The James E Downey Foundation
The James E Downey Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEWPORT BEACH, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 2 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $114K.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+834.5% YoY
Grant Count
2
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$650K
+367.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James E Downey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $196K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The James E Downey Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The James E Downey Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEWPORT BEACH, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 2 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $114K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $4,501,454 | $4,677,147 |
| Revenue | $-57,386 | $11,063 | $208,216 |
| Expenses | $1,325,024 | $185,920 | $319,684 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,299,000 | $139,000 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $113,917 | $101,237 | $167,487 |
| Distributable Amount | $195,651 | $244,445 | $240,206 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include The Nells Foundation ($1,200,000), Ottawa Scholars - See Attached Shee ($99,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| OTTAWA SCHOLARS - SEE ATTACHED SHEE ATTACHED SHEET, IL | SCHOLARSHIP | $99,000 |
| THE NELLS FOUNDATION NEWPORT BEACH, CA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James E Downey | President & dir | — | — |
| GINO BIANCHI | Vice President | — | — |
| BRENT ANDERSON | CFO/SECRETARY | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The James E Downey Foundation?
The James E Downey Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEWPORT BEACH, CA. It holds — in total assets as of 2023.
Where does The James E Downey Foundation operate?
The James E Downey Foundation has awarded grants in California, Illinois.
What size grants does The James E Downey Foundation award?
In 2023, The James E Downey Foundation awarded 2 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $650K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James E Downey Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The James E Downey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $196K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The James E Downey Foundation's EIN?
The James E Downey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3510627. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.