The Semel Charitable Foundation
The Semel Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in Sherman Oaks, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $210K. Net investment income was $126K.
The Semel Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Semel Charitable Foundation gave $210K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $53K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $210,000
- -23.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $52,500
- -61.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $3,195,299
- -2.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Semel Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was MPTF ($100K). Together the top 4 received $210K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 5 grants of 19 (26%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Semel Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving fell 94% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 139% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $210K (2025) to $4.4M (2020). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $210K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MPTF Woodland Hills, CA | General Support | $100,000 |
| New York Live Arts Inc New York, NY | General Support | $75,000 |
| Lafd Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Hilarity for Charity Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,195,299 | $134,054 | $223,006 | $210,000 | 4 | $215,239 | $126,287 | $155,044 |
| 2024 | $3,284,250 | $176,233 | $289,979 | $275,000 | 2 | $280,427 | $167,881 | $164,852 |
| 2023 | $3,397,996 | $174,673 | $306,240 | $290,000 | 2 | $294,905 | $166,338 | $170,523 |
| 2022 | $3,529,563 | $74,072 | $3,793,036 | $3,775,000 | 5 | $3,779,813 | $60,849 | $268,908 |
| 2021 | $7,248,527 | $-456,658 | $2,869,357 | $2,825,000 | 6 | $2,832,056 | $1,524,335 | $385,405 |
| 2020 | $10,574,542 | $81,838 | $4,538,415 | $4,412,000 | 12 | — | $52,445 | $596,956 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Semel Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $155K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Semel Charitable Foundation is led by Lily Bovingdon Semel, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lily Bovingdon Semel
President
Secretary & Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Semel
The Chairperson of the Board
President & Director → The Chairperson of the Board, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ilya Top
CFO & Secretary
Treasurer → CFO & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Dennis Roach (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Nigel Bovingdon (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Semel Charitable Foundation
How much does The Semel Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Semel Charitable Foundation gave $210K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $275K across 2 grants.
What is The Semel Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Semel Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $52,500, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Semel Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Semel Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (36%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Semel Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Semel Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Semel Charitable Foundation?
The Semel Charitable Foundation reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $215K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $155K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Semel Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Semel Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4691748. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 1, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Semel Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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