Richard and Ellen Sandler Family
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family is a private foundation based in Santa Monica, California. Its 2024 filing lists seven grants totaling $120,505, each designated for general public benefit.
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family at a glance
In short: Richard and Ellen Sandler Family gave $121K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $120,505
- -69.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- -69.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,215
- +1.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $32,498
- -3.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (86% 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 Richard and Ellen Sandler Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1250 4Th St 5Th Fl, Santa Monica, CA 90401-1304
Phone: (310) 570-4903
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Richard and Ellen Sandler Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish Federations of North America ($100K). Together the top 7 received $121K.
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 127 grants of 139 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 12% to recipients in California, and 2% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Richard and Ellen Sandler Family gives
- Giving fell 82% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $121K (2024) to $680K (2020). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $121K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federations of North America New York, NY | General Public Benefit | $100,000 |
| Sinai Temple Sherman Oaks, CA | General Public Benefit | $9,305 |
| Friends of Elnet Los Angeles, CA | General Public Benefit | $5,000 |
| The Washington Institute Washington, DC | General Public Benefit | $2,500 |
| American Jewish Committee New York, NY | General Public Benefit | $1,500 |
| Jewish Funders Network New York, NY | General Public Benefit | $1,200 |
| National Ms Society New York, NY | General Public Benefit | $1,000 |
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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 | $32,498 | $125,010 | $126,193 | $120,505 | 7 | $125,905 | — | $1,799 |
| 2023 | $33,681 | $195,951 | $403,016 | $391,472 | 23 | $401,372 | $8,104 | $3,890 |
| 2022 | $240,746 | $369,134 | $215,765 | $202,166 | 24 | $210,591 | $102,100 | $2,680 |
| 2021 | $87,377 | $463,141 | $679,367 | $662,546 | 44 | $669,334 | $359,668 | $11,306 |
| 2020 | $303,603 | $478,083 | $697,435 | $679,554 | 41 | — | $710,979 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard and Ellen Sandler Family reported a distributable amount of $2K 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
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include support for Jewish community and philanthropic organizations, among other recipients. The American Jewish Committee describes its mission as enhancing the wellbeing of the Jewish people and Israel and advancing human rights and democratic values. Jewish Funders Network says it helps philanthropists maximize the impact of their giving by identifying needs, shaping Jewish responses, and pursuing opportunities rooted in Jewish values. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made seven grants totaling $120,505. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest grants were $100,000 to Jewish Federations of North America, $9,305 to Sinai Temple, and $5,000 to Friends of ELNET. Other 2024 recipients included The Washington Institute ($2,500), American Jewish Committee ($1,500), Jewish Funders Network ($1,200), and National MS Society ($1,000). The filing lists general public benefit as the purpose for each grant.
In 2023, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $391,472; in 2022, it made 24 grants totaling $202,166.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard Sandler as president and Ellen Sandler as secretary and treasurer.
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family is led by Richard Sandler, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard Sandler
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ellen Sandler
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
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.
Frequently asked questions about Richard and Ellen Sandler Family
How much does Richard and Ellen Sandler Family give each year?
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family gave $121K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $391K across 23 grants.
What is Richard and Ellen Sandler Family's typical grant size?
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $17,215, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Richard and Ellen Sandler Family give grants?
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family gives mostly in New York: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants).
Does Richard and Ellen Sandler Family give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Richard and Ellen Sandler Family's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Richard and Ellen Sandler Family's largest grantees?
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish Federations of North America ($100,000), Sinai Temple ($9,305) and Friends of Elnet ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Richard and Ellen Sandler Family?
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family reported $32K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $126K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Richard and Ellen Sandler Family fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include support for Jewish community and philanthropic organizations, among other recipients. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Richard and Ellen Sandler Family?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Richard and Ellen Sandler Family's EIN?
Richard and Ellen Sandler Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4799040. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Richard and Ellen Sandler Family 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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