Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation
Will Rogers Motion Picture is a public charity based in Burbank, California, formed in 1936. Its stated purpose is to perpetuate Will Rogers’s legacy through Brave Beginnings, the Will Rogers Institute, and the Pioneers Assistance Fund.
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation at a glance
In short: Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation gave $488K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $49K), mostly in California. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $488,000
- -26.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $48,800
- -12.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,500
- Total assets
- $10,831,583
- -8.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 Brave Beginnings grant cycle listed a deadline of February 13, 2026; that deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The 2026 Brave Beginnings grant cycle listed a deadline of February 13, 2026; that deadline has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2233 N Ontario Street 300, Burbank, CA 91504
Phone: (323) 688-2500
Website: https://willrogersmotionpicture.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation
Who Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Univ of Southern California ($180K). Together the top 9 received $438K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 53 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to recipients in California, an individual recipient, Texas, Alabama, New Mexico, and Tennessee. By share of 2025 grant dollars, California received 50%, an individual recipient 26%, Texas 10%, Alabama 6%, and New Mexico 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $41K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $355K (2021) to $1.8M (2020). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $488K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Univ of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | Medical Research Grant | $180,000 |
| The Upstate Foundation Syracuse, NY | Community Health Ser Vices Grant | $57,000 |
| Cedars-Sinai Los Angeles, CA | Medical Research Fellowship | $50,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $50,000 |
| University of Texas - SW Medical Ctr Dallas, TX | Medical Research Fellowship | $50,000 |
| DCH Foundation Inc Tuscaloosa, AL | Medical Equipment Grant | $31,000 |
| Presbyterian Healthcare Fdn Albuquerque, NM | Medical Equipment Grant | $28,000 |
| Burke Rehabilitation Hospital White Plains, NY | Medical Research Grant | $20,000 |
| Lollipop Theater Network Los Angeles, CA | Hospital Support Services | $12,000 |
| Fort Sanders Fdn Patricia Neal Rehab Ctr Knoxville, TN | Medical Research Fellowship | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,831,583 | $2,417,399 | $2,934,673 | $488,000 | 10 | $816,494 |
| 2024 | $11,842,128 | $1,528,610 | $2,571,095 | $665,447 | 12 | $234,902 |
| 2023 | $11,507,983 | $1,808,518 | $2,512,434 | $660,755 | 13 | $485,354 |
| 2022 | $13,414,274 | $1,889,431 | $2,616,477 | $537,491 | 11 | $1,095,586 |
| 2021 | $14,761,903 | $3,454,184 | $5,848,156 | $355,000 | 7 | $1,003,461 |
| 2020 | $15,825,550 | $3,725,692 | $4,070,370 | $1,775,300 | 51 | $556,436 |
| 2019 | $17,017,594 | $2,411,230 | $3,319,190 | $822,427 | 26 | $1,063,313 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its purpose is to perpetuate Will Rogers’s legacy through three programs:
- Brave Beginnings provides grants for equipment for hospital neonatal intensive care units. The organization’s filing says that in 2023–24 the program funded a grant cycle of $245,447 to seven hospitals.
- Will Rogers Institute funds pulmonary research and medical fellowships. The filing describes support for a pulmonary research center at the University of Southern California and fellowships at medical institutions. It says the fellowships are intended to help train future leaders in lung research and thoracic specialties.
- Pioneers Assistance Fund provides financial assistance and counseling to people who work in theatrical entertainment and face health or welfare needs. The filing describes help with matters including housing insecurity, medical rehabilitation and equipment, burial and cremation, and natural disaster relief. This is assistance to individuals, rather than a grant program for outside applicants.
Among the 2025 grantees, the Upstate Foundation says its mission is to administer charitable gifts for education, research, patient care, and community health and wellbeing for SUNY Upstate Medical University and the an individual recipient region. DCH Foundation says it provides funds to enhance DCH Health System medical facilities, with a focus on DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center. Lollipop Theater Network says it aims to offer children facing illness and their families a fun escape and a moment of normalcy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 10 grants totaling $488,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $180,000, with a median of $40,500. The largest awards included $180,000 to the University of Southern California for a medical research grant; $57,000 to The Upstate Foundation for community health services; and $50,000 each to Cedars-Sinai, New York University School of Medicine, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for medical research fellowships.
