Zolla Family Foundation
The Zolla Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Monica, California. In its 2024 filing, it reported grantmaking in education, social services, the arts, the environment, and medical-related purposes.
Zolla Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Zolla Family Foundation gave $490K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in California. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $490,000
- -23.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,222
- -36.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $18,000
- Total assets
- $4,588,401
- -0.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (67% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Zolla Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its filing says applicants must submit a completed application form and supplemental materials, such as a budget, an evaluation of the prior year’s gift if applicable, and sources of funds. The filing identifies Susan Zolla as the contact.
- Review Cycle
- November 15. The filing does not specify a year for this deadline.
- Deadline
- November 15.
- Contact
Application contact: Susan Zolla
Mailing address: 2601 Ocean Park Blvd Suite 300-A, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: (310) 399-7333
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Zolla Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Determined to Succeed (DTS) ($137K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $453K.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 94 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing says awards are to be allocated within Los Angeles and Southern California. It reports that 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in California (67%), Pennsylvania (29%), and Virginia (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Zolla Family Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 15 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $90K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $90K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 87% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $490K (2024) to $641K (2023). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $490K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA | To Support Bucknell University | $90,000 |
| Determined to Succeed (DTS) Santa Monica, CA | Assist in the college preparation and admission process for dts inner-city high school students. | $77,000 |
| Determined to Succeed (DTS) Santa Monica, CA | Assist in the college preparation and admission process for dts inner-city high school students. | $60,000 |
| Franklin & Marshall College (FRAN&MAR) Lancaster, PA | To Support Franklin & Marshall College | $50,000 |
| Los Angeles Philharmonic Association (Laphilar) Los Angeles, CA | To Support the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association | $30,000 |
| Bright Prospect (Brigpros) Pomona, CA | To support the bright prospect scholar program for college stipend | $28,000 |
| One Voice (Onevoice) Santa Monica, CA | To support the one voice scholar program for college stipend | $27,000 |
| Marines Corps Scholarship Foundation (Marines) Alexandria, VA | To Support the Marines Corps Scholarship | $20,000 |
| Airport Marina Counseling Service (Amcs) Los Angeles, CA | To provide salary support for the supervisors and psychiatrist in the at-risk kids program | $18,000 |
| Happy Trails for Kids (Happy) Santa Monica, CA | To Send Foster Children to Summer Camp | $18,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Zolla Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,588,401 | $554,592 | $582,265 | $490,000 | 18 | $498,327 | $460,727 | $381,270 |
| 2023 | $4,616,074 | $651,311 | $742,987 | $641,000 | 15 | $641,000 | $264,673 | $345,163 |
| 2022 | $4,707,750 | $1,330,891 | $724,250 | $621,006 | 19 | $627,976 | $1,204,190 | $334,362 |
| 2021 | $4,101,109 | $832,862 | $711,629 | $579,010 | 21 | $579,085 | $456,356 | $388,780 |
| 2020 | $3,979,876 | $577,893 | $589,418 | $494,513 | 21 | — | $340,086 | $309,820 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zolla Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $381K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing allocates awards across education (52%), social services (23%), the arts (19%), the environment (5%), and medical (1%).
The foundation supports a range of organizations, including colleges, scholarship programs, arts organizations, and social-service organizations. For example, Palisades Charter High School received $6,000 in 2024. The school describes its mission as empowering its diverse student population to contribute positively to the global community through educational excellence, civic responsibility, and personal growth.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $490,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $90,000, with a median of $18,000. Notable grants included $90,000 to Bucknell University, $77,000 and $60,000 to Determined to Succeed for college preparation and admission support for inner-city high school students, and $50,000 to Franklin & Marshall College. Other grants included $30,000 to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, $28,000 and $15,000 to Bright Prospect for its college-stipend scholar program, and $20,000 to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susan Zolla as director and president; Alissa Zolla Bartle as director and vice president; Miriam Zolla Neandross as director; Joseph Hurwich as director and CFO; Erik Neandross as director and secretary; and Peter Bartle as director.
Zolla Family Foundation is led by Susan Zolla, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Susan Zolla
Director & President
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alissa Zolla Bartle
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erik Neandross
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Hurwich
Director & CFO
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Miriam Zolla Neandross
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Bartle
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anne Zolla (2020) — Director
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 Zolla Family Foundation
How much does Zolla Family Foundation give each year?
Zolla Family Foundation gave $490K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $641K across 15 grants.
What is Zolla Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Zolla Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $18,000, and its average grant was $27,222, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Zolla Family Foundation that year got $90K on average.
Where does Zolla Family Foundation give grants?
Zolla Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (6 grants), Santa Monica, CA (5 grants), Pomona, CA (2 grants) and Pacific Palisades, CA (2 grants).
Does Zolla Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Zolla Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Zolla Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Zolla Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Determined to Succeed (DTS) ($137,000 across 2 grants), Bucknell University ($90,000) and Franklin & Marshall College (FRAN&MAR) ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Zolla Family Foundation?
Zolla Family Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $498K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $381K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Zolla Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing allocates awards across education (52%), social services (23%), the arts (19%), the environment (5%), and medical (1%). See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Zolla Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Zolla Family Foundation's EIN?
Zolla Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2365200. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Zolla Family 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). Zolla Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/zolla-family-foundation-morg_2f80ac752322424c897c9748ed3ea7d7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522365200_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Zolla Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/zolla-family-foundation-morg_2f80ac752322424c897c9748ed3ea7d7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 Zolla Family 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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