The Greenbaum Foundation
The Greenbaum Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation located in West Hollywood, California. Established in 1991 in Utah, the Foundation became fully operational in 1999. It is managed by Jim Greenbaum, the founder and Managing Director, alongside Meghan O'Brien Lowery.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$55.9M
+6.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.1M
+10.6% YoY
Grant Count
57
+11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$107K
-1.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Greenbaum Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation focuses its funding on creating a more sustainable and compassionate world. Primary funding areas include:
- Plant-Based Nutrition & Food System Change: Supporting projects that promote whole foods, plant-based diets and work to end factory farming
- Animal Advocacy: Funding initiatives aimed at increasing awareness, protection, and improvement of the lives of all animals
- Human Rights (legacy focus): Supporting a limited number of organizations focused on abolishing modern-day slavery, ending child marriage, female genital cutting, gender-based violence, and barriers preventing women from having equal rights
The Foundation's grantees work in over 85 countries.
Grantmaking
Annual grant-making is currently in the $6–$7 million range. The Foundation does not fund animal sanctuary strategies, despite supporting broader animal welfare initiatives.
Grant Range
$3,300–$1,060,873
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds projects primarily in California, the District of Columbia, and New York, with grantees operating across more than 85 countries globally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $55,854,034
- Total revenues: $7,151,751
- Total expenses: $6,389,777
- Number of employees: 0
Lifetime Giving: The combined grants and donations of the Foundation and Jim Greenbaum exceed $70 million, with lifetime giving on track to exceed $250 million.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $55,854,034 | $52,513,268 | $47,846,641 |
| Revenue | $7,151,751 | $4,332,420 | $1,295,329 |
| Expenses | $6,389,777 | $5,772,834 | $5,535,114 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,075,700 | $5,495,635 | $5,205,061 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,527,888 | $1,986,505 | $1,135,224 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,140,621 | $2,461,425 | $2,555,213 |
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 Karuna Foundation ($1,060,873), Humane America Animal Foundation ($543,000), Free to Thrive-thrive Philanthropy ($404,225).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FREE TO THRIVE-THRIVE PHILANTHROPY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $404,225 |
| TOSTAN MARINA DEL REY, CA | GENERAL FUND | $100,000 |
| FREEDOM FOR ALL INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL FUND | $100,000 |
| LA CONSCIENCE MALIBU, CA | GENERAL FUND | $74,000 |
| CRISIS ACTION ANAHEIM, CA | GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
| RESCUE FOUNDATION | GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
| UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL FUND | $25,417 |
| KARUNA FOUNDATION NIWOT, CO | GENERAL FUND | $1,060,873 |
| HUMANE AMERICA ANIMAL FOUNDATION CLAREMONT, CA | GENERAL FUND | $543,000 |
| AMERICAN COLLEGE OF LIFESTYLE MED FAIRFIELD, IA | GENERAL FUND | $350,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jim Greenbaum: Founder and Managing Director
- Meghan O'Brien Lowery: Co-manager of the Foundation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES R GREENBAUM JR | TRUSTEE | 40 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 8424 Santa Monica Blvd # A-806, West Hollywood, CA 90069-6233
- Phone: 770-246-0793
- Website: www.greenbaumfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Greenbaum Foundation fund?
The Foundation focuses its funding on creating a more sustainable and compassionate world. Primary funding areas include: • **Plant-Based Nutrition & Food System Change**: Supporting projects that promote whole foods, plant-based diets and work to end factory farming • **Animal Advocacy**: Funding initiatives aimed at increasing awareness, protection, and improvement of the lives of all animals • **Human Rights** (legacy focus): Supporting a limited number of organizations focused on abolishing…
How do I apply for a grant from The Greenbaum Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total giving: $6,075,700 • Typical grant range: $3,300–$1,060,873 • Recent major grants include: • Karuna Foundation: $1,060,873 • Food System Innovations: $543,000 • Generation Awakening: $116,700 Annual grant-making is currently in the $6–$7 million range. The Foundation does not fund animal sanctuary strategies, despite supporting broader animal welfare initiatives.
Where does The Greenbaum Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds projects primarily in California, the District of Columbia, and New York, with grantees operating across more than 85 countries globally.
What size grants does The Greenbaum Foundation award?
In 2024, The Greenbaum Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $6.1M — an average of about $107K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Greenbaum Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Greenbaum Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Greenbaum Foundation's EIN?
The Greenbaum Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-6217358. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Greenbaum 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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