The Placzek Family Foundation
The Placzek Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lafayette, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations supporting healthcare, education and community activities, as well as organizations whose stated grant purposes relate to Czech causes.
The Placzek Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Placzek Family Foundation gave $87K across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in California. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $86,500
- +16.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- -3.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,983
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,348,669
- -0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (4 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (65% 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 Placzek Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3559 Mt Diablo Blvd Unit 193, Lafayette, CA 94549
Phone: (510) 540-6321
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Placzek Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UCSF - Hematology Pulmunology Palliative Care Departments ($16K). Together the top 10 received $61K.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 65% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. The filing also reports 5% for Washington, DC; 3% for Massachusetts; 2% for Louisiana; and 18% in the “?” category. Listed California recipients include organizations in San Francisco, Lafayette, Berkeley and Walnut Creek.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Placzek Family Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 28 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 180% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% of 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 $31K (2021) to $87K (2024). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $87K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UCSF - Hematology Pulmunology Palliative Care Departments San Francisco, CA | Support Healthcare | $16,000 |
| Acalanes High School Auto Shop Lafayette, CA | Support Various Activities | $11,000 |
| OPU Organization for Aid to Refugees | Support CZ Causes | $6,000 |
| Stetl Fest | Support CZ Causes | $4,500 |
| Acalanes High School Auto Shop Lafayette, CA | Support Education / Community | $4,000 |
| George Placzek Scholarship Berkeley, CA | Support CZ Causes | $4,000 |
| Jewish Community of Brno | Support CZ Causes | $3,300 |
| ALS Therapy Dev Institute Watertown, MA | Support Healthcare | $3,000 |
| Lindsay Wildlife Experience Walnut Creek, CA | Support Education / Community | $3,000 |
| Olympic Valley Fire Fighters Association Valley Center, CA | Support Various Activities | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Placzek 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,348,669 | $104,110 | $110,254 | $86,500 | 29 | $90,854 | $86,710 | $87,498 |
| 2023 | $1,354,719 | $280,058 | $94,934 | $74,600 | 30 | $78,425 | $265,049 | $71,184 |
| 2022 | $1,129,712 | $119,756 | $106,757 | $71,475 | 20 | $78,775 | $107,135 | $78,825 |
| 2021 | $1,116,713 | $80,932 | $50,597 | $30,846 | 26 | $36,377 | $67,829 | $76,315 |
| 2020 | $1,081,134 | $222,725 | $61,367 | $34,200 | 47 | — | $75,497 | $63,136 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Placzek Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $87K 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 include support for healthcare, education and community activities, and grants designated for Czech causes.
Among its grantees, Young Musicians Choral Orchestra says it uses musical training, academic support and personal guidance to improve the lives of talented, low-income young people ages 9–18. Berkeley Public Schools Fund describes its mission as championing equitable public education, and Lafayette Partners in Education says it works to enhance and expand educational opportunities in Lafayette’s public schools. World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 29 grants totaling $86,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $16,000, with a median of $2,000.
Notable grants included $16,000 to UCSF’s Hematology, Pulmonology and Palliative Care Departments for healthcare; $11,000 to Acalanes High School Auto Shop for various activities; and $6,000 to OPU Organization for Aid to Refugees for Czech causes. Other grants included $4,500 to Stetl Fest and $4,000 each to Acalanes High School Auto Shop and George Placzek Scholarship. Young Musicians Choral Orchestra received $3,000; World Central Kitchen, Berkeley Public Schools Fund and Lafayette Partners in Education each received $2,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christopher Placzek as CEO and Mary Ann Placzek Scheuer as Vice President & Secretary.
The Placzek Family Foundation is led by Christopher Placzek, CEO on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher Placzek
CEO
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ann Placzek Scheuer
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Maryann Placzek Scheuer (2020–2022) — Vice President & Secretary
- Former: F. Anthony Placzek (2020–2021) — CEO - Former
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 Placzek Family Foundation
How much does The Placzek Family Foundation give each year?
The Placzek Family Foundation gave $87K across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $75K across 30 grants.
What is The Placzek Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Placzek Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,983, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Placzek Family Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Placzek Family Foundation give grants?
The Placzek Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lafayette, CA (7 grants), Berkeley, CA (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does The Placzek Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on The Placzek Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Education / Community" (11 grants), "Support Various Activities" (10 grants) and "Support CZ Causes" (6 grants).
Who are The Placzek Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Placzek Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UCSF - Hematology Pulmunology Palliative Care Departments ($16,000), Acalanes High School Auto Shop ($15,000 across 2 grants) and OPU Organization for Aid to Refugees ($6,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Placzek Family Foundation?
The Placzek Family Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $91K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $87K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Placzek Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for healthcare, education and community activities, and grants designated for Czech causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Placzek Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Placzek Family Foundation's EIN?
The Placzek Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0122138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Placzek 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Placzek Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-placzek-family-foundation-morg_d8554a7d304e4a3db6635a9996654e01
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_680122138_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Placzek Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-placzek-family-foundation-morg_d8554a7d304e4a3db6635a9996654e01},
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 Placzek 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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