The Seaver Institute
The Seaver Institute is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California (EIN 95-6054764). Its 2023 filing reports 79 grants totaling $1,721,700. The organization’s 2022 filing is marked as its final return, so the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Seaver Institute at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,721,700
- +5.5% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 79
- +1.3% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $21,794
- +4.1% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (24 of 78, 2023)
- Primary geography
- California (94% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Seaver Institute
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The 2022 filing states that the foundation made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. That filing is marked as the organization’s final return.
- Contact
Mailing address: 12400 Wilshire Blvd 1240, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: (310) 979-0298
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Seaver Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Sustainable Conservation ($400K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
234 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 213 grants of 234 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. Maryland, Michigan, New York, and the District of Columbia each accounted for 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 79 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2021) to $1.7M (2023). In 2023 it made 79 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2022 filing is marked as the Institute’s final return.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $3,656,281 | $2,902,120 | $1,721,700 | 79 | $2,389,814 | $3,143,976 | $2,921,723 |
| 2022 | $39,094,188 | $2,796,203 | $2,768,450 | $1,632,400 | 78 | $2,280,871 | $2,366,623 | $3,205,572 |
| 2021 | $39,052,461 | $3,771,696 | $2,781,282 | $1,441,960 | 77 | — | $3,250,567 | $2,955,805 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Institute’s stated aim is to provide seed funding for projects with the potential for significant advancement in their fields. Its grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Sustainable Conservation says it advances collaborative stewardship of California’s land, air, and water; Island Conservation says it works to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands; and the California Native Plant Society says it works to protect California’s native plants and habitats through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy.
Other 2023 recipients included educational institutions. Mount Saint Mary’s University describes its work as providing a liberal arts and sciences education and fostering leadership and service, while Scripps College says it educates women to contribute to society through leadership, service, integrity, and creativity.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the Institute reported 79 grants totaling $1,721,700. Grant amounts ranged from $400 to $400,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
Among the largest 2023 grants were $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 filing lists each grant’s purpose as “qualified exempt charitable purpose.”
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, and Margaret Keene as Assistant Treasurer. Directors listed were Jennie Dean, Nancy Bekavac, Marie Knowles, Hannah Dean, Roxanne Wilson, and Thomas Pfister.
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $265K, to Victoria Seaver Dean (President).
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 aim is to provide seed funding for projects with the potential for significant advancement in their fields. Its grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Seaver Institute?
The 2022 filing states that the foundation made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Seaver Institute 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023
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Figures come from The Seaver Institute'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.
The Seaver Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?