There is a Light Foundation
There is a Light Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2024, it reported 70 grants totaling $697,449, supporting organizations that include a law school, marine conservation and hunger-relief organizations, and groups serving crime survivors.
There is a Light Foundation at a glance
In short: There is a Light Foundation gave $697K across 70 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $697,449
- +32.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 70
- +70.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,964
- -22.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,995
- Total assets
- $1,959,004
- -6.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (93% 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 There is a Light 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: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who There is a Light Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Southwestern Law School ($325K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $506K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($9,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
128 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 124 grants of 128 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California recipients received 93% of grant dollars. Texas and Illinois each received 2%, while New York and Massachusetts each received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How There is a Light Foundation gives
- Giving grew 1062% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 783% 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2021) to $697K (2024). In 2024 it made 70 grants totaling $697K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Law School Los Angeles, CA | There Is a Light Foundation Public Service Fund | $250,000 |
| Southwestern Law School Los Angeles, CA | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| Innocence Oc Laguna Beach, CA | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Music for Movements Inc W Hollywood, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Onekid Oneworld Inc Los Angeles, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Innoceana Kentfield, CA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| International Childrens Media Center Northbrook, IL | General & Unrestricted | $10,800 |
| A Quarter Blue Orange, CA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Edward Charles Foundation Beverly Hills, CA | Visionary Survivor Creative Fund | $10,000 |
| B Ponce Burbank, CA | Scholarship Grant | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation stated that it has no plans for dissolution. It also reported that, during 2024, distributions from sources other than current income totaled $697,449—an amount equal to at least 25% of its beginning-of-year net assets, measured at fair market value as $2,125,155.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,959,004 | $614,694 | $740,617 | $697,449 | 70 | $729,696 | $155,252 | $93,191 |
| 2023 | $2,084,927 | $619,548 | $553,397 | $527,712 | 41 | $543,871 | $149,383 | $94,898 |
| 2022 | $2,018,776 | $438,787 | $185,295 | $134,976 | 13 | $172,519 | $51,617 | $77,235 |
| 2021 | $1,765,284 | $846,820 | $91,536 | $60,000 | 4 | $77,848 | $34,514 | $53,998 |
| 2020 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | $1,772 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, There is a Light Foundation reported a distributable amount of $93K 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
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. Southwestern Law School describes its work as educating lawyers, promoting equity and justice, and fostering inclusion. Innoceana says it works to preserve the ocean through marine conservation centers, research, and education. A Quarter Blue says it creates pathways toward resilience and restoration for crime survivors and their communities. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank says its mission is to mobilize resources to fight hunger.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 70 grants totaling $697,449. Grant amounts ranged from $900 to $250,000, with a median of $2,995. Among the largest were $250,000 and $75,000 to Southwestern Law School, $50,000 to Innocence OC, and $25,000 each to Music for Movements and OneKid OneWorld. Other awards included $20,000 to Innoceana, $10,000 to A Quarter Blue, and two separate $10,000 grants to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Pejman Ben-Cohen as secretary, treasurer, and vice president, and Arash Homampour as director and president.
There is a Light Foundation is led by Arash Homampour, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Arash Homampour
Director & President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pejman Ben-Cohen
Secretary, Treasurer & Vice President
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 There is a Light Foundation
How much does There is a Light Foundation give each year?
There is a Light Foundation gave $697K across 70 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $528K across 41 grants.
What is There is a Light Foundation's typical grant size?
There is a Light Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,995, and its average grant was $9,964, across 70 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does There is a Light Foundation give grants?
There is a Light Foundation gives mostly in California: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (34 grants), Burbank, CA (13 grants), Vernon, CA (2 grants) and Dallas, TX (2 grants).
Does There is a Light Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 16% of There is a Light Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Grant" (54 grants).
Who are There is a Light Foundation's largest grantees?
There is a Light Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Southwestern Law School ($325,000 across 2 grants), Innocence Oc ($50,000) and Music for Movements Inc ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($9,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is There is a Light Foundation?
There is a Light Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $730K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $93K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does There is a Light Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. Southwestern Law School describes its work as educating lawyers, promoting equity and justice, and fostering inclusion. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from There is a Light 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 There is a Light Foundation's EIN?
There is a Light Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3525074. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does There is a Light 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). There is a Light Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/there-is-a-light-foundation-morg_66c309048a0c47c2b30909793c83e94d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_853525074_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{There is a Light Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/there-is-a-light-foundation-morg_66c309048a0c47c2b30909793c83e94d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 There is a Light 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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