The Mesdag Family Foundation
The Mesdag Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. It supports other organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code through contributions; its filing states that it does not conduct direct charitable activities.
The Mesdag Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mesdag Family Foundation gave $810K across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), top state Colorado. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $810,200
- -1.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 46
- -16.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,613
- +17.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $16,073,937
- +4.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (3 of 46, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (31% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Mesdag Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its trustees select organizations based on their knowledge of the organizations’ activities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1 Oakmont Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (973) 472-6250
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mesdag Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Aspen Music Festival and School ($100K). Together the top 10 received $550K.
Grant Size Distribution
259 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 234 grants of 259 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Colorado (31%), California (28%), New York (11%), Illinois (10%), and New Jersey (9%). The grants also included recipients in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Mesdag Family Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 46 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $644K (2020) to $823K (2024). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $810K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Music Festival and School Aspen, CO | General Support | $100,000 |
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | General Support | $75,000 |
| Harvard-Westlake School Studio City, CA | General Support | $60,000 |
| St Monica's Catholic Church San Louis, MO | General Support | $60,000 |
| Obama Foundation Chicago, IL | General Support | $55,600 |
| Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund New York City, NY | General Support | $50,000 |
| La Clippers Fire Aid Inglewood, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Theater Aspen Aspen, CO | General Support | $35,000 |
| Pacific Council on International Policy Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $34,600 |
| Colorado Academy Denver, CO | General Support | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Mesdag Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,073,937 | $2,884,466 | $920,170 | $810,200 | 46 | $810,950 | $1,824,006 | $865,547 |
| 2024 | $15,411,889 | $3,455,900 | $936,626 | $822,700 | 55 | $831,115 | $1,349,065 | $900,388 |
| 2023 | $14,531,731 | $1,288,199 | $841,771 | $753,400 | 52 | $761,800 | $1,204,621 | $742,314 |
| 2022 | $14,052,331 | $708,765 | $725,249 | $670,400 | 52 | $677,900 | $668,416 | $801,667 |
| 2021 | $14,461,118 | $818,464 | $861,441 | $796,393 | 54 | — | $779,291 | $728,947 |
| 2020 | $14,553,866 | $393,218 | $719,737 | $643,940 | 24 | — | $374,772 | $687,778 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mesdag Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $866K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says its primary purpose is to support other charitable organizations through contributions. Its 2025 grants included educational institutions, arts organizations, and organizations working in areas such as international policy, emergency response, health, homelessness, and environmental protection.
The grantees describe their own work in varied ways. Princeton University describes its work as research and education, while Harvard-Westlake School emphasizes educational excellence and an inclusive community. The Pacific Council on International Policy says it convenes thought leaders to discuss global issues and develop actionable solutions. Colorado Academy describes its mission as creating curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders. Other 2025 recipients included the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, which supports equipment, training, and public outreach for the fire department; International Medical Corps, which works on health interventions in communities affected by crises; the Los Angeles Mission, which addresses homelessness and poverty; and Heal the Bay, which works to protect Southern California coastal waters and watersheds.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 46 grants totaling $810,200. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Among the largest were $100,000 to Aspen Music Festival and School, $75,000 to Princeton University, $60,000 each to Harvard-Westlake School and St Monica’s Catholic Church, and $55,600 to the Obama Foundation. The listed purposes for these grants were general support.
The foundation states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not receive applications or conduct donation programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists T Willem Mesdag and Lisa Ann Mesdag as part-time trustees.
The Mesdag Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Ann Mesdag
Trustee & Part-Time
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
T. Willem Mesdag
Trustee & Part-Time
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Mesdag Family Foundation
How much does The Mesdag Family Foundation give each year?
The Mesdag Family Foundation gave $810K across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $823K across 55 grants.
What is The Mesdag Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Mesdag Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,613, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mesdag Family Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does The Mesdag Family Foundation give grants?
The Mesdag Family Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (28%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (8 grants), Los Angeles, CA (7 grants), Aspen, CO (4 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).
Does The Mesdag Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Mesdag Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (46 of 46) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Mesdag Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Mesdag Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Aspen Music Festival and School ($100,000), Princeton University ($75,000) and Harvard-Westlake School ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Mesdag Family Foundation?
The Mesdag Family Foundation reported $16.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $811K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $866K (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 Mesdag Family Foundation fund?
The foundation says its primary purpose is to support other charitable organizations through contributions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mesdag Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mesdag Family Foundation's EIN?
The Mesdag Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3651269. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Mesdag 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Mesdag Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mesdag-family-foundation-morg_736af4a00b5441529303f01841415df3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133651269_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Mesdag Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mesdag-family-foundation-morg_736af4a00b5441529303f01841415df3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Mesdag 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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