The Friars Charitable Foundation
The Friars Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Beverly Hills, California. Established in 1956 to carry out the philanthropic activities of the Friars Club of California, it supports arts, health, education, and community-based programs.
The Friars Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Friars Charitable Foundation gave $286K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in California. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $286,150
- +30.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- +2.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,949
- +26.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,638,726
- +3.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (3 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Friars Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says organizations it has not previously funded should not submit letters of inquiry or full grant proposals until further notice. The 2025 application materials were limited to organizations funded in 2023 and 2024.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 application materials listed January 31, 2025, as the deadline; this date has passed.
- Deadline
- The 2025 application materials listed January 31, 2025, as the deadline; this date has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1523, Beverly Hills, CA 90213-1523
Phone: (323) 951-1006
Website: https://friarscharitablefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Friars Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Aviva Family and Childrens Service ($50K). Together the top 10 received $183K.
Grant Size Distribution
182 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 180 grants of 182 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in Beverly Hills, California. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Friars Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 36 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 83% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 151% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $220K (2024) to $333K (2022). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $286K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aviva Family and Childrens Service Los Angeles, CA | Support for Human Service for Foster Children | $50,000 |
| Path (People Assisting the Homeless) Los Angeles, CA | Support for Homeless Services and Education | $30,000 |
| SC LAMP-South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project Los Angeles, CA | Support for Educational Programs | $20,000 |
| Harmony Project Los Angeles, CA | Support for Music Education Programs | $15,000 |
| Childrens Burn Foundation Sherman Oaks, CA | Support for Community Heathcare | $15,000 |
| Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Los Angeles, CA | Support for Social Services | $12,500 |
| St Francis Center Lynwood, CA | Support for Social Services and Food Distribution | $10,000 |
| Jewish Family Services (Sova) Los Angeles, CA | Support for Social Services and Food Distributions | $10,000 |
| Inner-City Arts Los Angeles, CA | Support for Educational Programs and Mentors | $10,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities Los Angeles, CA | Support for Social Services | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Friars Charitable Foundation?
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 | $4,638,726 | $209,959 | $399,746 | $286,150 | 36 | $335,280 | $145,493 | $222,279 |
| 2024 | $4,466,357 | $170,333 | $340,217 | $220,000 | 35 | $279,042 | $109,198 | $214,291 |
| 2023 | $4,652,017 | $183,844 | $343,123 | $225,850 | 36 | $280,253 | $122,682 | $227,937 |
| 2022 | $4,772,403 | $215,582 | $454,756 | $333,250 | 38 | $387,015 | $149,925 | $263,193 |
| 2021 | $5,750,216 | $156,970 | $371,602 | $261,500 | 37 | — | $72,903 | $267,949 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Friars Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K 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
The Foundation’s stated values emphasize cultural enrichment, education, mentoring, health initiatives, research and services, and high-quality programs for people of all ages. It funds core organizational support, specific programs, select capital improvements, and capacity building. It says it seeks opportunities where its grants can be leveraged with other resources.
Its grantees work across a range of areas. For example, Harmony Project says it promotes children’s development through music; Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles says it helps children and young adults through mentoring and other programs; and Children’s Burn Foundation says it provides comprehensive care to child burn survivors and their families and educates communities about burn prevention and treatment. Other 2025 recipients include organizations whose stated missions involve homelessness services, food distribution, healthcare, youth education, and the arts.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 36 grants totaling $286,150. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $50,000 to Aviva Family and Children’s Services for foster-child human services, $30,000 to PATH for homeless services and education, $20,000 to SC LAMP for educational programs, and $15,000 each to Harmony Project for music education and Children’s Burn Foundation for community healthcare.
The Foundation’s website says it is not accepting letters of inquiry or full grant proposals from organizations it has not previously funded until further notice, and that it does not accept unsolicited full proposals. Its 2025 application materials were for organizations funded in 2023 and 2024 and requested a cover letter, a report on prior funding, a request for continued funding, a certification statement, and a current certificate of insurance, along with supplemental budget information. Those materials listed an application period of October 1 to January 31, 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Marilyn N. Stambler as president and COO; Margaret G. Graf as vice president; Lou Zigman as secretary/treasurer; and Linda Schwartz, Lissa Roth Harrison, Jay J. Rakow, and David Felman as trustees. Lenore Ross and Fran Zigman are listed as honorary trustees.
The Friars Charitable Foundation is led by Marilyn N Stambler, President & COO on every filing since 2021; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marilyn N Stambler
President & COO
On filings since 2021
$24K (2021) → $30K (2025)
David Felman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Fran Zigman
Honorary Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jay J. Rakow
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Lenore Ross
Honorary Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Linda Schwartz
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Lissa Roth Harrison
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Lou Zigman
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Margaret G GRAF
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sidney J. Gittler (2021) — Chairman of Board Emeritus
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $30K, to Marilyn N Stambler (President, COO).
Frequently asked questions about The Friars Charitable Foundation
How much does The Friars Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Friars Charitable Foundation gave $286K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $220K across 35 grants.
What is The Friars Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Friars Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,949, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Friars Charitable Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Friars Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Friars Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (21 grants) and Beverly Hills, CA (3 grants).
Does The Friars Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on The Friars Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Social Services" (11 grants), "Support for the arts" (3 grants) and "Support for Arts and Program Services" (3 grants).
Who are The Friars Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Friars Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Aviva Family and Childrens Service ($50,000), Path (People Assisting the Homeless) ($30,000) and SC LAMP-South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Friars Charitable Foundation?
The Friars Charitable Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $335K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $222K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Friars Charitable Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated values emphasize cultural enrichment, education, mentoring, health initiatives, research and services, and high-quality programs for people of all ages. It funds core organizational support, specific programs, select capital improvements, and capacity building. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Friars Charitable Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Friars Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Friars Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6047586. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Friars Charitable 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 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Friars Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-friars-charitable-foundation-morg_a192a4cac4d54c0caccd788b6b2597c0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956047586_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Friars Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-friars-charitable-foundation-morg_a192a4cac4d54c0caccd788b6b2597c0},
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 Friars Charitable 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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