The Ahmanson Foundation
The Ahmanson Foundation is a private foundation based in Beverly Hills, California. It supports nonprofit organizations serving Los Angeles County, with funding for cultural projects, education, health care, homelessness-related programs, and a wide range of human services.
The Ahmanson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ahmanson Foundation gave $65.5M across 442 grants in 2024 (avg $148K), mostly in California. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $65,482,933
- +4.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 442
- +6.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $148,151
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $1,458,740,356
- +18.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (102 of 347, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (97% 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 The Ahmanson Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: The Ahmanson Foundation
Mailing address: 9215 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: (310) 278-0770
Website: https://theahmansonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Ahmanson Foundation
Who The Ahmanson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Roman Archbishop of Los Angeles ($6.3M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $27.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 12 individual scholarships ($640,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,250 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 908 grants of 2,250 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation states that the vast majority of its philanthropy goes to organizations and institutions based in and serving the greater Los Angeles community. In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 2% to recipients in Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 442 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ahmanson Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 102 of 347 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $108K; repeat grants $222K. How we count
Medians: $69K first-time, $90K repeat.
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $58.4M (2020) to $65.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 442 grants totaling $65.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Archbishop of Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | For acquisition of property for the benefit of st. Genevieve school | $6,300,000 |
| Los Angeles Cty Mus of Nat Hist Los Angeles, CA | Toward preliminary costs for the reimagining la brea tar pits project | $5,000,000 |
| The Colburn School Los Angeles, CA | Toward Construction of the Colburn Center | $5,000,000 |
| Mexican Amer Leg DEF & Edu FD Los Angeles, CA | Toward replacement of the hvac system at the los angeles headquarters | $2,000,000 |
| Childrens Institute Inc Los Angeles, CA | Toward the Upgraded Human Resources System Workday | $1,500,000 |
| Discovery Science Center of LA Sylmar, CA | Wildlife carousel and outdoor amphitheater as part of the stem courtyard expansion project | $1,500,000 |
| Volunteers of America Inc Los Angeles, CA | Toward construction of 50 units of transitional housing for pregnant or postpartum transition aged youth | $1,500,000 |
| Creighton University Omaha, NE | Toward Renovation of Creighton Hall | $1,000,000 |
| Henry E Huntington Lib & Art Gal San Marino, CA | Toward Library Renewal | $1,000,000 |
| Henry E Huntington Lib & Art Gal San Marino, CA | Toward Library Renewal | $1,000,000 |
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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 | $1,458,740,356 | $70,015,184 | $88,168,449 | $65,482,933 | 442 | $68,781,041 | $77,112,878 | $68,065,593 |
| 2023 | $1,229,560,863 | $62,851,119 | $70,464,869 | $62,956,100 | 417 | $65,977,005 | $66,355,978 | $60,957,281 |
| 2022 | $1,198,575,686 | $107,282,633 | $56,341,238 | $60,224,390 | 424 | $63,170,916 | $120,591,942 | $65,319,347 |
| 2021 | $1,520,855,719 | $129,941,534 | $76,977,775 | $60,847,250 | 441 | — | $135,219,326 | $67,973,863 |
| 2020 | $1,220,048,082 | $54,356,398 | $63,276,811 | $58,427,800 | 526 | — | $62,330,018 | $58,386,730 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ahmanson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s broad purpose is to administer funds for charitable, scientific, educational, literary, and religious purposes for the public welfare. Its current funding interests include arts and humanities; education at collegiate and pre-collegiate levels; health and medicine; specialized library collections; human services; programs related to homelessness and low-income populations; and environmental preservation.
It generally considers requests from 501(c)(3) public charities that are based in and serve Los Angeles County and are not private foundations under sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Common forms of support include construction and renovation, equipment and furnishings, program vehicles, technology, and program supplies. The Foundation prefers one-time or short-term requests, and gives preference to organizations that do not apply regularly or annually. Capital campaign requests are considered after the campaign is 60–80% funded and can be completed within a year of the request. Program or operational support may be considered occasionally for organizations with a history of established, outstanding programs.
