
The foundation prioritizes education, economic mobility, arts, and other mission-aligned initiatives. Its education work includes increasing access to postsecondary and employment opportunities that can lead to career advancement and financial independence. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 ↑
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). Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ric-and-suzanne-kayne-foundation-morg_563eb2f17b314afcacfcbab914879cf7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954124379_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ric \& Suzanne Kayne Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ric-and-suzanne-kayne-foundation-morg_563eb2f17b314afcacfcbab914879cf7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Ric & Suzanne Kayne 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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