The Vadasz Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1997 and based in Sonoma, California. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and community organizations across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.1M
-21.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+2.4% YoY
Grant Count
65
+35.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
-24.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Vadasz Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $507K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on:
- Higher education and educational foundations
- Health care, including medical centers
- Social and cultural community needs
- Journalism and creative writing
- Historic preservation
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Pennsylvania, with a notable concentration of activity in the Sonoma Valley region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of November 2023:
- Total assets: $11,630,786
- Total annual giving: $1,523,317
- Total revenues: $685,519
- Total expenses: $1,768,880
- Investment income and dividends: $245,887
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $439,632
Staff: The foundation operates with no employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,128,408 | $11,630,786 | $11,809,546 |
| Revenue | $719,933 | $685,519 | $1,246,598 |
| Expenses | $1,794,967 | $1,768,880 | $1,470,273 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,683,997 | $1,658,153 | $1,366,102 |
| Net Investment Income | $704,453 | $601,920 | $1,235,227 |
| Distributable Amount | $507,217 | $545,738 | $647,199 |
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
218 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation ($150,000), Sonoma Valley Education Foundation ($145,000), Transcendence Theatre Company ($132,600).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Sonoma, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
| SSU Academic Foundation Rohnert Park, CA | Support for Green Music Center | $10,000 |
| La Luz Center Sonoma, CA | Fundraising Support | $8,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma Valle Sonoma, CA | Support for Fundraising Event | $15,000 |
| Sonoma Valley Education Foundation Sonoma, CA | Support for Sonoma Valley High School Empowerment Academy | $25,000 |
| Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Sonoma, CA | Exhibition Sponsorship | $2,750 |
| Sonoma Community Center Sonoma, CA | Support for fundraising event | $1,120 |
| Vintage House Sonoma, CA | General Support | $80,000 |
| IEEE Piscataway Township, NJ | General Support | $1,000 |
| Redwood Empire Food Bank Santa Rosa, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by trustees:
- Les L Vadasz
- Judy K Vadasz
- Jeffrey E Vadasz
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Les L Vadasz | Dir./Pres. | 1 | — |
| Judy K Vadasz | Dir./Treas. | 1 | — |
| Jeffrey E Vadasz | Dir./Sect. | 1 | — |
| David Vadasz | Director | 1 | — |
| Meghan O Banyon | Foundation Mgr. | 24 | $156,646 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant commitments to local institutions, including a $2 million challenge grant to Sonoma Valley Hospital. The foundation has also demonstrated support for higher education through major investments, including an $8 million investment in McGill University's engineering programs.
Vadasz Family Fund Gives $2 Million Challenge Grant to HospitalSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Vadasz Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on: • Higher education and educational foundations • Health care, including medical centers • Social and cultural community needs • Journalism and creative writing • Historic preservation
How do I apply for a grant from The Vadasz Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $104,000 to $175,000 • The foundation made 49 grants in 2023, totaling $1,523,317 in annual giving • Recent notable grants include: • $175,000 to KQED (General Support) • $140,000 to Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (General Support) • $140,000 to Sonoma Overnight Support (Food Program and Renovation Support)
Where does The Vadasz Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Pennsylvania, with a notable concentration of activity in the Sonoma Valley region.
What size grants does The Vadasz Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Vadasz Family Foundation awarded 65 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Vadasz Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Vadasz Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $507K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Vadasz Family Foundation's EIN?
The Vadasz Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0469457. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Vadasz Family 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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