Examples of grantees’ work include The Colburn School, whose stated principle is “access to excellence” through performance-centered arts education, and Children’s Institute Inc., which says it provides early education, behavioral health, and family-strengthening services to children and families in Los Angeles. Other 2024 grantees included health care providers, a university, a science center, and organizations serving people experiencing homelessness.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 442 grants totaling $65,482,933. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $6,300,000, with a median of $50,000. Its largest reported grants included $6.3 million to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles for property acquisition benefiting St. Genevieve School; $5 million each to the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History for preliminary costs for the La Brea Tar Pits project and to The Colburn School toward construction of the Colburn Center; and $2 million to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund for HVAC replacement at its Los Angeles headquarters.
Other reported awards included $1.5 million to Children’s Institute Inc. for an upgraded human resources system, $1.5 million to Volunteers of America for transitional housing construction, and $1 million to the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens toward library renewal. The Foundation also reported a $1 million grant to Creighton University for renovation of Creighton Hall.
Applicants are asked to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), not a full proposal at the initial stage. The LOI should include contact details for the request’s direct contact and the organization’s head; a narrative of no more than three pages covering the organization’s mission, history, programs, people served, current-year operating budget, and five recent foundation or corporate grants; and project information including the need, requested amount, property ownership or lease terms for renovation requests, other project funding, permit requirements, and timeline. A project budget should be attached. The Foundation’s homepage says that, until further notice, it encourages LOIs and proposals by email; its LOI instructions also direct applicants to an online portal.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are William H. Ahmanson, Trustee/President; Howard F. Ahmanson, Trustee; Mark A. Brooks, Trustee; Karen A. Hoffman, Trustee/Managing Director and Secretary; Stephen D. Rountree, Trustee; John B. Wagner, Trustee; Stephen D. Yslas, Trustee; Kristen K. O’Connor, CFO and Treasurer; Glenville A. March Jr., MD, Trustee; and Patricia McKenna, Trustee.
The Ahmanson Foundation is led by William H. Ahmanson, Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William H. Ahmanson
Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$618K (2020) → $729K (2024)
Karen A. Hoffman
Trustee, Md & Secretary
On filings since 2020
26 hrs/week
$237K (2020) → $270K (2024)
Glenville A. March Jr. MD
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard F. Ahmanson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John B. Wagner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark A. Brooks
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia McKenna
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen D. Rountree
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen D. Yslas
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen K. O'Connor
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$395K (2020) → $460K (2024)
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 $729K, to William H Ahmanson (Trustee/Pres.). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ahmanson Foundation
How much does The Ahmanson Foundation give each year?
The Ahmanson Foundation gave $65.5M across 442 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $63.0M across 417 grants.
What is The Ahmanson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ahmanson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $148,151, across 442 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ahmanson Foundation that year got $108K on average.
Where does The Ahmanson Foundation give grants?
The Ahmanson Foundation gives mostly in California: 97% 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 (192 grants), Pasadena, CA (37 grants), Claremont, CA (12 grants) and Culver City, CA (9 grants).
Does The Ahmanson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of The Ahmanson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (77 of 442) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Support, 2024-2025" (62 grants), "For the Ahmanson Veterans Scholarship Initiative, 2024-2025" (19 grants) and "For Technology Upgrades" (3 grants).
Who are The Ahmanson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ahmanson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Roman Archbishop of Los Angeles ($6,350,000 across 2 grants), Los Angeles Cty Mus of Nat Hist ($5,050,000 across 2 grants) and The Colburn School ($5,025,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 12 individual scholarships ($640,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ahmanson Foundation?
The Ahmanson Foundation reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $68.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ahmanson Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s broad purpose is to administer funds for charitable, scientific, educational, literary, and religious purposes for the public welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ahmanson Foundation?
The Ahmanson Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check theahmansonfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Ahmanson Foundation's EIN?
The Ahmanson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6089998. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ahmanson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ahmanson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ahmanson-foundation-morg_f6575a21073a4d5fb6e3203df0510fad
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956089998_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ahmanson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ahmanson-foundation-morg_f6575a21073a4d5fb6e3203df0510fad},
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 The Ahmanson 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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