The James E Downey Foundation
The James E Downey Foundation is a private foundation, based in Newport Beach, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 2 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $114K.
The James E Downey Foundation at a glance
In short: The James E Downey Foundation gave $1.3M across 2 grants in 2023 (avg $650K), mostly in California. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,299,000
- +834.5% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 2
- +100.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $649,500
- +367.3% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $649,500
- Primary geography
- California (92% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026.
Who The James E Downey Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was The Nells Foundation ($1.2M).
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($99,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 2 grants of 7 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The James E Downey Foundation gives
- Giving grew 361% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 664% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $139K (2022) to $1.3M (2023). In 2023 it made 2 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Nells Foundation Newport Beach, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $1,200,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $99,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $-57,386 | $1,325,024 | $1,299,000 | 2 | $1,299,000 | $113,917 | $195,651 |
| 2022 | $4,501,454 | $11,063 | $185,920 | $139,000 | 1 | $139,000 | $101,237 | $244,445 |
| 2021 | $4,677,147 | $208,216 | $319,684 | $236,000 | 1 | — | $167,487 | $240,206 |
| 2020 | $4,788,720 | $4,973,718 | $325,725 | $281,500 | 2 | — | $2,260,964 | $137,059 |
| 2019 | $2,381,010 | $174,893 | $449,297 | $421,500 | 1 | — | $154,431 | $125,385 |
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.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The James E Downey Foundation is led by James E Downey, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
James E Downey
President & Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Brent Anderson
CFO & Secretary
New on the 2023 filing
No compensation reported
Gino Bianchi
Vice President
New on the 2023 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Karl Jonson (2019–2022) — CFO & Director
- Former: Eira Nguyen (2021–2022) — Secretary & Director
- Former: Tiffany Israel (2019–2020) — Secretary & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The James E Downey Foundation
How much does The James E Downey Foundation give each year?
The James E Downey Foundation gave $1.3M across 2 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $139K across 1 grant.
Where does The James E Downey Foundation operate?
The James E Downey Foundation has awarded grants in California, Illinois.
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 2019–2023.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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Browse active grant opportunities in The James E Downey Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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