The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation
The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 and based in San Francisco, California. The foundation was founded by Gordon Getty, the fourth child of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. After his father's death in 1976, Gordon Getty assumed control of his father's $2 billion trust. In 1986, he sold Getty Oil to Texaco for $10 billion, which formed the basis for the foundation's endowment.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30K
-77.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$110K
-99.6% YoY
Grant Count
1
-80.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$110K
-97.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support symphonies, opera companies, and educational institutions. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on arts and culture, with particular emphasis on music and performing arts organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. It makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
s have ranged from $110,000 to $28,400,000, indicating substantial variation in award amounts depending on the recipient and project.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports diverse initiatives across numerous U.S. cities and states, with particular concentration in California. Documented funding extends to major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities such as Amherst and Crescent City. The foundation's geographic reach spans multiple states including California, New York, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $130,318
- Total Expenses: $25,130,203
- Total Revenue: Negative $4,776,205
- Total Giving: $110,000
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $137,370
- Total Expenses: $3,261,365
- Total Revenue: $2,968,992
The foundation maintains a modest asset base relative to its annual spending, indicating significant distribution of resources to charitable purposes.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,787 | $130,318 | $30,083,795 |
| Revenue | $19,027 | $-4,776,205 | $158,587,781 |
| Expenses | $119,972 | $25,130,203 | $128,550,575 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $119,447 | $24,613,749 | $127,940,550 |
| Net Investment Income | $18,527 | $9,160,017 | $71,052,215 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,472 | $76,063 | $4,224,460 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include San Francisco Conservatory of Music Inc ($110,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS | $110,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership team comprises Getty family members and experienced arts professionals:
- Gordon P. Getty — Chair of Board
- Robert L. Leberman — President and CEO
- Sandy Lee — Secretary
- Scott Rosen — Treasurer
All board members serve without compensation, dedicating approximately one hour per week to their duties.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GORDON P GETTY | CHAIR OF BOARD | 1 | — |
| ROBERT L LEBERMAN | PRESIDENT/CEO | 1 | — |
| SANDY LEE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SCOTT ROSEN | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made several major grants to prominent institutions:
The Leakey Foundation receives major gift from the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation**University of San Francisco** — Received a $15 million grant from the foundation for the arts
**The Leakey Foundation** — Received a major gift from the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation for the Arts to support its work
The Leakey Foundation receives major gift from the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation**Gordon P. Getty Award** — The foundation sponsors an award bearing Gordon Getty's name, with Carol Ward recognized as the 2022 recipient
The Leakey Foundation receives major gift from the Ann and Gordon Getty FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support symphonies, opera companies, and educational institutions. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on arts and culture, with particular emphasis on music and performing arts organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation?
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. It makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. Recent grant activity shows significant funding commitments. The foundation awarded $110,000 in grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024). Historical grant sizes have ranged from $110,000 to $28,400,000, indicating substantial variation in award amounts depending on the recipient and project.
Where does The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports diverse initiatives across numerous U.S. cities and states, with particular concentration in California. Documented funding extends to major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities such as Amherst and Crescent City. The foundation's geographic reach spans multiple states including California, New York, and Texas.
What size grants does The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation award?
In 2025, The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $110K — an average of about $110K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation's EIN?
The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0629266. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ann & Gordon Getty 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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