The Sam Mazza Foundation
The Sam Mazza Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in October 2005 through the estate of founder Sam Mazza. Based in San Francisco, California, with headquarters in Pacifica, the foundation operates as a grantmaking institution and serves as conservator of The Mazza Castle, a significant historical resource in Pacifica that provides venue for the arts and fundraising for nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.5M
+0.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$379K
-14.5% YoY
Grant Count
31
-13.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-0.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sam Mazza Foundation reported a distributable amount of $370K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Sam Mazza Foundation supports initiatives that enrich culture through the arts and arts education. The foundation believes that advancing the arts and arts education enables humanity to achieve its highest potential. The foundation champions arts impact organizations whose innovative engagement with the communities they serve exemplifies clearly defined vision, action, and goals.
Beyond arts and arts education, the foundation also funds qualified 501(c)(3) organizations working to improve their communities through education and addressing quality of life concerns.
Grantmaking
Since its inception, the foundation has granted approximately $7 million to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations.
Grant Range
& Activity:**
Average Grant
amount and median grant amount data are available but not specified in the sources
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of 2023):
- Total assets: $21,538,533
- Total giving: $378,940
- Revenue: $354,000
- Total expenses: $1,050,000
- Total liabilities: $14,800
Tax Status:
- Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since March 2006
- EIN: 20-3644356
- Classified as a Private Grantmaking Foundation
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,538,533 | $21,536,520 | $16,105,305 |
| Revenue | $677,966 | $354,195 | $229,817 |
| Expenses | $925,026 | $1,045,416 | $923,977 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $744,141 | $890,183 | $992,150 |
| Net Investment Income | $462,398 | $240,199 | $142,484 |
| Distributable Amount | $369,740 | $890,504 | $675,446 |
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
185 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dance Brigade ($35,000), Golden Thread Productions ($30,000), Look What SHE Did ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bright Stars of Bethlehem Mount Morris, IL | Children & Youth Arts | $5,000 |
| Episcopal Community Services San Francisco, CA | Chefs Culinary Arts Training Program for Homeless & Low-Income adults and transition-aged youth in Tenderloin, San Francisco | $9,000 |
| Music at Kohl Mansion Burlingame, CA | General Operating Grant | $20,000 |
| Pacifica Resource Center Pacifica, CA | Sponsorship for community fundraising to support low-income/homeless in Pacifica, CA | $1,000 |
| Comedy Celebration Day Inc San Francisco, CA | General Support | $7,500 |
| Exponent Philanthropy Washington, DC | Membership | $830 |
| World Arts West San Francisco, CA | Ethnic Dance Festival in San Francisco | $2,510 |
| Dance Brigade San Francisco, CA | Grrrrrl Brigade | $35,000 |
| Shotgun Players Berkeley, CA | Make a Difference Program supports $5 tickets to anyone 25 and younger, paid fellowships for young artists and professional mentorship for work/trade opportunities. | $5,000 |
| West Edge Opera Berkeley, CA | Dolores and Workshop | $18,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jeanette Cool serves as the foundation's Executive Director and heads the board of directors, which is described as diverse.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanette Cool | Exec Dir | 40 | $79,167 |
| Anne Galjour | Director | 3.88 | — |
| Robert C Hood | Treasurer | 3.88 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active calendar of Castle Music Salons and Castle Tours at The Mazza Castle in Pacifica, featuring performances and cultural programming. Recent and upcoming events include performances by the Steve Carter Trio and pianist Jovino Santos Neto.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sam Mazza Foundation fund?
The Sam Mazza Foundation supports initiatives that enrich culture through the arts and arts education. The foundation believes that advancing the arts and arts education enables humanity to achieve its highest potential. The foundation champions arts impact organizations whose innovative engagement with the communities they serve exemplifies clearly defined vision, action, and goals. Beyond arts and arts education, the foundation also funds qualified 501(c)(3) organizations working to improve t…
How do I apply for a grant from The Sam Mazza Foundation?
**Grant Size & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $275 to $35,000 • Average grant amount and median grant amount data are available but not specified in the sources • Total giving in the most recent fiscal year was $378,940 **Cumulative Impact:** Since its inception, the foundation has granted approximately $7 million to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations.
Where does The Sam Mazza Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Illinois.
What size grants does The Sam Mazza Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sam Mazza Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $379K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sam Mazza Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sam Mazza Foundation reported a distributable amount of $370K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sam Mazza Foundation's EIN?
The Sam Mazza Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3644356. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sam Mazza 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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