The Arvey Foundation
The Arvey Foundation is a private foundation based in Elmhurst, Illinois. In 2025, it reported giving $132,100 through 20 grants to charitable organizations, including arts and cultural organizations, health and humanitarian organizations, and a transportation provider.
The Arvey Foundation at a glance
In short: The Arvey Foundation gave $132K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $132,100
- +23.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- -4.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,605
- +29.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,307,892
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Arvey Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Applications should be in writing and explain the purpose for which funds are sought. The filing lists Margaret Arvey as the contact. Restrictions on awards are listed as N/A.
- Contact
Application contact: Margaret Arvey
Mailing address: 398 Shady Ln, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Phone: (630) 530-5381
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Arvey Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UCLA Foundation Division of Digestive Diseases ($25K). Together the top 10 received $112K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 59 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in California (95%), Florida (2%), Tennessee (2%), Arizona (1%), and New York (1%). These reported shares total 101%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Arvey Foundation gives
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 173% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 143% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2022) to $132K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $132K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA Foundation Division of Digestive Diseases Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Santa Barbara Museum of Art Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Opera Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| Direct Relief Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Easy Lift Transportation Goleta, CA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| J Paul Getty Trust Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| UCLA Foundation Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Pasadena, CA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Geffen Playhouse Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma) Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,307,892 | $127,747 | $134,091 | $132,100 | 20 | $133,830 | $22,859 | $93,495 |
| 2024 | $1,390,602 | $55,080 | $110,542 | $107,300 | 21 | $107,325 | $53,243 | $84,345 |
| 2023 | $1,446,064 | $156,604 | $75,992 | $70,250 | 16 | $71,600 | $48,238 | $71,500 |
| 2022 | $1,365,452 | $309,151 | $57,673 | $48,350 | 1 | $49,925 | $308,976 | $71,386 |
| 2021 | $1,113,974 | $319,827 | $79,900 | $74,500 | 1 | $75,725 | $319,652 | $82,412 |
| 2020 | $874,050 | $302,366 | $61,721 | $59,250 | 1 | — | $190,847 | $58,738 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Arvey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $93K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions describe work in arts and culture, health, humanitarian aid, transportation for seniors and people with disabilities, and music education and performance.
For example, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art says its mission is to integrate art into people’s lives, fostering imagination and stimulating thought. Easy Lift Transportation says it provides transportation in South Santa Barbara County to seniors and people with disabilities who cannot use regular bus service. Direct Relief describes its mission as improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $132,100. Grants ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Among the largest grants were $25,000 to UCLA Foundation Division of Digestive Diseases, $20,000 to Santa Barbara Museum of Art, $12,000 to Opera Santa Barbara, and $10,000 each to Direct Relief, Easy Lift Transportation, J Paul Getty Trust, and UCLA Foundation Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. The listed grants were designated unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Margaret Arvey as PR/VP/TR/DIR, Aaron Arvey as director, and Joan Wright as secretary.
The Arvey Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Aaron Arvey
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Arvey
Pr, Vice President, Tr & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Wright
Secretary
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 The Arvey Foundation
How much does The Arvey Foundation give each year?
The Arvey Foundation gave $132K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $107K across 21 grants.
What is The Arvey Foundation's typical grant size?
The Arvey Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,605, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Arvey Foundation give grants?
The Arvey Foundation gives mostly in California: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (7 grants), Los Angeles, CA (4 grants) and Pasadena, CA (2 grants).
Does The Arvey Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Arvey Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Arvey Foundation's largest grantees?
The Arvey Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include UCLA Foundation Division of Digestive Diseases ($25,000), Santa Barbara Museum of Art ($20,000) and Opera Santa Barbara ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Arvey Foundation?
The Arvey Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $134K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $93K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Arvey Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions describe work in arts and culture, health, humanitarian aid, transportation for seniors and people with disabilities, and music education and performance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Arvey Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Arvey Foundation's EIN?
The Arvey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2656254. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Arvey 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Arvey Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Arvey Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-arvey-foundation-morg_f112b0851c7b4b9b9fcaa3a8626db7b1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_362656254_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Arvey Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-arvey-foundation-morg_f112b0851c7b4b9b9fcaa3a8626db7b1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Arvey 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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