The Seaver Institute
The Seaver Institute is based in Los Angeles, California, and its IRS filing type is 990T. Its 2023 filing records 79 grants totaling $1,721,700 to organizations including conservation groups, educational institutions, and other nonprofits.
Key facts about The Seaver Institute
In short: The Seaver Institute gave $1.7M across 79 grants in 2023 (avg $22K), mostly in California. 31% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 95-6054764
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,721,700
- Grants made (2023)
- 79
- Average grant
- $21,794
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (24 of 78, 2023)
- Primary geography
- California (94% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+5.5% YoY
Grant Count
79
+1.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
+4.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Seaver Institute reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Seaver Institute open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 24 of 78 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 65% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 82% 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 (2021–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The institute’s stated purpose is to provide seed money for particular projects with potential for significant advancement in their fields. Its grants have supported organizations with varied missions. For example, Sustainable Conservation says it advances collaborative stewardship of California’s land, air, and water, while Mount Saint Mary’s University describes its work as providing a liberal arts and sciences education and fostering leadership and service. Island Conservation says it works to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the institute reported 79 grants totaling $1,721,700. Individual grants ranged from $400 to $400,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
Ready to take the next step with The Seaver Institute?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, California recipients received 94% of grant dollars. Maryland, Michigan, New York, and the District of Columbia each received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 79 itemized 2023 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
234 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION San Francisco, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $400,000 |
| MOUNT SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY Los Angeles, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE San Diego, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $247,000 |
| UCLA FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $150,000 |
| UC SANTA CRUZ San Francisco, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $110,000 |
| ISLAND CONSERVATION Santa Cruz, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $105,000 |
| THE GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIA Los Angeles, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $102,500 |
| SCRIPPS COLLEGE Claremont, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $27,500 |
| CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Sacramento, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| ARCS FOUNDATION INC Torrance, CA | QUALIFIED EXEMPT CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $3,656,281 | $2,902,120 | $1,721,700 |
| 2022 | $39,094,188 | $2,796,203 | $2,768,450 | $1,632,400 |
| 2021 | $39,052,461 | $3,771,696 | $2,781,282 | $1,441,960 |
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $39,094,188 | $39,052,461 |
| Revenue | $3,656,281 | $2,796,203 | $3,771,696 |
| Expenses | $2,902,120 | $2,768,450 | $2,781,282 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,389,814 | $2,280,871 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,143,976 | $2,366,623 | $3,250,567 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,921,723 | $3,205,572 | $2,955,805 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Victoria Seaver Dean as President; Robert Flick as Assistant Secretary; Martha Seaver as Vice Chairman; Margaret Keene as Assistant Treasurer; and Jennie Dean, Nancy Bekavac, Marie Knowles, Hannah Dean, Roxanne Wilson, and Thomas Pfister as Directors.
The Seaver Institute is led by Victoria Seaver Dean, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2023 is compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Victoria Seaver Dean
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$251K (2021) → $265K (2023)
Barbara Wagner
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jennie Dean
Director
Director → Benefactions, 2022
Benefactions → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Marie Knowles
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Nancy Bekavac
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Roxanne Wilson
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Thomas Pfister
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Hilary Hill
Director
Benefactions → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Hannah Dean
Director
New on the 2023 filing
No compensation reported
Kyle Dean
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Lynne Brickner
Secretary
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Margaret Keene
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Martha Seaver
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Nathan Dean
Assistant Secretary
Director → Assistant Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Robert Flick
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Assistant Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Hilary Walecka (2021) — Benefactions
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
Contact
Mailing address: 12400 Wilshire Blvd 1240, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: (310) 979-0298
Frequently asked questions about The Seaver Institute
How much does The Seaver Institute give each year?
The Seaver Institute gave $1.7M across 79 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $1.6M across 78 grants.
What is The Seaver Institute's typical grant size?
The Seaver Institute's median grant in 2023 was $5,000, and its average grant was $21,794, across 79 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Seaver Institute that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Seaver Institute give grants?
The Seaver Institute gives mostly in California: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (14 grants), Santa Cruz, CA (8 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Watsonville, CA (4 grants).
Who are The Seaver Institute's largest grantees?
