The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Encino, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including newsrooms, arts and storytelling organizations, and groups working on civic, racial-justice, and community issues.
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation gave $5.3M across 76 grants in 2024 (avg $70K), top state New York. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,311,995
- -16.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 76
- +13.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $69,895
- -26.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,475,153
- -2.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (30 of 76, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (35% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 16030 Ventura Blvd 320, Encino, CA 91436
Phone: (310) 288-9970
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Pro Publica Inc ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $4.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
324 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 210 grants of 324 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New York (35%), California (31%), and Washington, DC (21%), followed by Texas (5%) and Massachusetts (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 76 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 30 of 76 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $104K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 40% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.3M (2024) to $9.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 76 grants totaling $5.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Publica Inc New York, NY | Unrestricted SUPPORT$500,000 Capital Campaign | $1,500,000 |
| Hopewell Fund Washington, DC | Free Election Fund | $1,000,000 |
| Community Coalition Los Angeles, CA | $5,545 school supplies$250,000 south central youth empowered thru action (SCYEA) program$50,000 unrestricted support | $555,545 |
| Array Alliance Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Support | $500,000 |
| The 19TH News Austin, TX | Unrestricted Support | $250,000 |
| Motion Picture & Television Fund Woodland Hills, CA | Unrestricted Support | $100,000 |
| NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc New York, NY | Unrestricted Support | $100,000 |
| Northeastern University Boston, MA | Northeastern Financial Aid Fund | $100,000 |
| The Obama Foundation Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Support | $100,000 |
| The UCLA Foundation Los Angeles, CA | UCLA Nimoy Theater | $100,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,475,153 | $5,600,257 | $5,749,592 | $5,311,995 | 76 | $5,675,454 | $1,692,028 | $235,736 |
| 2023 | $5,603,741 | $7,225,516 | $6,815,392 | $6,352,837 | 67 | $6,768,738 | $1,843,077 | $138,720 |
| 2022 | $5,164,655 | $7,702,821 | $7,612,669 | $7,135,700 | 64 | $7,555,393 | $47,922 | $169,953 |
| 2021 | $5,090,305 | $12,922,680 | $9,291,577 | $8,895,700 | 62 | $9,246,229 | $163,187 | $88,058 |
| 2020 | $1,444,286 | $7,934,875 | $10,310,343 | $9,904,064 | 55 | — | $89,570 | $78,613 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in journalism, storytelling, legal advocacy, community programs, and other areas. For example, ProPublica describes its work as investigative journalism in the public interest; Array Alliance says it advances social and cultural justice through storytelling and supports women filmmakers and people of color; and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund describes itself as a legal organization fighting for racial justice. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 76 grants totaling $5,311,995 in 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $1,500,000, with a median of $10,000. Its reported grant totals were $6,352,837 across 67 grants in 2023 and $7,135,700 across 64 grants in 2022.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $1,500,000 to ProPublica, $1,000,000 to Hopewell Fund for the Free Election Fund, $555,545 to Community Coalition, and $500,000 to Array Alliance. Other notable grants included $250,000 to The 19th News; $100,000 each to the Motion Picture & Television Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Northeastern University, the Obama Foundation, and the UCLA Foundation; and $75,000 to the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kathleen McGrath as president and director, and Jeffrey J. Abrams as secretary, treasurer, and director.
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation is led by Kathleen McGrath, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kathleen McGrath
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey J. Abrams
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation
How much does The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation give each year?
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation gave $5.3M across 76 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.4M across 67 grants.
What is The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $69,895, across 76 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation give grants?
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's top state is New York, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (31%) and District of Columbia (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (22 grants), New York, NY (7 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants) and Santa Monica, CA (6 grants).
Does The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 82% of The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (62 of 76) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Pro Publica Inc ($1,500,000), Hopewell Fund ($1,000,000) and Community Coalition ($555,545), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation?
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $236K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in journalism, storytelling, legal advocacy, community programs, and other areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's EIN?
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3682112. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-katie-mcgrath-and-jj-abrams-family-foundation-morg_16f5940f7f6849a8b65eef956d2e0c84
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_453682112_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Katie McGrath \& JJ Abrams Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-katie-mcgrath-and-jj-abrams-family-foundation-morg_16f5940f7f6849a8b65eef956d2e0c84},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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