The Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a private foundation based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, established in 1989 by Walter H. Annenberg. The Foundation says it supports people working to make their communities more equitable, innovative, and resilient, with work focused on arts and culture, education, and the environment.
The Annenberg Foundation at a glance
In short: The Annenberg Foundation gave $53.3M across 543 grants in 2024 (avg $98K), mostly in California. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $53,343,335
- -73.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 543
- +5.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $98,238
- -74.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $1,523,963,150
- +4.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (171 of 480, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (58% 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 Annenberg Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 101 West Elm Street 510, Conshohocken, PA 19428-2075
Phone: (610) 341-9268
Website: https://annenberg.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Annenberg Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation ($11.6M). Together the top 10 received $27.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($25,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
3,042 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,768 grants of 3,042 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 11% to Virginia, 10% to New York, 5% to Pennsylvania, and 2% to the District of Columbia. The Foundation’s website describes its work as supporting communities, while its grant records show awards to organizations in multiple states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 543 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Annenberg Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 171 of 480 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $149K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 124% 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 $49.1M (2022) to $200.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 543 grants totaling $53.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation Playa Vista, CA | Charitable Mission and Programs | $11,603,575 |
| National Wildlife Federation Reston, VA | Wildlife Crossing Initiative | $4,000,000 |
| Philadelphia Orchestra Association Philadelphia, PA | Artistic endeavors fund, touring fund, ed fund and tech fund | $2,680,404 |
| Animal Wellness Foundation Marina Del Rey, CA | Design and operation of the dog bless you doggy day care | $2,200,000 |
| Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Beverly Hills, CA | The Wallis Arrives: a Comprehensive Campaign | $1,428,572 |
| Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation Vienna, VA | Fallen Journalists Memorial | $1,300,000 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA | Women's Lung Cancer Initiative | $1,166,667 |
| Brown University of Providence Providence, RI | Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University | $833,333 |
| Los Angeles Opera Company Los Angeles, CA | General Production Budget | $750,000 |
| Utah Film Center DBA Salt Lake City Film Center and Salt Lake City, UT | To Support the 5TH Episode of Social Studies | $700,000 |
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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 | $1,523,963,150 | $123,118,621 | $309,925,589 | $53,343,335 | 543 | $88,135,602 | $118,758,146 | $70,855,956 |
| 2023 | $1,462,008,226 | $131,626,861 | $253,584,091 | $200,053,691 | 514 | $96,267,791 | $152,280,176 | $66,472,370 |
| 2022 | $1,524,441,511 | $148,973,633 | $99,458,740 | $49,074,631 | 606 | $84,998,996 | — | $90,441,798 |
| 2021 | $1,804,363,680 | $109,022,988 | $105,602,108 | $56,913,605 | 626 | $87,010,832 | $175,524,359 | $81,125,108 |
| 2020 | $1,652,479,014 | $55,064,953 | $108,247,901 | $59,441,614 | 753 | — | $97,707,725 | $65,663,080 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Annenberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $70.9M 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 website says its mission is guided by “listening, connection, and the shared work of stewarding the practices that hold our communities together.” It identifies arts and culture, education, and the environment as areas of focus.
Examples of organizations it supported in 2024 illustrate varied work: the Philadelphia Orchestra Association describes its mission as sharing music’s transformative power with the widest audience; the Animal Wellness Foundation says companion-animal care remains at the core of its animal-protection work; and Katmai Conservancy says it supports preservation of Katmai National Park and Preserve through education, interpretation, and research. The Foundation’s filing also lists grants for wildlife crossings, performing arts, health initiatives, and animal welfare.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 543 grants totaling $53,343,335. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $11,603,575, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed grant was $11,603,575 to The Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation for its charitable mission and programs. Other large grants included $4 million to the National Wildlife Federation for a wildlife crossing initiative, $2,680,404 to the Philadelphia Orchestra Association for artistic and other listed funds, and $2.2 million to the Animal Wellness Foundation for the design and operation of a dog day care.
The Foundation’s 2024 filing describes direct charitable activity by the SDS Supportive Housing Fund, LP, which seeks to finance 1,800 units of permanent supportive housing over six years, focused on homelessness in Los Angeles County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Wallis Annenberg as CEO, chairperson, and president. Lauren Bon, Charles Annenberg Weingarten, and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten are listed as vice presidents and directors. Cynthia Kennard is listed as executive director and secretary, and Paul J. Manganiello as director of investments and treasurer.
The Annenberg Foundation is led by Wallis Annenberg, CEO, Chairperson & President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Wallis Annenberg
CEO, Chairperson & President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Kennard
Executive Director & Secretary
Executive Director → Executive Director & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$547K (2020) → $757K (2024)
Charles Annenberg Weingarten
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$59K (2020) → $86K (2024)
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $86K (2024)
Lauren Bon
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $86K (2024)
Paul J. Manganiello
Director of Investment & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$298K (2020) → $347K (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 $757K, to Cynthia Kennard (Executive Director/Secretary). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Annenberg Foundation
How much does The Annenberg Foundation give each year?
The Annenberg Foundation gave $53.3M across 543 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $200.1M across 514 grants.
What is The Annenberg Foundation's typical grant size?
The Annenberg Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $98,238, across 543 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Annenberg Foundation that year got $42K on average.
Where does The Annenberg Foundation give grants?
The Annenberg Foundation gives mostly in California: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (11%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (180 grants), New York, NY (59 grants), Washington, DC (22 grants) and Pasadena, CA (10 grants).
Does The Annenberg Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of The Annenberg Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (313 of 543) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "United States Operations" (6 grants).
Who are The Annenberg Foundation's largest grantees?
The Annenberg Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation ($11,603,575), National Wildlife Federation ($4,000,000) and Philadelphia Orchestra Association ($2,680,404), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($25,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Annenberg Foundation?
The Annenberg Foundation reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $88.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $70.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Annenberg Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s website says its mission is guided by “listening, connection, and the shared work of stewarding the practices that hold our communities together.” It identifies arts and culture, education, and the environment as areas of focus. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Annenberg Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Annenberg Foundation's EIN?
The Annenberg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6257083. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Annenberg 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 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 Annenberg Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Annenberg Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-annenberg-foundation-morg_8ebefb9a5c1749d280fb5937ac0eb07e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236257083_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Annenberg Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-annenberg-foundation-morg_8ebefb9a5c1749d280fb5937ac0eb07e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Annenberg 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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