The Wolfen Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Encino, California, established in 1999. The foundation was created as a result of a lawsuit settlement and operates as a grantmaking organization supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.3M
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+102.6% YoY
Grant Count
27
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
+35.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wolfen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Healthcare: Particularly cancer research and treatment, including support for cancer centers providing research, patient care activities, clinical trials, and new cancer therapies
- Higher Education: Support for educational institutions and scholarship programs
- The Arts: Cultural organizations and initiatives
- Jewish Organizations: Community and religious organizations
- Children, Youth, and Social Services: Programs serving young people and vulnerable populations
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism: Grantmaking and charitable support infrastructure
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $43,316,480 (as of 2024)
Total Giving: $2,198,500
Financial Activity (2023):
- Total revenues: $4,572,199
- Total expenses: $1,232,570
- Total assets: $40,962,485
- Investment income and dividends: $1,080,622
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,316,480 | $40,962,485 | $37,622,856 |
| Revenue | $4,844,037 | $4,572,199 | $24,867,173 |
| Expenses | $2,490,042 | $1,232,570 | $289,756 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,198,500 | $1,085,000 | $135,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,918,445 | $4,366,838 | $193,972 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,389,509 | $1,917,043 | $1,015,975 |
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
88 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ucla Foundation ($600,000), Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation ($500,000), Los Angeles Regional Food Bank ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITEE LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| BET TZEDEK LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| BIG SUNDAY LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| CENTER THEATRE GROUP LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| COLUMBIABARNARD HILLEL NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| GO CAMPAIGN SANTA MONICA, CA | CHARITABLE | $40,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LA LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| JONSSON CANCER CENTER FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICK WOLFEN | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 16255 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1250, Encino, CA 91436-2315
Telephone: 818-528-3545
EIN: 95-4745065
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wolfen Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • **Healthcare**: Particularly cancer research and treatment, including support for cancer centers providing research, patient care activities, clinical trials, and new cancer therapies • **Higher Education**: Support for educational institutions and scholarship programs • **The Arts**: Cultural organizations and initiatives • **Jewish Organizations**: Community and religious organizations • **Children, Youth, and Social Services**: Programs serving y…
How do I apply for a grant from Wolfen Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts**: Typical awards range from $2,500 to $650,000 **Recent Grant Activity** (2023): • UCSF Foundation Investment Company: $650,000 • Big Sunday: $310,500 • LA Goal: $10,000 • Total of 20 grants made in 2023 **Annual Giving**: $2,198,500 in total giving
Where does Wolfen Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Illinois.
What size grants does Wolfen Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Wolfen Family Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $81K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wolfen Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wolfen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wolfen Family Foundation's EIN?
Wolfen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4745065. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wolfen Family 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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