Tellis Family Foundation
Tellis Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Encino, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $205K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $265K. Net investment income was $200K.
Tellis Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Tellis Family Foundation gave $265K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $44K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $264,900
- +13.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $44,150
- +70.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $204,729
- -20.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Tellis Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sierra Canyon High School Foundation ($125K). Together the top 6 received $265K.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 34 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Tellis Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 182% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $91K (2023) to $265K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $265K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Canyon High School Foundation Chatsworth, CA | To Fund Exempt Purpose Activity | $125,000 |
| UCLA Foundation Los Angeles, CA | To Fund Exempt Purpose Activity | $100,000 |
| USC Los Angeles, CA | To Fund Exempt Purpose Activity | $25,000 |
| Powered by Love Scottsdale, AZ | To Fund Exempt Purpose Activity | $5,000 |
| International Refugee Assistance Project New York, NY | To Fund Exempt Purpose Activity | $5,000 |
| UCLA Los Angeles, CA | To Fund Exempt Purpose Activity | $4,900 |
Ready to take the next step with Tellis Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $204,729 | $299,215 | $277,891 | $264,900 | 6 | $269,090 | $200,446 | $13,856 |
| 2024 | $258,305 | $586,672 | $234,538 | $232,813 | 9 | $232,958 | $112,904 | $6,742 |
| 2023 | $83,679 | $734 | $98,961 | $91,342 | 7 | $96,756 | $256 | $10,724 |
| 2022 | $178,729 | $111,564 | $104,256 | $93,796 | 5 | $99,238 | $11,857 | $10,148 |
| 2021 | $237,483 | $218,300 | $179,577 | $157,565 | 7 | $174,424 | $123,200 | $12,738 |
| 2020 | $171,911 | $472,338 | $133,820 | $128,375 | 5 | — | $56,140 | $6,211 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tellis Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Tellis Family Foundation is led by Roland Tellis, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Roland Tellis
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Almas Tellis
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Tellis Family Foundation
How much does Tellis Family Foundation give each year?
Tellis Family Foundation gave $265K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $233K across 9 grants.
What is Tellis Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Tellis Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $44,150, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tellis Family Foundation give grants?
Tellis Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants).
Who are Tellis Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Tellis Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Sierra Canyon High School Foundation ($125,000), UCLA Foundation ($100,000) and USC ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 94% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Tellis Family Foundation?
Tellis Family Foundation reported $205K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $269K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $14K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Tellis Family Foundation's EIN?
Tellis Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1971001. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Tellis Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tellis Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation
Melbourne, FL
Assets
—
Grants
13
Total Given
$219K
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Western Asset Management Company
Pasadena, CA
Western Asset Management Company funds education, humanitarian aid, religious activities, and other charitable work, primarily in California, with some giving in New York and other states. Its 2026 grants ranged from $100 to $6,772, with a median of $1,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$10K
Grants
66
Total Given
$55K
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation
Encino, CA
The foundation supports organizations working in journalism, arts and storytelling, civic and racial-justice efforts, and community programs. In 2024, it made 76 grants totaling about $5.3 million; grants ranged from $250 to $1.5 million, with a median of $10,000, and funding went mainly to organizations in New York, California, and Washington, DC. It funds only preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.5M
Grants
76
Total Given
$5.3M
The Hearthland Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The Hearthland Foundation funds U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits working to strengthen democracy, shape an honest and generative American narrative, and foster connection, often through arts, storytelling, and collaboration. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $2 million, with a median of $225,000; it most often supports national organizations, with some local funding in Los Angeles and New York. It does not accept unsolicited requests and considers proposals by invitation only.
Assets
$512.8M
Grants
91
Total Given
$26.7M
Muller Family Foundation
Placentia, CA
The Muller Family Foundation supports a broad range of charitable work, including social and environmental projects, education, family support, research, and higher education, with most funding going to California. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $135,000, with a median of $2,875; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
122
Total Given
$670K
More similar funders
More Funders in California
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Tellis 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.
Tellis Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?