Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation
Richard and Ruth Lavine is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including community services, health, education, hunger relief, the arts, and democracy and justice.
Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation gave $234K across 38 grants in 2026 (avg $6K), mostly in California. 14% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $234,200
- +5.6% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 38
- +2.7% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $6,163
- +2.9% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $6,027,330
- -1.6% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (5 of 37, 2026)
- Primary geography
- California (91% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 315 Conway Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310) 446-4820
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was California Community Foundation ($25K). Together the top 10 received $115K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($34,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
178 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 178 grants of 178 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. The remaining shares went to recipients in New York (2%), Washington, DC (2%), Colorado (1%), and New Jersey (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 5 of 37 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 86% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 53% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $153K (2023) to $256K (2021). In 2026 it made 38 grants totaling $234K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $34,000 |
| California Community Foundation Los Angeles, CA | To find comprehensive solutions to address vital issues concerning life in la. | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Health - general unrestricted annual support of planned parenthood los angeles. | $20,000 |
| Anti Defamation League Los Angeles, CA | To learn more about our history and to protect democracy. | $10,000 |
| Habitat LA Bellflower, CA | To bring people together to build homes, communities and hope. | $10,000 |
| La Philharmonic Association Los Angeles, CA | Arts - support of annual fund for musical performances and education. | $10,000 |
| Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Los Angeles, CA | To mobilize resouces in the community to alleviate hunger. | $10,000 |
| St Josephs Center Venice, CA | Community service - general support to provide resources to indigent and homeless of all ages. | $10,000 |
| UCLA Luskin School Los Angeles, CA | Education - School of Public Affairs-Dean's Innovation Fund. | $10,000 |
| ACLU Foundation Los Angeles, CA | To Defend Fundamental Rights. | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing reports the following grant totals:
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $6,027,330 | $125,185 | $353,534 | $234,200 | 38 | $293,242 | $74,466 | $305,215 |
| 2025 | $6,127,741 | $276,351 | $361,556 | $221,700 | 37 | $289,031 | $192,679 | $306,238 |
| 2024 | $5,732,850 | $1,659,609 | $299,004 | $173,200 | 37 | $249,481 | $155,508 | $255,600 |
| 2023 | $2,610,052 | $147,775 | $279,809 | $152,700 | 34 | $198,453 | $71,419 | $201,051 |
| 2022 | $2,750,388 | $385,163 | $284,262 | $160,450 | 32 | $200,477 | $304,378 | $213,373 |
| 2021 | $2,726,654 | $195,435 | $378,264 | $256,450 | 33 | — | $135,068 | $210,485 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $305K for 2026 — 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 formal mission statement is provided in the available information. Grant purposes and grantee descriptions show support for a range of activities. For example, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles describes its mission as providing reproductive health care and sexual health information; the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank says it mobilizes resources to fight hunger; and the California Community Foundation says it works with communities to build a good life. St. Joseph’s Center describes its work as providing rehabilitation and developmental services.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 37 grants totaling $221,700 in 2025. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000. Recent grantmaking was: Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 38 grants totaling $234,200.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $25,000 to the California Community Foundation; $20,000 each to Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and USC Gould School of Law; and $15,000 to St. Joseph’s Center. Other grants included $10,000 each to the Anti-Defamation League, LA Fire Foundation, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, LA Philharmonic Association, and UCLA Luskin School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Leonard Unger as secretary, treasurer, and director; Catherine L. Unger as president and director; and Laura Dudley, Daniel Unger, Jack Dudley, Emma Dudley, Nathan Dudley, and Dylan Unger as directors.
Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation is led by Catherine L. Unger, President & Director since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 6 of 8 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Catherine L. Unger
President & Director
Vice President & Director → President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$15K (2021) → $0 (2026)
Daniel Unger
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2026)
Jack Dudley
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$10K (2021) → $10K (2026)
Laura Dudley
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2026)
Leonard Unger
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$15K (2021) → $0 (2026)
Emma Dudley
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$10K (2023) → $10K (2026)
Dylan Unger
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$10K (2024) → $10K (2026)
Nathan Dudley
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$10K (2024) → $10K (2026)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ruth J. Lavine (2021–2024) — President, Director & Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $20K, to Laura Dudley (Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation
How much does Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation give each year?
Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation gave $234K across 38 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $222K across 37 grants.
What is Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,163, across 38 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation give grants?
Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (24 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Boulder, CO (2 grants).
Does Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 24% of Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include California Community Foundation ($25,000), Planned Parenthood Los Angeles ($20,000) and Anti Defamation League ($10,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($34,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation?
Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $293K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $305K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation fund?
No formal mission statement is provided in the available information. Grant purposes and grantee descriptions show support for a range of activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Ruth Lavine Family Foundation's EIN?
Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4300271. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Does Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 31, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/richard-and-ruth-lavine-family-foundation-morg_83bff49f8abd41c083719f248d4bdd3e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954300271_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Richard and Ruth Lavine Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/richard-and-ruth-lavine-family-foundation-morg_83bff49f8abd41c083719f248d4bdd3e},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-02. 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 Richard and Ruth Lavine Family 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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