Other 2025 awards included $31,000 to DCH Foundation for medical equipment, $28,000 to Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation for medical equipment, $20,000 to Burke Rehabilitation Hospital for medical research, $12,000 to Lollipop Theater Network for hospital support services, and $10,000 to Fort Sanders Foundation Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center for a medical research fellowship.
The funder’s program information describes Brave Beginnings grants for hospital neonatal intensive care units. It also describes the Pioneers Assistance Fund as providing financial aid and counseling to eligible individuals, including for medical, housing, and emergency needs. The filing describes Pioneers Assistance Fund eligibility for people with at least three years in theatrical entertainment; the program information specifies at least three years in exhibition or five years in distribution. These participant-assistance payments are distinct from grants to outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christina Blumer as executive director and Timiney J Mayhew as controller. Jeffrey Greenspun is listed as treasurer. Directors listed are Thomas Buckley, Rich Daughtridge, Heather Morgan, Scott Kennedy, Brett Fellman, Chris Johnson, and Michelle Maddalena.
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation is led by Christina Blumer, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 2 of 31 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christina Blumer
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$122K (2023) → $187K (2025)
Lisa Bunnell
President
Secretary → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd R. Vradenburg
Director
Executive Director → Executive Director & Former Executive Director, 2023
Executive Director & Former Executive Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$302K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Michelle Maddalena
Director
First Vice President → Executive Vice President, 2023
Executive Vice President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Kennedy
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Morgan
Director
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
JUSTIN McDANIEL
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Westerling
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Flanagan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hank Green
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Wilk
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Garel
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Foenander
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Serwitz
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Buck
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Garrett
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett Fellman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Johnson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Martinez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Tees
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Gallagher
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Wilson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Kalavsky
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Polydoros
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rich Daughtridge
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Krueger II
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Buckley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timiney J. Mayhew
Controller
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
Jeffrey Greenspun
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Wood
Senior Vice President
Director → Senior Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Valera
Executive Vice President
Vice President → Executive Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (36)
- Former: Mark Christiansen (2019–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Spencer Klein (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Samantha E. Stepleton (2020–2024) — Director of Social Svcs
- Former: Cary Silvera (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Jared Milgram (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Michael Viane (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Steve Schoenburg (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Mary Nakagawa-Marti (2022–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Ronald Krueger II (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Shelli Taylor (2023–2024) — Senior Vice President
- Former: Ann Stadler (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Cathleen Taff (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Charles B. Moss (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: John Fithian (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Nakagawa (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Meg Wilson (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Lenihan (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Scott Forman (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Steve Bunnell (2019–2022) — Vice President
- Former: W. Kyle Davies (2019–2022) — Chairman
- Former: Clifford Kip Smiley Jr. (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jim Smith (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Adam Mizel (2019–2020) — Vice President
- Former: Adrian Smith (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Bill Lewis (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Branden Miller (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Frank (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jeff Goldstein (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jim Orr (2019–2020) — Chairman
- Former: John C. Hall (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Kip Smiley Jr. (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Madelyn Hammond (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mark Zoradi (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Samuel Gourley (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Tim Patton (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $187K, to Christina Blumer (Exec Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation
How much does Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation give each year?
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation gave $488K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $665K across 12 grants.
What is Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's typical grant size?
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,500, and its average grant was $48,800, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation that year got $35K on average.
Where does Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation give grants?
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation gives mostly in California: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (26%) and Texas (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants).
Does Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Medical Research Fellowship" (4 grants).
Who are Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's largest grantees?
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Univ of Southern California ($180,000), The Upstate Foundation ($57,000) and Cedars-Sinai ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation?
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation reported $10.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.4M.
What does Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation fund?
The organization states that its purpose is to perpetuate Will Rogers’s legacy through three programs: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation?
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check willrogersmotionpicture.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's EIN?
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 15-0533551. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
Live grants for the work Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation funds
Health Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/will-rogers-motion-picture-pioneers-foundation-morg_745a5b6da8564caea7e6aeeeb24b0bb3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_150533551_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/will-rogers-motion-picture-pioneers-foundation-morg_745a5b6da8564caea7e6aeeeb24b0bb3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers 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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