The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in arts and education, as well as organizations addressing eye research, hearing loss, and history.
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation at a glance
In short: The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation gave $9.2M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $1.0M), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,168,075
- -21.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +12.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,018,675
- -30.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $154,363,972
- +0.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Baker Tilly 50 Fremont St Fl 4, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 453-0883
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Walt Disney Family Museum ($7.5M). Together the top 9 received $9.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 37 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 2% to Illinois, 2% to New York, and less than 1% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation gives
- Giving grew 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.0M (2021) to $11.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $9.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Walt Disney Family Museum San Francisco, CA | Education - Arts | $7,513,075 |
| Walt Disney Family Foundation San Francisco, CA | Education - Arts | $700,000 |
| California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, CA | ARTS | $300,000 |
| La Philharmonic Association Los Angeles, CA | ARTS | $250,000 |
| Walt Disney Magnet School Chicago, IL | Education - Arts | $200,000 |
| Research to Prevent Blindness New York, NY | Amblyopia Research | $150,000 |
| John Tracy Clinic Los Angeles, CA | Medical/Hearing Loss | $25,000 |
| Hyperion Historical Alliance Bakersfield, CA | History | $20,000 |
| Walt Disney Elementary School Levittown, PA | Education | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $154,363,972 | $9,928,908 | $9,861,621 | $9,168,075 | 9 | $9,332,128 | $9,525,065 | $7,588,314 |
| 2023 | $153,244,358 | $6,548,242 | $13,749,705 | $11,693,450 | 8 | $11,844,241 | $5,858,073 | $7,416,132 |
| 2022 | $152,999,149 | $45,784 | $10,085,572 | $8,809,325 | 7 | $8,887,568 | $1,085,183 | $7,973,489 |
| 2021 | $192,845,506 | $17,208,635 | $8,104,559 | $6,975,200 | 7 | $6,984,699 | $16,088,775 | $8,956,479 |
| 2020 | $186,146,574 | $6,546,962 | $9,178,998 | $8,217,420 | 6 | — | $5,593,560 | $8,423,801 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated 2024 grant purposes include arts, arts education, education, amblyopia research, medical services related to hearing loss, and history. Among its grantees, The Walt Disney Family Museum says it provides educational, outreach, and public programming to inform and inspire people through the life of Walter Elias Disney. California Institute of the Arts describes itself as a multidisciplinary community of artists focused on education and creative practice. Research to Prevent Blindness says it provides resources for eye research, and John Tracy Clinic says it offers services to children with hearing loss and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $9,168,075 through 9 grants. The median grant was $200,000; grants ranged from $10,000 to $7,513,075. The largest grants went to The Walt Disney Family Museum ($7,513,075), Walt Disney Family Foundation ($700,000), California Institute of the Arts ($300,000), LA Philharmonic Association ($250,000), and Walt Disney Magnet School ($200,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Walter ED Miller as president, Christopher D Miller as vice president/treasurer, and Tamara D Miller as secretary.
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation is led by Walter Ed Miller, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Walter Ed Miller
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher D. Miller
Vice President & Treasurer
Vice President → Vice President & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tamara D. Miller
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation
How much does The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation give each year?
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation gave $9.2M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11.7M across 8 grants.
What is The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's typical grant size?
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $1,018,675, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation give grants?
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation gives mostly in California: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education - Arts" (3 grants).
Who are The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's largest grantees?
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Walt Disney Family Museum ($7,513,075), Walt Disney Family Foundation ($700,000) and California Institute of the Arts ($300,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation?
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation reported $154.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated 2024 grant purposes include arts, arts education, education, amblyopia research, medical services related to hearing loss, and history. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation?
The foundation makes 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 ↑
What is The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's EIN?
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7425637. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation'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.
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