The Seaver Institute's largest 2023 grantees include Sustainable Conservation ($400,000), Mount Saint Mary's University ($250,000) and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance ($247,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does The Seaver Institute fund?
The institute’s stated purpose is to provide seed money for particular projects with potential for significant advancement in their fields. Its grants have supported organizations with varied missions. For example, Sustainable Conservation says it advances collaborative stewardship of California’s land, air, and water, while Mount Saint Mary’s University describes its work as providing a liberal arts and sciences education and fostering leadership and service. Island Conservation says it works …
How do I apply for a grant from The Seaver Institute?
In 2023, the institute reported 79 grants totaling $1,721,700. Individual grants ranged from $400 to $400,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest reported awards included $400,000 to Sustainable Conservation, $250,000 to Mount Saint Mary’s University, $247,000 to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, $150,000 to UCLA Foundation, $110,000 to UC Santa Cruz, and $105,000 to Island Conservation. The listed grant purposes were “qualified exempt charitable purpose.”
How much is The Seaver Institute required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Seaver Institute reported a distributable amount of $2.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Seaver Institute's EIN?
The Seaver Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6054764. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2023.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Seaver Institute by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Seaver Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
The Seaver Institute
Santa Monica, CA
The Seaver Institute supports colleges and universities, conservation, cultural institutions, and organizations addressing community needs, with a history of funding research and early-stage projects. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $875,000, with a median of $12,500; most funding went to California, with grants also reported in Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, and Virginia. It does not accept unsolicited requests and funds only preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$39.7M
Grants
50
Total Given
$3.7M
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation supported organizations working in areas such as education, youth and community services, children’s relief, environmental conservation, and disability services, with recipients across several states and Washington, DC; no geographic focus or typical grant size is stated. It reported 32 grants totaling $65,000 in 2025, but its final filing says it had terminated operations and would have no further activity, with no grants reported in 2026. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The foundation funds health initiatives to expand healthcare access and strengthen health systems, with priorities including cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation. Its 2024 grants had a median of $134,090, though awards ranged widely; its stated focus geographies are Brazil, India, ten Sub-Saharan African countries, and the United States. It invites organizations to inquire about its grantmaking process, with application materials available upon request and no deadline listed.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation funds work in education, health, housing, immigration, and other community needs, primarily in Los Angeles County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, though amounts varied widely; it does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
Orange County Community Foundation
Irvine, CA
OCCF supports nonprofits across arts and culture, education, health, human services, the environment, and community development, primarily in Orange County but also beyond through its charitable funds. Its 2025 grants had a median amount of $25,000, though awards varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$743.6M
Grants
975
Total Given
$120.4M
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Los Altos, CA
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation funds charitable organizations working on just societies, healthy families and communities, and a healthy natural world, including climate solutions, ocean conservation, and science. Its 2024 grants had a median of $150,000, and half of grant dollars went to California recipients. It accepts unsolicited requests, but less than 1% of its grants come from them.
Assets
$8.5B
Grants
1,029
Total Given
$350.0M
Sempra Foundation
San Diego, CA
The Sempra Foundation funds climate action and resilience, inclusion, economic empowerment and workforce development, community engagement, and disaster preparedness in communities where Sempra employees live and work, including California, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Mexico. In 2024, grants ranged from $4 to $100,000, with a median of $260. It awards grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego
San Diego, CA
The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego supports a broad range of community causes, including arts and culture, education, health and human services, and Jewish life. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000; most went to San Diego organizations, with others primarily elsewhere in the United States and Israel, and its stated reach also includes communities globally. It offers competitive opportunities through CAP, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$862.3M
Grants
774
Total Given
$148.1M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Ge Aerospace Foundation
Norwalk, CT
The GE Aerospace Foundation supports engineering education, workforce development, military and veterans causes, and disaster relief in communities where GE Aerospace employees live and work around the world. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10 to nearly $6 million, with a median of $429; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds equity-focused work, including affordable housing, homelessness, community resilience and power, and arts; its Buck Family Fund supports organizations serving Marin County, including those based elsewhere. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000 and ranged from $5,050 to $10 million; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
More Funders in California
The Seaver Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?