Service Station Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Also known as the Chernin Family Foundation, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since May 2001. The foundation is classified as a grantmaking foundation focused on charitable purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.5M
-50.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.6M
+106.4% YoY
Grant Count
12
-14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$383K
+140.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Service Station Foundation reported a distributable amount of $101K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds charitable purposes across multiple sectors including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services. Its giving priorities extend across California, New York, and Massachusetts.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, New York, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary
- Total Assets: $2,483,048
- Total Revenue: $3,692,128
- Total Expenses: $4,676,403
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation's expenses exceeded revenues in 2024, reflecting active grant distribution activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,483,048 | $4,997,848 | $583,339 |
| Revenue | $3,692,128 | $7,941,676 | $-49,345 |
| Expenses | $4,676,403 | $2,246,324 | $1,676,142 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,591,665 | $2,224,369 | $1,658,065 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,655,709 | $1,454,718 | $30,285 |
| Distributable Amount | $101,432 | $175,423 | $80,475 |
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
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Uc Berkeley Foundation ($2,000,000), La Promise Fund ($1,568,165), Malaria No More ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 7TH GENERATION ADVISORS FRIENDS OF KBLA SANTA MONICA, CA | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| ACLU LOS ANGELES, CA | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $250,000 |
| CARL SCHURZ PARK NEW YORK, NY | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $500 |
| EVERY TOWN FOR GUN SAFETY NEW YORK, NY | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $150,000 |
| HARBOR HOMES OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| KOUNKUEY DESIGN INITIATIVE LOS ANGELES, CA | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| LA PROMISE FUND LOS ANGELES, CA | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,568,165 |
| MALARIA NO MORE NEW YORK, NY | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $350,000 |
| MARTH'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION- RON RAPPAPORT FUND VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Peter Chernin — Secretary and Chief Financial Officer / Secretary and Treasurer / President (as of December 31, 2023)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER CHERNIN | SECRETARY/CFO | 0.5 | — |
| MEGAN CHERNIN | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| JOHN CHERNIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| DAVID CHERNIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| MARGARET CHERNIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Service Station Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds charitable purposes across multiple sectors including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services. Its giving priorities extend across California, New York, and Massachusetts.
How do I apply for a grant from Service Station Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total giving: $4,591,665 • Number of grants: Five grants made in 2024 • Typical award range: $500–$2,000,000 **Recent Grants (2024)** • La Promise Fund: $1,568,165 (For Charitable Purposes) • J Paul Getty Trust: $128,000 (For Charitable Purposes) • Harbor Homes of Martha's Vineyard: $50,000 (For Charitable Purposes)
Where does Service Station Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, New York, and Massachusetts.
What size grants does Service Station Foundation award?
In 2024, Service Station Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $4.6M — an average of about $383K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Service Station Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Service Station Foundation reported a distributable amount of $101K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Service Station Foundation's EIN?
Service Station Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2281012. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Service Station Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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