The Richard C Seaver Charitable Trust 12-28-78 is a private family foundation established on December 28, 1978, and granted tax-exempt status in June 2007. Located in Los Angeles, California, the trust is a 501(c)(3) organization classified as a private independent foundation. Named for Richard Carlton Seaver (1922-2007), a prominent Los Angeles attorney and oil field equipment executive, the trust continues his family's philanthropic legacy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.6M
+59.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+2.1% YoY
Grant Count
43
+10.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
-7.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust focuses on arts and education grantmaking across the United States. Richard Carlton Seaver held significant leadership roles in cultural and educational institutions, including service as vice chairman of the board of directors of the Seaver Institute, trustee at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, trustee at Pomona College, trustee at California Institute of the Arts, and board director and president of the Los Angeles Music Center Opera Association. These affiliations reflect the trust's commitment to supporting arts and educational institutions.
Grantmaking
The trust has awarded a cumulative total of 39 grants. Annual giving amounts to approximately $1.3 million to $1.41 million. The trust operates with no public application process; grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees. Specific grant sizes are not publicly disclosed.
Grant Range
s are not publicly disclosed.
How to Apply
; grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees. Specific grant sizes are not publicly disclosed.
Ready to take the next step with Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust maintains a national geographic focus with particular emphasis on Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $28.6 million (2024)
Annual Giving: $1.3 million to $1.41 million
Revenue: $1.45 million (2023)
Expenses: $1.41 million (2023)
Total Assets: $18 million (2023)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,585,600 | $17,961,391 | $17,898,329 |
| Revenue | $12,118,563 | $1,451,078 | $850,857 |
| Expenses | $1,513,859 | $1,410,510 | $1,780,841 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,334,500 | $1,300,000 | $1,632,925 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,960,905 | $1,340,668 | $734,618 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,279,228 | $1,293,960 | $1,326,850 |
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
217 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Uscs Foundation ($256,000), University of Houston ($150,000), Geffen School of Drama Yale University ($115,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARCADIA PUBLIC LIBRARY ARCADIA, CA | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D NEW YORK, NY | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $2,500 |
| CALIFORNIA ART CLUB PASADENA, CA | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $54,000 |
| CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | RECREATION | $2,500 |
| CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY LONG BEACH, CA | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| CEDARS SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| COMMUNITY ARTS & EMPOWERMENT WATSONVILLE, CA | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| CONVALESCENT AID SOCIETY PASADENA, CA | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| DELTA COLLEGE STOCKTON, CA | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trust is managed by Richard Carlton Seaver's five children, who serve as trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VICTORIA S DEAN | Trustee | — | — |
| R CARLTON SEAVER | Trustee | — | — |
| PATRICK T SEAVER | Trustee | — | — |
| CHRISTOPHER SEAVER | Trustee | — | — |
| MARTHA SEAVER | Trustee | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 12400 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1240, Los Angeles, CA 90025-1058
Phone: 310-979-0298
Website: None
The trust does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust fund?
The trust focuses on arts and education grantmaking across the United States. Richard Carlton Seaver held significant leadership roles in cultural and educational institutions, including service as vice chairman of the board of directors of the Seaver Institute, trustee at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, trustee at Pomona College, trustee at California Institute of the Arts, and board director and president of the Los Angeles Music Center Opera Association. These affiliations …
How do I apply for a grant from Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust?
The trust has awarded a cumulative total of 39 grants. Annual giving amounts to approximately $1.3 million to $1.41 million. The trust operates with no public application process; grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees. Specific grant sizes are not publicly disclosed.
Where does Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust make grants?
The trust maintains a national geographic focus with particular emphasis on Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
What size grants does Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust award?
In 2024, Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust awarded 43 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $31K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust's EIN?
Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3311102. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Richard C Seaver 1978 Trust'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 C Seaver 1978 Trust 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 C Seaver 1978 Trust to a real strategy.