The Murray Reese Foundation

SANTA MONICA, CA EIN: 81-1191280

The Murray Reese Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Woodland Hills, California, established in 2016. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation with a broad geographic reach across the United States.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$91K

-45.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.3M

+0.0% YoY

Grant Count

48

-2.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$27K

+2.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Murray Reese Foundation reported a distributable amount of $631 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Grantmaking

The foundation demonstrates significant grantmaking activity relative to its asset base. In 2023, it made 34 grants totaling approximately $1.3 million in expenses, with an average grant size of approximately $117,000 based on recent activity.

Grant Range

of approximately $117,000 based on recent activity.

Average Grant

of approximately $117,000 based on recent activity.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Murray Reese Foundation supports a wide range of cities and communities across the United States, including major urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities. Its funding extends across multiple states including California, New York, Massachusetts, and others.

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

ArlingtonBostonCalabasasColumbiaFredericksbergGlendaleHighland ParkHollywoodIndianapolisIrvineLos AngelesMalibuMontgomeryNapaNew YorkNewport NewsNorth HillsNorth HollywoodPalm SpringsPasadena

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 31, 2023:

  • Total Assets: $167,825
  • Total Revenue: $1,175,086
  • Total Expenses: $1,315,874
  • Total Liabilities: $0
  • Number of Employees: 0

The foundation demonstrates significant annual financial activity, with expenses exceeding assets, indicating substantial grant distributions relative to its endowment size.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$366K$732K$1M$1M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$90,808$167,825$308,613
Revenue$1,253,330$1,175,086$1,055,505
Expenses$1,330,444$1,315,874$852,301
Qualifying Distributions$1,314,290$1,302,513$839,368
Net Investment Income$664,337$571,697$288,505
Distributable Amount$631$671$12,277

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$324K$647K$971K$1M36 grants202041 grants202139 grants202249 grants202348 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

PROJECT ANGEL FOOD$255KFAMILY EQUALITY COUNCIL$125KRESPECTABILITY$113KWBGH FOUNDATION$87KDISABILITY BELONGS$75KLOCAL JOURNALISM PROJECT…$55KEISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDA…$50KGLAAD$50KPALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM$50KPALM SPRINGS PLAZA THEATRE$50K

Grant Size Distribution

213 grants across all recorded years

182<$50K15$50–100K13$100–250K3$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Project Angel Food ($255,000), Family Equality Council ($125,000), Respectability ($112,500).

RecipientPurposeAmount
AMERICARES STAMFORD, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$5,000
APLA HEALTH LOS ANGELES, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$10,000
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE GLENDALE, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
BLOOMERNAG NPO INDIANAPOLIS, INGENERAL SUPPORT$5,000
COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES BOSTON, MAGENERAL SUPPORT$2,584
DISABILITY BELONGS FREDERICKSBERG, VAGENERAL SUPPORT$75,000
EASTER SEALS SO CA IRVINE, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$10,000
EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION RANCHO MIRAGE, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$50,000
FALSE TRUE FILM FESTIVAL COLUMBIA, MOGENERAL SUPPORT$25,000
FAMILY EQUALITY COUNCIL NEW YORK, NYGENERAL SUPPORT$125,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Harvey Hamilton Reese II – Executive Director (unpaid)
  • Jonathan Murray – Trustee (unpaid)
  • Daniel Howard – Trustee (unpaid)

The foundation's leadership team operates on a volunteer basis with no compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
HARVEY HAMILTON REESE IIEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR5
JONATHAN MURRAYTRUSTEE0.1
DANIEL HOWARDTRUSTEE0.1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a grant from The Murray Reese Foundation?

The foundation demonstrates significant grantmaking activity relative to its asset base. In 2023, it made 34 grants totaling approximately $1.3 million in expenses, with an average grant size of approximately $117,000 based on recent activity. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Project Angel Food: $255,000 (General Support) • Family Equality: $125,000 (General Support) • Ragtag Film Society: $35,000 (True/False Film Festival) The foundation made an additional 25 grants in 2023 totaling $629,922. The f…

Where does The Murray Reese Foundation make grants?

The Murray Reese Foundation supports a wide range of cities and communities across the United States, including major urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities. Its funding extends across multiple states including California, New York, Massachusetts, and others.

What size grants does The Murray Reese Foundation award?

In 2024, The Murray Reese Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Murray Reese Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Murray Reese Foundation reported a distributable amount of $631 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Murray Reese Foundation's EIN?

The Murray Reese Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1191280. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Murray Reese Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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