Richard and Ellen Sandler Family
The Richard and Ellen Sandler Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2000 and based in Santa Monica, California. The foundation operates as a nonprofit public benefit corporation and engages in general public benefit grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32K
-3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$121K
-69.2% YoY
Grant Count
7
-69.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+1.1% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking reflects support across multiple areas including Jewish causes, education, health, arts and culture, and general public benefit organizations. Recent grants have supported organizations focused on prostate cancer research, educational institutions, performing arts, and Jewish community organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept applications.
Grant Range
s range from $200 to $100,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Richard and Ellen Sandler Family?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania. Primary funding activity concentrates in California, with notable support for organizations in Los Angeles, Berkeley, and Beverly Hills, as well as organizations in Denver and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 (Most Recent):
- Total Assets: $32,498
- Total Revenues: $125,010
- Total Expenses: $126,193
- Total Grants/Contributions: $125,000
- Investment Income: $10
2023:
- Total Assets: $241,000
- Total Revenues: $205,000
- Total Distributions: $202,000
Historical Trend:
- 2022: Assets $87,000; Total Giving $663,000
- 2021: Assets $304,000; Total Giving $680,000
- 2020: Assets $523,000; Total Giving $649,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,498 | $33,681 | $240,746 |
| Revenue | $125,010 | $195,951 | $369,134 |
| Expenses | $126,193 | $403,016 | $215,765 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $125,905 | $401,372 | $210,591 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $8,104 | $102,100 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,799 | $3,890 | $2,680 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Federations of North America ($100,000), Sinai Temple ($9,305), Friends of Elnet ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT | $1,500 |
| FRIENDS OF ELNET LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT | $5,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT | $100,000 |
| SINAI TEMPLE SHERMAN OAKS, CA | GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT | $9,305 |
| THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT | $2,500 |
| JEWISH FUNDERS NETWORK NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT | $1,200 |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Richard Sandler – President and Chief Executive Officer
- Ellen Sandler – Secretary, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer
Both serve in unpaid positions. Richard V. Sandler serves as the registered agent for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD SANDLER | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| ELLEN SANDLER | SECRETARY | — | — |
| ELLEN SANDLER | TREASURER | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1250 4th Street, 5th Floor Santa Monica, CA 90401
Telephone: 310-570-4903
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Richard and Ellen Sandler Family fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking reflects support across multiple areas including Jewish causes, education, health, arts and culture, and general public benefit organizations. Recent grants have supported organizations focused on prostate cancer research, educational institutions, performing arts, and Jewish community organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Richard and Ellen Sandler Family?
**Grant Activity & Patterns:** • Made 23 grants in 2024 with total distributions of $391,000 • Made 24 grants in 2023 with total distributions of $202,000 • Grant sizes range from $200 to $100,000 • Median grant size: $9,000 (2024) **Recent Grant Recipients (2024):** • The Jewish Federations of North America: $100,000 • American Jewish Committee: $1,500 • Jewish Funders Network: $1,200 **Notable Recipients (2023):** • Prostate Cancer Foundation: $100,000 • Milken Community High School: $55,000 …
Where does Richard and Ellen Sandler Family make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania. Primary funding activity concentrates in California, with notable support for organizations in Los Angeles, Berkeley, and Beverly Hills, as well as organizations in Denver and New York.
What size grants does Richard and Ellen Sandler Family award?
In 2024, Richard and Ellen Sandler Family awarded 7 grants totaling $121K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Richard and Ellen Sandler Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Richard and Ellen Sandler Family reported a distributable amount of $2K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Richard and Ellen Sandler Family's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Richard and Ellen Sandler Family on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Richard and Ellen Sandler Family to a real strategy.