The Arzak Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Los Angeles, CA EIN: 87-0760799

The Arzak Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including culture, education, religion, social welfare, and sports education.

The Arzak Foundation at a glance

In short: The Arzak Foundation gave $212K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in California. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$211,650
-79.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
32
-8.6% vs 2023
Average grant
$6,614
-77.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,150
Total assets
$4,404,380
-1.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
13% first-time grantees (4 of 32, 2024)
Primary geography
California (63% 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 Arzak 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. The filing lists Susan R. Shapiro as the contact.

Contact

Application contact: Susan R Shapiro
Mailing address: One W Century Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (617) 277-6886

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Arzak Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Los Angeles Opera: $75KLos Angeles Opera$75KThe Huntington Library: $25KThe Huntington Library$25KLibrary of Congress: $25KLibrary of Congress$25KTemple Akiba: $14KTemple Akiba$14KNantucket Conservation Foundation: $10KNantucket ConservationFoundation$10KNantucket Community Sailing: $10KNantucket Community Sailing$10KTemple Israel of Hollywood: $7KTemple Israel of Hollywood$7KAmerican Jewish Committee: $6KAmerican Jewish Committee$6KAmerican Jewish World Service: $5KAmerican Jewish World Service$5KPlanned Parenthood: $5KPlanned Parenthood$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Los Angeles Opera ($75K). Together the top 10 received $182K.

Grant Size Distribution

236 grants across all recorded years

224<$50K4$50–100K3$100–250K3$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 224 grants of 236 (95%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in California (63%), Massachusetts (14%), Washington, DC (13%), New York (8%), and New Jersey (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

14states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.

Cities

Los AngelesNantucketNew YorkSan FranciscoBostonWashingtonCambridgeSan MarinoBerkeleyGambierSan MateoHelenaMontgomeryOak BrookOaklandPiscatawaySilver SpringCulver CityMilpitasArlington

Is The Arzak Foundation open to new grantees?

13%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 4 of 32 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $7K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 74% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 45% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M71 grants2020 49 grants2021 49 grants2022 35 grants2023 32 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $212K (2024) to $1.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $212K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Los Angeles Opera Los Angeles, CACultural$75,000
The Huntington Library San Marino, CAEducational$25,000
Library of Congress Washington, DCEducational$25,000
Temple Akiba Culver City, CAReligious$14,200
Nantucket Conservation Foundation Nantucket, MAEducational$10,000
Nantucket Community Sailing Nantucket, MASports Education$10,000
Temple Israel of Hollywood Los Angeles, CAEducational$7,200
American Jewish Committee New York, NYEducational$6,000
American Jewish World Service New York, NYSocial Welfare$5,000
Planned Parenthood New York, NYEducatinal and Social Welfare$4,600
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$4,404,380$174,094$217,664$211,65032$214,430$170,860$471,366
2023$4,447,953$214,583$1,027,968$1,022,63435$1,025,179$203,334$413,356
2022$5,155,296$147,530$758,009$751,45049$754,585$136,106$433,417
2021$5,765,777$301,268$839,099$806,42549$810,903$291,479$479,163
2020$6,042,407$911,107$793,009$777,77371—$895,585$426,387

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Arzak Foundation reported a distributable amount of $471K 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

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for cultural, educational, religious, social-welfare, and sports-education purposes. Among its grantees, Nantucket Conservation Foundation says it protects and stewards land and coastal shoreline and conducts ecological research; Nantucket Community Sailing says it offers sailing access and teaches life and leadership skills. American Jewish Committee describes its work as advancing human rights and democratic values, while American Jewish World Service says it works to realize human rights and end poverty. International Medical Corps describes its work as saving lives and relieving suffering through health interventions and related activities.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 32 grants totaling $211,650. Grants ranged from $250 to $75,000, with a median grant of $2,150. The largest listed awards were $75,000 to Los Angeles Opera for cultural purposes, $25,000 each to The Huntington Library and the Library of Congress for educational purposes, and $14,200 to Temple Akiba for religious purposes. Other listed grants included $10,000 each to Nantucket Conservation Foundation and Nantucket Community Sailing.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Susan R. Shapiro, Alison I. Shapiro, Rachel T. Shapiro, and Zachary R. Shapiro as trustees.

The Arzak Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Susan R. Shapiro

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alison I. Shapiro

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rachel T. Shapiro

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Zachary R. Shapiro

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: L. Dennis Shapiro (2020) — Trustee

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 Arzak Foundation

How much does The Arzak Foundation give each year?

The Arzak Foundation gave $212K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 35 grants.

What is The Arzak Foundation's typical grant size?

The Arzak Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,150, and its average grant was $6,614, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Arzak Foundation that year got $2K on average.

Where does The Arzak Foundation give grants?

The Arzak Foundation gives mostly in California: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (14%) and District of Columbia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (6 grants), Nantucket, MA (6 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and San Francisco, CA (4 grants).

Does The Arzak Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on The Arzak Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (12 grants), "Cultural" (3 grants) and "Social Welfare" (3 grants).

Who are The Arzak Foundation's largest grantees?

The Arzak Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Los Angeles Opera ($75,000), The Huntington Library ($25,000) and Library of Congress ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Arzak Foundation?

The Arzak Foundation reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $214K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $471K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Arzak Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for cultural, educational, religious, social-welfare, and sports-education purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Arzak 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 Arzak Foundation's EIN?

The Arzak Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0760799. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Arzak 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Live grants for the work The Arzak Foundation funds

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.

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Browse active grant opportunities in The Arzak Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Arzak Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-arzak-foundation-morg_be87fbf18b8949d5b72a4cf582435bf8

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_870760799_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Arzak Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-arzak-foundation-morg_be87fbf18b8949d5b72a4cf582435bf8},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Arzak 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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