The David Geffen Foundation
The David Geffen Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California, established in 1986 and incorporated in 1987. Founded by David Geffen, a record executive and film producer who co-founded Asylum Records, founded Geffen Records, and co-founded DreamWorks SKG with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, the foundation represents one of the most significant private philanthropic entities in the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$332.7M
-24.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$112.5M
-13.3% YoY
Grant Count
93
+8.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.2M
-19.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The David Geffen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has focused its giving in five major areas:
- Populations affected by HIV/AIDS
- Civil liberties
- The arts
- Issues of concern to the Jewish community
- Healthcare
Grantmaking
The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with designated funding tiers. Grant sizes typically range from $5,000 to $15,000,000, with occasional transformational gifts reaching up to $200 million.
Grant Range
s typically range from $5,000 to $15,000,000, with occasional transformational gifts reaching up to $200 million.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is primarily concentrated in Los Angeles and New York City, with select national organizations also receiving support.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023):
- Total assets: $438,590,219
- Total revenues: $72,825,471
- Total expenses: $131,554,319
- Annual giving: Approximately $130,000,000
Additional Financial Data:
- Total grants, contributions: $30,569,530 (2023)
- Investment income and dividends: $19,853,564 (2023)
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $25,851,253 (2023)
The foundation has one employee and maintains its office at 12011 San Vicente Boulevard, Suite 606, Los Angeles, CA 90049-4948.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $332,722,186 | $438,590,219 | $461,962,163 |
| Revenue | $25,767,586 | $72,825,471 | $23,343,563 |
| Expenses | $113,343,413 | $131,554,319 | $91,794,289 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $112,789,776 | $130,054,828 | $90,794,201 |
| Net Investment Income | $26,124,936 | $42,588,723 | $23,168,988 |
| Distributable Amount | $21,861,379 | $22,219,848 | $27,711,571 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include La County Museum of Art ($50,000,000), Columbia University ($8,333,333), Academy Foundation ($5,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 92ND STREET Y NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000,000 |
| ACADEMY FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| ACTORS' FUND OF AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| ALGEMEINER INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ALI FORNEY CENTER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED NORTHFIELD, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ANGELS AT RISK LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ANGELS AT RISK LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David Lawrence Geffen is the founder. Dallas Dishman, Ph.D. is listed as Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID GEFFEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| J DALLAS DISHMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $409,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made several landmark contributions in recent years:
**$200 million** to UCLA's medical school, which is now named the David Geffen School of Medicine
$20 Million David Geffen Fund Gift Announced at AFTD Benefit | AFTD**$100 million** to Lincoln Center to renovate Avery Fisher Hall, now named David Geffen Hall
$20 Million David Geffen Fund Gift Announced at AFTD Benefit | AFTD**$25 million** awarded for construction of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
**$20 million** gift announced at an AFTD (Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration) benefit
$20 Million David Geffen Fund Gift Announced at AFTD Benefit | AFTD**$46 million** added to UCLA's landmark medical scholarships program
David Geffen adds $46 million to landmark medical scholarships program |Frequently Asked Questions
What does The David Geffen Foundation fund?
The foundation has focused its giving in five major areas: • Populations affected by HIV/AIDS • Civil liberties • The arts • Issues of concern to the Jewish community • Healthcare
How do I apply for a grant from The David Geffen Foundation?
The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with designated funding tiers. Grant sizes typically range from $5,000 to $15,000,000, with occasional transformational gifts reaching up to $200 million. Recent grant activity includes: • $30,000,000 to Museum of Modern Art (2023) • $15,771,566 to UCLA Foundation (2023) • $1,000,000 to Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (2023) • $25,000,000 for construction of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures • $20,000,000 gift announced at AF…
Where does The David Geffen Foundation make grants?
The foundation's giving is primarily concentrated in Los Angeles and New York City, with select national organizations also receiving support.
What size grants does The David Geffen Foundation award?
In 2024, The David Geffen Foundation awarded 93 grants totaling $112.5M — an average of about $1.2M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The David Geffen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The David Geffen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The David Geffen Foundation's EIN?
The David Geffen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4085811. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The David Geffen 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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