The Friars Charitable Foundation
The Friars Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally established in 1956 to carry out the philanthropic activities of the Friars Club of California, the Foundation was founded by community-minded entertainers and leaders from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The organization functions as a grantmaking foundation supporting arts, health, education, and community-based programs.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.6M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$286K
+30.1% YoY
Grant Count
36
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+26.5% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission centers on supporting high-quality programs across all ages while building strong community members through education, mentoring, health initiatives, research, and services. The organization maintains a strong conviction that communities benefit from cultural enrichment, reflecting its roots in the arts.
Primary funding focus areas:
- Access to performing arts
- After-school and summer programs for children and families
- Programs for specialized adult needs
- Research and services related to cancer, mental and neurological health, and other debilitating conditions
- Community-based organizations and programs
Funding types:
- Capacity building efforts
- Select capital improvement projects
- Specific program support
- Core support for organizations
The Foundation emphasizes opportunities where its grants can be leveraged with other resources for greatest impact. It has a long-standing commitment to serving youth and aging populations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation operates in California, with a base in Beverly Hills.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,638,726 | $4,466,357 | $4,652,017 |
| Revenue | $209,959 | $170,333 | $183,844 |
| Expenses | $399,746 | $340,217 | $343,123 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $335,280 | $279,042 | $280,253 |
| Net Investment Income | $145,493 | $109,198 | $122,682 |
| Distributable Amount | $222,279 | $214,291 | $227,937 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
182 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Aviva Family and Childrens Service ($50,000), Path (people Assisting the Homeless) ($30,000), SC LAMP-South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST FRANCIS CENTER LYNWOOD, CA | SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| PATH (PEOPLE ASSISTING THE HOMELESS) LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS SERVICES AND EDUCATION | $30,000 |
| UCLA FOUNDATION LOS AQNGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| 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 |
| Aviva Family and Childrens Service LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR HUMAN SERVICE FOR FOSTER CHILDREN | $50,000 |
| After-School All-Stars Los Angeles, CA | SUPPORT FOR Children Services | $2,500 |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF LARC LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAM SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED | $5,000 |
| HARMONY PROJECT LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marilyn N Stambler | PRESIDENT, COO | — | $30,000 |
| LINDA SCHWARTZ | Trustee | — | — |
| LENORE ROSS | HONORARY TRUSTEE | — | — |
| Margaret G GRAF | Vice President | — | — |
| LISSA ROTH HARRISON | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| LOU ZIGMAN | SECRETARY / TREASURER | — | — |
| JAY J RAKOW | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| David Felman | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| FRAN ZIGMAN | HONORARY TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation maintains an active grant application process and continues to fund community organizations throughout its service area.
Foundations in Faith Approves $1 Million in General Operating Support GrantsFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Friars Charitable Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission centers on supporting high-quality programs across all ages while building strong community members through education, mentoring, health initiatives, research, and services. The organization maintains a strong conviction that communities benefit from cultural enrichment, reflecting its roots in the arts. **Primary funding focus areas:** • Access to performing arts • After-school and summer programs for children and families • Programs for specialized adult needs • Resea…
Where does The Friars Charitable Foundation make grants?
The Foundation operates in California, with a base in Beverly Hills.
What size grants does The Friars Charitable Foundation award?
In 2025, The Friars Charitable Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $286K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Friars Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Friars Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Friars Charitable 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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