Wasserman Foundation
The Wasserman Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Los Angeles, California, established in 1952 by Lew and Edie Wasserman. The foundation was created from funds garnered through Lew Wasserman's decades of leadership at MCA/Universal. The Wassermans served as benefactors for lasting cultural, educational, and health institutions including the Los Angeles Music Center, CalArts, the Motion Picture and Television Fund, the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$113.7M
-8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.7M
+0.6% YoY
Grant Count
197
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
+0.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wasserman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to give primarily to organizations focused on advancing and promoting education, environmental responsibility, health and welfare, and the arts. With a diversified list of recipients, the foundation continually strives to partner with groups that are committed to assisting those less fortunate and bettering the community at large.
Current funding priorities include:
- Education
- Arts & Culture
- Health
- Service and Global Initiatives
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 170 grants in 2024, with total charitable disbursements of $13,681,470.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $300 to $3,000,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and North Carolina, with significant activity in the Los Angeles area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $113,748,925
- Total Revenue: $3,732,372
- Total Expenses: $15,683,216
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Net Income: -$11,950,844
The foundation has been tax-exempt since December 1957 (EIN: 95-6038762).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $113,748,925 | $124,839,898 | $131,085,982 |
| Revenue | $3,732,372 | $5,528,272 | $10,241,848 |
| Expenses | $15,683,216 | $15,833,358 | $14,608,352 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,693,915 | $14,689,533 | $13,152,446 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,363,472 | $3,772,137 | $6,417,930 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,831,473 | $6,327,442 | $6,795,621 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Choose Chicago Foundation ($1,000,000), Bill Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation ($500,000), Academy Museum Foundation ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 42 Analytics Educational Inc Wellesley, MA | 2024 MIT Summit | $60,000 |
| A Place Called Home Los Angeles, CA | 2024 Girl Power Awards | $25,000 |
| Academy Museum Foundation Beverly Hills, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| ACLU Foundation of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | 2024 Bill of Rights Awards | $15,000 |
| Advocates for Children of New York New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| Adys Army Birmingham, AL | 2024 Art Auction | $25,000 |
| Alex Highsmith Family Foundation Wilmington, NC | 2024 Charitable Initiatives | $2,500 |
| Alliance for Childrens Rights Los Angeles, CA | 2024 Champions for Children Event | $10,000 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University Inc New York, NY | Bel Air Affaire | $25,000 |
| American Junior Golf Association Braselton, GA | 2024 Nelly Invitational | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Casey Wasserman is listed as personnel associated with the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASEY WASSERMAN | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| STEVE GUISE | SECRETARY | — | — |
| RYAN BERENSON | CFO | 2 | — |
| MIKE WATTS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| CHARLES PAUL | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| EMMET WASSERMAN | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| STELLA WASSERMAN | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Wasserman Foundation and Annenberg Foundation jointly pledged $1 million to the LA Fire Department Foundation in response to wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County.
$10 million new gift from Ellen W.P. Wasserman will create an endowment\Dakota Johnson, Regina Hall, and Chase Infiniti presented $1 million in college scholarships to high school seniors from underserved communities across Los Angeles at the THR Women in Entertainment Gala.
The foundation organizes Wasserman Serve Days and supports the Athletes for Healthy Schools program as part of its volunteerism initiatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wasserman Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to give primarily to organizations focused on advancing and promoting education, environmental responsibility, health and welfare, and the arts. With a diversified list of recipients, the foundation continually strives to partner with groups that are committed to assisting those less fortunate and bettering the community at large. Current funding priorities include: • Education • Arts & Culture • Health • Service and Global Initiatives • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & G…
How do I apply for a grant from Wasserman Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $300 to $3,000,000. **Recent Grants (2024):** • UCLA Foundation - UCLA Cares (Childhood Anxiety, Resilience, Education & Neck Surgery): $2,000,000 • UCLA Foundation - Football/Basketball: $1,500,000 • UCLA Foundation - Pauley Pavilion: $1,500,000 **Total Giving:** $13,681,470 in 2024 The foundation made 170 grants in 2024, with total charitable disbursements of $13,681,470.
Where does Wasserman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and North Carolina, with significant activity in the Los Angeles area.
What size grants does Wasserman Foundation award?
In 2024, Wasserman Foundation awarded 197 grants totaling $13.7M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wasserman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wasserman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wasserman Foundation's EIN?
Wasserman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6038762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wasserman 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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