The Held Foundation
The Held Foundation is a family foundation based in Los Angeles, California, established in 1985 and tax-exempt since January 1986. Operating as a 501(c)(3) private foundation, it functions as a grantmaking organization that provides strategic philanthropic support to public charities across Southern California.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.0M
+7.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$95K
-44.9% YoY
Grant Count
9
-62.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+47.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Held Foundation reported a distributable amount of $346K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Held Foundation strengthens communities across Southern California through strategic investments in four primary focus areas:
Health Access & Innovation — Investing in community health initiatives and groundbreaking medical research with a focus on expanding access to quality, compassionate care.
Family Stability & Youth Opportunity — Supporting young people and families with stable housing, education access, and job readiness to set the foundation for strong, independent futures.
Jewish Joy & Resilience — Strengthening Jewish identity, connection, and safety by supporting programs that foster vibrant Jewish life and actively combat antisemitism.
Food Security & Community Nourishment — Ensuring individuals and families have reliable access to healthy food through community-based food programs and responsive relief efforts.
The foundation's work is rooted in the personal commitment to giving back established by Harold and Louise Held, and has evolved into a three-generation family effort to support organizations building vibrant, resilient communities.
Grantmaking
The Held Foundation made 20 grants in 2024. Recent grant recipients include:
Grant Range
s vary, reflecting the foundation's diverse funding priorities across its focus areas.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Held Foundation concentrates its grantmaking in Southern California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,008,101
- Total Revenues: $709,400
- Total Expenses: $233,150
- Number of Employees: 0
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $6,530,000
- Total Revenues: -$282,000
- Total Expenses: $303,000
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Total grants and contributions: $413,459
- Investment income and dividends: $202,246
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $81,780
- Miscellaneous revenues: $11,915
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,008,101 | $6,527,782 | $7,095,266 |
| Revenue | $709,400 | $-281,778 | $595,463 |
| Expenses | $233,150 | $303,490 | $426,502 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $172,303 | $268,079 | $356,466 |
| Net Investment Income | $285,996 | $636,733 | $213,999 |
| Distributable Amount | $345,747 | $317,538 | $351,935 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wayfinder Family Services ($61,000), American Israel Education Foundatio ($25,000), LA Jewish Home ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sinai Temple Los Angeles, CA | PUBLIC CHARITY | $1,000 |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY LOS ANGELES, CA | PUBLIC CHARITY | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATIO WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $25,000 |
| JVS LOS ANGELES, CA | PUBLIC CHARITY | $500 |
| MADD GARDENA, CA | PUBLIC CHARITY | $250 |
| WAYFINDER FAMILY SERVICES LOS ANGELES, CA | PUBLIC CHARITY | $61,000 |
| Rett Syndrome Research Trust TRUMBULL, CT | PUBLIC CHARITY | $720 |
| LA Jewish Home Beverly Hills, CA | PUBLIC CHARITY | $5,000 |
| STEVEN S WISE TEMPLE LOS ANGELES, CA | PUBLIC CHARITY | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was established by Harold and Louise Held and operates as a family foundation involving three generations of the Held family.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA BORDY | Trustee | 1 | — |
| ROBERT HELD | Trustee | — | — |
| JOSEPH HELD | Trustee | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1880 Century Park East, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90067-1607
Telephone: 310-300-2222
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Held Foundation fund?
The Held Foundation strengthens communities across Southern California through strategic investments in four primary focus areas: • **Health Access & Innovation** — Investing in community health initiatives and groundbreaking medical research with a focus on expanding access to quality, compassionate care. • **Family Stability & Youth Opportunity** — Supporting young people and families with stable housing, education access, and job readiness to set the foundation for strong, independent future…
How do I apply for a grant from The Held Foundation?
The Held Foundation made 20 grants in 2024. Recent grant recipients include: • Wayfinder Family Services — $61,000 • Sinai Temple — $1,000 • Rett Syndrome Research Trust (RSRT) — $720 The foundation also supports organizations such as The Jewish Federation. Grant sizes vary, reflecting the foundation's diverse funding priorities across its focus areas.
Where does The Held Foundation make grants?
The Held Foundation concentrates its grantmaking in Southern California.
What size grants does The Held Foundation award?
In 2024, The Held Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $95K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Held Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Held Foundation reported a distributable amount of $346K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Held Foundation's EIN?
The Held Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4016569. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Held 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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