The Ariadne Getty Foundation
The Ariadne Getty Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2004, it works with partners worldwide to improve the lives of individuals and communities through financial investments and social activism.
The Ariadne Getty Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ariadne Getty Foundation gave $1.5M across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $305K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,525,000
- -9.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $305,000
- -9.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $213,493
- +61425.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Ariadne Getty Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications should be submitted in writing and include a project outline, project cost, affected community, intended benefits and impact, other funding secured, an outline of the charity’s history, financial position and forecast, and overall strategy. Applicants should also provide financial statements, management accounts, tax returns, and cash-flow statements. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are reviewed quarterly throughout the calendar year.
- Deadline
- Applications are reviewed quarterly throughout the calendar year.
- Contact
Application contact: Leigh Vales
Mailing address: 350 S Grand Ave Ste 2000, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: (213) 593-2300
Email: leigh@ariadnegettyfdn.org
Website: https://ariadnegettyfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ariadne Getty Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Glaad ($1.0M across 3 grants). Together the top 2 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 76 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it works with partners worldwide. In 2024, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Ariadne Getty Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2022) to $1.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Glaad Los Angeles, CA | General support for glaad which is the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization. | $500,000 |
| Glaad Los Angeles, CA | General support for glaad which is the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization. | $500,000 |
| Friends of the Center Los Angeles, CA | To support the los angeles lgbt center to create the la lgbt senior center campus. | $250,000 |
| Friends of the Center Los Angeles, CA | To support the los angeles lgbt center to create the la lgbt senior center campus. | $250,000 |
| Glaad Los Angeles, CA | General support for glaad which is the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization. | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $213,493 | $1,758,530 | $1,545,384 | $1,525,000 | 5 | $1,545,384 | $8,428 |
| 2023 | $347 | $1,674,489 | $1,708,909 | $1,685,000 | 5 | $1,707,019 | $1,114 |
| 2022 | $34,767 | $1,128,236 | $1,145,991 | $1,125,825 | 11 | $1,145,991 | $1,005 |
| 2021 | $52,545 | $1,777,859 | $1,750,217 | $1,568,000 | 31 | $1,718,717 | $3,313 |
| 2020 | $58,065 | $1,810,642 | $1,813,722 | $1,648,200 | 24 | — | $3,262 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ariadne Getty Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K 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 stated mission is to work with partners worldwide to improve the lives of individuals and communities through financial investments and social activism.
Its 2024 grants included support for GLAAD, which describes its mission as promoting fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of LGBTQ people and issues across media, and for Friends of the Center to support creation of the LA LGBT Senior Center Campus. The foundation’s pressroom describes the resulting Ariadne Getty Foundation Senior Housing as an affordable housing development for seniors ages 62 and above, created in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center and Thomas Safran & Associates.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported five grants totaling $1,525,000. Awards ranged from $25,000 to $500,000, with a median of $250,000. Its largest listed grants were two $500,000 awards to GLAAD for general support, two $250,000 awards to Friends of the Center for the LA LGBT Senior Center Campus, and a $25,000 award to GLAAD for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ariadne Getty as President and Director, and Leigh Vales as Vice President and Treasurer.
The Ariadne Getty Foundation is led by Ariadne Getty, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ariadne Getty
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leigh Vales
Vice President & Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice President & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Ariadne Getty Foundation
How much does The Ariadne Getty Foundation give each year?
The Ariadne Getty Foundation gave $1.5M across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 5 grants.
What is The Ariadne Getty Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ariadne Getty Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $305,000, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Ariadne Getty Foundation give grants?
The Ariadne Getty Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% 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 (5 grants).
Does The Ariadne Getty Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of The Ariadne Getty Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Ariadne Getty Foundation?
The Ariadne Getty Foundation reported $213K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ariadne Getty Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to work with partners worldwide to improve the lives of individuals and communities through financial investments and social activism. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ariadne Getty Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ariadne Getty Foundation's EIN?
The Ariadne Getty Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0461573. 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
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