The William C Bannerman Foundation
The William C Bannerman Foundation is a private foundation based in West Hollywood, California. Its stated principal funding areas are K–12 education, women and children, and the environment; its filing describes a geographic focus centered on Los Angeles County, with exceptions for environmental grants and other specific needs as determined by the board.
The William C Bannerman Foundation at a glance
In short: The William C Bannerman Foundation gave $443K across 29 grants in 2026 (avg $15K), mostly in California. 32% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $443,000
- +0.2% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 29
- -19.4% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $15,276
- +24.4% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,637,006
- -3.9% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (9 of 28, 2026)
- Primary geography
- California (77% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The William C Bannerman Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2025 filing directs applicants to contact Laura Ponchick and submit a written application of two pages or less. The application should briefly describe the organization and its mission, identify the grant purpose and the need or problem addressed, and include copies of the organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter and any state documentation of exempt status. Applicants should be prepared to provide budget summaries and related financial records if requested. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that applications should be submitted by October 31 each year. The next deadline under that annual cycle is October 31, 2026.
- Deadline
- The filing states that applications should be submitted by October 31 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Laura Ponchick
Mailing address: PO Box 69130, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: (310) 273-9933
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The William C Bannerman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Center for Biological Diversity ($50K). Together the top 10 received $317K.
Grant Size Distribution
181 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 177 grants of 181 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 filing limits its geographic funding area to Los Angeles County, except for environmental grants and other specific needs the board considers appropriate. Its 2026 grant dollars were reported as 77% to California recipients, 11% to Arizona, 5% to Washington, D.C., 5% to Alaska, and 2% to Washington State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The William C Bannerman Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 9 of 28 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 36% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (−6%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $430K (2024) to $477K (2022). In 2026 it made 29 grants totaling $443K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Biological Diversity Tuscon, AZ | Lawsuits Against Environmental Devastation | $50,000 |
| One Generation Van Nuys, CA | Support for Seniors, Child Education | $50,000 |
| Para Los Ninos Los Angeles, CA | Education for Children and Their Families | $50,000 |
| Center for Pacific Asian Family Los Angeles, CA | Center for Survivors of Violence | $40,000 |
| WWF Pollinators San Francisco, CA | Research on farming practices to reduce neonics / saving the bees | $30,000 |
| Abortion Care Network Washington, DC | Supporting Abortion Clinics and Providers Nationwide | $20,000 |
| Los Angeles Trust for Student Health Los Angeles, CA | Oral Health Education | $20,000 |
| Young and Healthy Pasadena, CA | Pediatric Safety Net for Low-Income Youth | $20,000 |
| Ground Education Long Beach, CA | Creating Gardens on Lausd Campuses | $17,000 |
| Cook Inletkeeper Homer, AK | Protecting healthy habitat, advancing an equitable energy transition, and supporting community-led climate solutions | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The William C Bannerman Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $4,637,006 | $706,777 | $892,567 | $443,000 | 29 | $576,195 | $407,286 | $541,418 |
| 2025 | $4,826,904 | $1,033,516 | $855,669 | $442,000 | 36 | $541,046 | $747,178 | $542,187 |
| 2024 | $4,651,023 | $649,791 | $879,445 | $430,000 | 35 | $526,576 | $327,792 | $538,750 |
| 2023 | $4,878,321 | $736,422 | $811,288 | $472,500 | 41 | $568,065 | $499,951 | $537,536 |
| 2022 | $4,958,268 | $798,518 | $830,185 | $477,000 | 40 | $568,201 | $550,991 | $560,704 |
| 2021 | $4,990,678 | $916,015 | $792,099 | $450,500 | 55 | — | $669,573 | $559,723 |
| 2020 | $4,861,275 | $631,877 | $767,473 | $446,500 | 50 | — | $410,252 | $545,729 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William C Bannerman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $541K for 2026 — 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 filing lists education (kindergarten through 12th grade), women and children, and the environment as its principal funding areas.
Its 2026 grantees illustrate the range of work supported. Para Los Niños describes its mission as partnering with children, youth, and families through integrated education, wellness, support, and advocacy. Ground Education provides curriculum-based outdoor environmental education for transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. The Center for Biological Diversity says it works to protect species and the lands, waters, and climate they need to survive. Abortion Care Network describes its work as supporting independent abortion care providers and patients through programming, technical assistance, and grants to member clinics.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $443,000. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $50,000 each to the Center for Biological Diversity for lawsuits against environmental devastation, One Generation for support for seniors and child education, and Para Los Niños for education for children and their families. Other notable grants included $40,000 to the Center for Pacific Asian Family for a center for survivors of violence; $30,000 to WWF Pollinators for research on farming practices to reduce neonicotinoids and save bees; and $20,000 to Abortion Care Network to support abortion clinics and providers nationwide.
The foundation also awarded $20,000 to the Los Angeles Trust for Student Health for oral health education and $20,000 to Young and Healthy for a pediatric safety net for low-income youth. Grants of $17,000 to Ground Education and $15,000 each to Cook Inletkeeper, Harmony Project, and Puente supported environmental education, environmental and community work, music education, and education for children and families, respectively.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Laura Ponchick as president, Jeff Ponchick as treasurer, Elliot Ponchick as vice-president and secretary, and Will Frost and Mark Eiduson as directors.
The William C Bannerman Foundation is led by Laura Ponchick, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Laura Ponchick
President
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$41K (2024) → $77K (2026)
Mark Eiduson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Will Frost
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elliot Ponchick
Vice President & Secretary
President → Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$40K (2020) → $0 (2026)
Jeff Ponchick
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Et Ponchick (2024) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth T. Ponchick (2020–2023) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $77K, to Laura Ponchick (President).
Frequently asked questions about The William C Bannerman Foundation
How much does The William C Bannerman Foundation give each year?
The William C Bannerman Foundation gave $443K across 29 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $442K across 36 grants.
What is The William C Bannerman Foundation's typical grant size?
The William C Bannerman Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,276, across 29 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The William C Bannerman Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does The William C Bannerman Foundation give grants?
The William C Bannerman Foundation gives mostly in California: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arizona (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (14 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does The William C Bannerman Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on The William C Bannerman Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The William C Bannerman Foundation's largest grantees?
The William C Bannerman Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Center for Biological Diversity ($50,000), One Generation ($50,000) and Para Los Ninos ($50,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The William C Bannerman Foundation?
The William C Bannerman Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $576K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $541K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The William C Bannerman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing lists education (kindergarten through 12th grade), women and children, and the environment as its principal funding areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The William C Bannerman Foundation?
The foundation’s 2025 filing directs applicants to contact Laura Ponchick and submit a written application of two pages or less. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The William C Bannerman Foundation's EIN?
The William C Bannerman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6061353. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The William C Bannerman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-william-c-bannerman-foundation-morg_5ef0b7c4ce04456c8cdaa89fd9101241
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956061353_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The William C Bannerman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-william-c-bannerman-foundation-morg_5ef0b7c4ce04456c8cdaa89fd9101241},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The William C Bannerman 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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