The James Annenberg La Vea Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 2000 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The foundation was created by James Annenberg La Vea (1939-2014), an heir to the Annenberg publishing and media fortune. Operating as a non-operating private foundation, it proactively identifies and selects charitable organizations aligned with its mission rather than accepting unsolicited grant applications.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$197.9M
+0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.0M
-2.3% YoY
Grant Count
21
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$476K
-2.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn reported a distributable amount of $11.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving is guided by James Annenberg La Vea's belief that "children are our future leaders" and his mother's philosophy: "Don't give until it pinches, give until it hurts."
Primary funding priorities include:
- Children and Youth Services — Programs benefiting children and young people
- Health Care — Medical organizations and health services
- Human Services — Comprehensive human service programs
- Medical Research — Health advancement research initiatives
- Animal Welfare — Wildlife and domesticated animal charities, reflecting the founder's belief in the connection between how we treat animals and how we treat each other
The foundation also supports education and philanthropy/voluntarism initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. It operates by proactively selecting charitable organizations to support and does not maintain a public website or provide contact information for grant inquiries.
Grant Range
$476,000
Average Grant
$497,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- Illinois
The foundation also supports national U.S.-based organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $196.8 million to $197.9 million
- Total Revenues: $18.5 million
- Total Expenses: $11.4 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $6.1 million
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $197.9 million
- Annual Giving: $10.4 million
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $38.2 million in 2011 to $196.8 million in 2023, demonstrating significant growth over the foundation's history.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $197,946,329 | $196,766,658 | $189,128,643 |
| Revenue | $14,026,919 | $18,535,222 | $9,031,566 |
| Expenses | $11,527,145 | $11,374,136 | $12,196,296 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,356,754 | $10,568,197 | $11,522,317 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,915,505 | $17,428,901 | $7,863,970 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,339,473 | $10,327,178 | $10,580,659 |
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
105 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Feeding America ($650,110), Childrens Hunger Fund ($600,101), Boy Scouts of America ($550,093).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward Inc Ft Lauderdale, FL | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $400,068 |
| Boy Scouts of America Atlanta, GA | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $550,093 |
| Boys and Girls Club of America Atlanta, GA | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $400,068 |
| Children's Home Society of Florida Inc Orlando, FL | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $400,068 |
| Childrens Hospital Corporation dba Boston, MA | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $450,076 |
| Childrens Hunger Fund Sylmar, CA | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $600,101 |
| Dave Thomas Fund for Adoption Dublin, OH | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $500,084 |
| Feed the Children Inc Oklahoma City, OK | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $550,093 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $650,110 |
| Florence Fuller Child Development Boca Raton, FL | IN HONOR OF JAMES ANNENBERG | $400,068 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: PNC Bank
- Trustees: Lawrence J Miller and PNC Bank
- Staff: 2 employees (as of 2023)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE J MILLER ESQUIRE | CO-TRUSTEE | 5 | $279,692 |
| GLENMEDE TRUST CO N A | CO-TRUSTEE | 40 | $613,322 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn fund?
The foundation's giving is guided by James Annenberg La Vea's belief that "children are our future leaders" and his mother's philosophy: "Don't give until it pinches, give until it hurts." Primary funding priorities include: • **Children and Youth Services** — Programs benefiting children and young people • **Health Care** — Medical organizations and health services • **Human Services** — Comprehensive human service programs • **Medical Research** — Health advancement research initiatives • **A…
How do I apply for a grant from The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn?
**Grant Activity:** • Total grants made: 105 grants totaling $52.2 million (through available records) • Median grant size: $476,000 • Average grant size: $497,000 • Individual grant range: $381,000 to $726,000 • Annual distribution: Between $9.5 million and $22.4 million annually (2020-2023) • Highest grantmaking year: 2022 with $22.4 million distributed across 42 grants **Recent Grants (2023):** • Feeding America: $665,338 (In Honor of James Annenberg) • Children's Hunger Fund: $614,158 (In H…
Where does The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Florida • Massachusetts • Illinois The foundation also supports national U.S.-based organizations.
What size grants does The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn award?
In 2024, The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn awarded 21 grants totaling $10.0M — an average of about $476K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn reported a distributable amount of $11.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn's EIN?
The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6323823. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Wolf Creek Operating Foundation
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA
Assets
$7.1M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The Best Little Cat House in PA
HARRISBURG, PA
Assets
$281K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
LANCASTER, PA
Assets
$9.4M
Grants
35
Total Given
$304K
The Irene P Sorbara Charitable Foundation
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
2
Total Given
$131K
Howmet Aerospace Foundation
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$141.5M
Grants
209
Total Given
$8.4M
Penn and Lisa Seiple Conservancy
SUNBURY, PA
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The James Annenberg La Vea Char Fdn to a real strategy.