The Ressler Family Foundation
The Ressler Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1994 and based in Los Angeles, California. The foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Richard and Alison Ressler, who serve as trustees without compensation.
Key facts about The Ressler Family Foundation
- EIN
- 95-6979496
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,321,227
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $160,045
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (12 of 27, 2024)
- Total assets
- $43,365,756
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- No specific application guidelines or formal process information is available in public sources. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ressler Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Ressler Family Foundation's 27 itemized 2024 grants were Rhode Island (75%) and California (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (7 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). 93% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Ressler Family Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 27 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $278K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1948% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 201% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Ressler Family Foundation
- How to evaluate The Ressler Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.4M
-9.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.3M
+1.7% YoY
Grant Count
27
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$160K
-9.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ressler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for higher and other education, including law school support. Additional focus areas include medical research and human services. The foundation also supports legal charities and pro-Israel causes.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across the United States and internationally. Primary funding areas include California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C., with significant activity in the greater Los Angeles area. The foundation also supports projects in London.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $43,365,756
- Total Revenues: $7,819,099
- Total Expenses: $5,607,172
- Investment Income and Dividends: $545,418
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $7,386,924
Historical Context: The foundation's assets have grown modestly, with 2024 assets of $43.4 million compared to approximately $48 million reported in earlier filings.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,365,756 | $48,000,837 | $44,661,162 |
| Revenue | $7,819,099 | $8,593,217 | $13,489,327 |
| Expenses | $5,607,172 | $5,466,189 | $11,028,120 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,321,227 | $4,250,600 | $10,200,830 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,759,200 | $7,441,525 | $12,659,778 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,147,324 | $2,173,682 | $2,535,053 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
115 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Brown University ($3,250,000), Harvard Westlake School ($350,000), UCLA ($217,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BROWN UNIVERSITY Providence, RI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,250,000 |
| HARVARD WESTLAKE SCHOOL Studio City, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $350,000 |
| UCLA Los Angeles, CA | SUPPORT MELANOMA CANCER RESEARCH | $217,500 |
| BABY2BABY Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| CASA CORNELIA LAW CENTER San Diego, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CITY HARVEST INC Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE Glendale, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
Richard Ressler – Co-founder of CIM Group (a real estate investment firm) and Orchard Capital (an investment company). Graduate of Brown University; earned J.D. and M.B.A. from Columbia University. Early career experience at Cravath, Swaine and Moore, specializing in public offerings, private placements, and merger and acquisition transactions.
Alison Ressler – Partner at the international law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. Graduate of Brown University; earned J.D. from Columbia University. Member of the corporation of Brown University.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alison Ressler | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Richard Ressler | Trustee | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with significant contributions to educational institutions. A major 2024 grant of $3.25 million to Brown University's Faculty and Graduate Student Club reflects the trustees' ongoing commitment to their alma mater. The foundation awarded over $4.3 million in grants during 2024.
Atlanta Hawks Foundation and Ressler Gertz Family Foundation Advance ProstateFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Ressler Family Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for higher and other education, including law school support. Additional focus areas include medical research and human services. The foundation also supports legal charities and pro-Israel causes.
How do I apply for a grant from The Ressler Family Foundation?
No specific application guidelines or formal process information is available in public sources. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Ressler Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across the United States and internationally. Primary funding areas include California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C., with significant activity in the greater Los Angeles area. The foundation also supports projects in London.
What size grants does The Ressler Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ressler Family Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $4.3M — an average of about $160K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ressler Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ressler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ressler Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ressler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6979496. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.