Specialty Family Foundation
Specialty Family Foundation is a private foundation based in El Segundo, California. It seeks to alleviate the conditions that lead to persistent poverty through investments in Los Angeles County, with a focus on Catholic education, housing, and substance use treatment and intervention.
Specialty Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Specialty Family Foundation gave $2.3M across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $41K), mostly in California. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,285,944
- -0.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $40,820
- -7.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $78,554,925
- +10.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (24 of 55, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Specialty Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says applications are by invitation only. It also requires grantees, starting January 2023, to have a safeguarding policy in place to be eligible for funding.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2260 E Maple Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: (310) 535-9000
Website: https://specialtyfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Specialty Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Archdiocese of LA ($468K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($24,119), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
235 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 177 grants of 235 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its work as focused on Los Angeles County. In its 2024 grant data, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 3% to recipients in Washington, DC, and 2% to recipients in Virginia. Illinois and Colorado each accounted for less than 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Specialty Family Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 24 of 55 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $32K; repeat grants $49K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $24K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% 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 (2021–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2024) to $3.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of LA Los Angeles, CA | General | $468,000 |
| Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing Alliance Santa Monica, CA | General | $450,000 |
| St Joseph Center Venice, CA | Scholarships | $130,500 |
| Southern California Grantmakers Los Angeles, CA | General | $115,000 |
| Partners for Children South LA Inglewood, CA | General | $80,000 |
| St Francis Center Los Angeles, CA | General | $80,000 |
| Seed House Project Glendale, CA | General | $75,000 |
| A Sense of Home Hawthorne, CA | General | $58,000 |
| Dominican Sisters Vision of Hope Schools Oakland, CA | General | $50,000 |
| Fadica Inc Washington, DC | General | $50,000 |
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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 | $78,554,925 | $18,550,464 | $3,991,623 | $2,285,944 | 56 | $3,304,822 | $18,328,074 | $3,532,000 |
| 2023 | $71,299,576 | $1,851,773 | $2,961,523 | $2,301,987 | 52 | $3,346,923 | $1,649,026 | $3,248,394 |
| 2022 | $63,214,854 | $3,692,537 | $3,321,783 | $3,148,400 | 75 | $4,416,734 | $3,317,826 | $3,397,054 |
| 2021 | $81,147,631 | $3,331,716 | $6,430,612 | $2,353,091 | 52 | $3,659,056 | $3,136,747 | $3,848,525 |
| 2020 | $74,925,803 | — | $124,657 | — | — | — | — | $1,039 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Specialty Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to alleviate the conditions that lead to persistent poverty. Its website identifies Catholic education, housing, and substance use treatment and intervention as its core areas. It also describes investing in systemic change, organizational capacity, and programs that empower individuals.
Examples of supported organizations reflect a range of work related to these priorities. St Joseph Center describes its mission as helping working-poor families and people experiencing homelessness become productive, stable, and self-supporting. Seed House Project says it uses dignified housing and community support to assist transition-age youth experiencing housing instability. A Sense of Home says it creates first homes for young people who have aged out of foster care. Partners for Children South LA describes its work as improving children’s access to healthcare, education, and support services. These are the organizations’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $2,285,944. Grant amounts ranged from $600 to $468,000, with a median of $15,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $468,000 to Archdiocese of LA and $450,000 to Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing Alliance, both listed for general purposes; $130,500 to St Joseph Center for scholarships; and $115,000 to Southern California Grantmakers for general purposes. Other notable grants included $80,000 each to Partners for Children South LA and St Francis Center, and $75,000 to Seed House Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Deborah A Estes as family director and chair; James B Peter Jr, Karen Marie Peter Cane, and Christine Mary Peter as family directors; Arthur Peter as family director and treasurer; Regina Peter as family director and secretary; Joseph B Womac as president; Michael Estes as family director and vice president; Sean Gard as family director; and David Fields as independent director.
Specialty Family Foundation is led by Joseph B. Womac, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph B. Womac
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$373K (2021) → $377K (2024)
Deborah A. Estes
Family Director & Chair
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arthur Peter
Family Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Mary Peter
Family Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James B. Peter Jr.
Family Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Estes
Family Director & Vice President
Family Director → Family Director & Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Regina Peter
Family Director & Secretary
Family Director → Family Director & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Gard
Family Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Fields
Independent Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catalina Saenz
Independent Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph M. Lumarda
Independent Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Madeleine Cane
Family Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin McCardle
Independent Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Gard
Family Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Marie Peter Cane
Family Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Karen Peter (2020–2023) — Family Director
- Former: Bruce Willison (2020–2022) — Independent Director
- Former: Joan Carol Noneman (2020–2022) — Family Director
- Former: Robert Goldman (2020–2021) — Independent Director
- Former: Val J. Peter (2020) — Family Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $377K, to Joseph B Womac (President).
Frequently asked questions about Specialty Family Foundation
How much does Specialty Family Foundation give each year?
Specialty Family Foundation gave $2.3M across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 52 grants.
What is Specialty Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Specialty Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $40,820, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Specialty Family Foundation that year got $32K on average.
Where does Specialty Family Foundation give grants?
Specialty Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (26 grants), Santa Monica, CA (3 grants), Venice, CA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Specialty Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 73% of Specialty Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (41 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (15 grants).
Who are Specialty Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Specialty Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Archdiocese of LA ($468,000), Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing Alliance ($450,000) and St Joseph Center ($130,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($24,119), which are not listed by name. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Specialty Family Foundation?
Specialty Family Foundation reported $78.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.5M (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 Specialty Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to alleviate the conditions that lead to persistent poverty. Its website identifies Catholic education, housing, and substance use treatment and intervention as its core areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Specialty Family Foundation?
The foundation says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Specialty Family Foundation's EIN?
Specialty Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2676634. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Specialty Family Foundation 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 October 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Specialty Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/specialty-family-foundation-morg_3fa5c67fd29f48f7974df43c5954d2a2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_352676634_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Specialty Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/specialty-family-foundation-morg_3fa5c67fd29f48f7974df43c5954d2a2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Specialty 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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