The Looker Foundation
The Looker Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2024 filing lists 21 grants totaling $233,000, supporting organizations working in areas including arts education, disability inclusion, environmental protection, community services, and education.
The Looker Foundation at a glance
In short: The Looker Foundation gave $233K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in California. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $233,000
- +0.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,095
- +0.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,995,566
- +14.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (3 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (81% 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 Looker Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2355 Westwood Blvd Unit 1601, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: (310) 414-9117
Website: https://www.thelookerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Looker Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Children's Creative Project ($40K). Together the top 10 received $187K.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 110 grants of 110 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 17% to New York, 1% to Illinois, and 1% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Looker Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 21 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 86% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $233K (2023) to $299K (2022). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $233K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Creative Project Santa Barbara, CA | For General Operating Fund | $40,000 |
| Momentum Wheels for Humanity Woodland Hills, CA | For General Operating Fund | $25,000 |
| Skowhegan School of PTNG and Sculp New York, NY | For General Operating Fund | $20,000 |
| St Margaret's Center Lennox, CA | For General Operating Fund | $20,000 |
| Environmental Defense Center Santa Barbara, CA | For General Operating Fund | $15,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund New York, NY | For Environmental & Health Initiative Programs | $15,000 |
| No Limits Culver City, CA | For General Operating Fund | $15,000 |
| The Ojai Raptor Center Oak View, CA | For General Operating Fund | $12,500 |
| Help of Ojai Inc Ojai, CA | For General Operating Fund | $12,000 |
| Ucsd Student-Run Free Clinic Project La Jolla, CA | For General Operating Fund | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Looker Foundation?
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 | $5,995,566 | $247,032 | $314,853 | $233,000 | 21 | $240,217 | $172,396 | $262,530 |
| 2023 | $5,260,478 | $231,373 | $280,084 | $232,500 | 21 | $239,020 | $189,106 | $248,412 |
| 2022 | $3,353,095 | $60,530 | $404,550 | $299,000 | 22 | $312,972 | — | $257,134 |
| 2021 | $3,697,115 | $272,747 | $303,816 | $240,000 | 24 | $249,343 | $202,870 | $294,259 |
| 2020 | $3,728,184 | $-522,773 | $312,007 | $250,000 | 22 | — | $91,566 | $243,306 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Looker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $263K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions include arts education for children, greater inclusion for people with disabilities, environmental protection, assistance with basic needs in the Ojai Valley, and educational opportunities for children experiencing homelessness.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $233,000 through 21 grants. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $40,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed grants included $40,000 to Children’s Creative Project, $25,000 to Momentum Wheels for Humanity, $20,000 each to Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and St. Margaret’s Center, and $15,000 each to Environmental Defense Center, Environmental Defense Fund, and No Limits. Most listed grants were for general operating funds.
Other 2024 recipients included The Ojai Raptor Center ($12,500), Help of Ojai Inc. ($12,000), UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project ($12,000), School on Wheels ($10,000), and Brother Benno’s Center ($9,000). The filing also states that the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary M Looker as chair emeritas; Blair Looker Ridenour as president; Rob Looker as secretary; Monica Looker as treasurer; and Amy S Looker, Erin Looker, Tonia Looker, and Lexie Looker as board members.
The Looker Foundation is led by Blair Looker Ridenour, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Blair Looker Ridenour
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary M. Looker
Chair Emeritas
Chair Emerita → Chair Emeritas, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy S. Looker
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Looker
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica Anne Looker
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonia Cook Looker
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lexie Megan Looker
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Looker
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert L. Looker (2020–2022) — Secretary
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 Looker Foundation
How much does The Looker Foundation give each year?
The Looker Foundation gave $233K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $233K across 21 grants.
What is The Looker Foundation's typical grant size?
The Looker Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,095, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Looker Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Looker Foundation give grants?
The Looker Foundation gives mostly in California: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (6 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does The Looker Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 95% of The Looker Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Looker Foundation's largest grantees?
The Looker Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Children's Creative Project ($40,000), Momentum Wheels for Humanity ($25,000) and Skowhegan School of PTNG and Sculp ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Looker Foundation?
The Looker Foundation reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $240K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $263K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Looker Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Looker Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Looker Foundation's EIN?
The Looker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0397495. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Looker 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Looker Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Looker Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-looker-foundation-morg_2ecbdabd84854b198157fb701c36de81
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_770397495_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Looker Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-looker-foundation-morg_2ecbdabd84854b198157fb701c36de81},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Looker 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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