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The Angell Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.5M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.2M
Decision Time
5mo

The Angell Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.5-8 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: 3+ months from full proposal submission
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: Southern California and New England

Contact Details

Overview

The Angell Foundation was founded in 1996 by David and Lynn Angell, with David being an Emmy Award-winning television producer and writer known for his work on Cheers, Wings, and Frasier. Following the tragic loss of the Angells on September 11, 2001, the foundation continues their philanthropic legacy. With total assets exceeding $125 million, the foundation distributes approximately $6.5-8 million annually to around 100-110 organizations. The foundation approaches grantmaking with compassion and the belief that every person deserves the chance to reach their full potential, focusing on transformative opportunities that create a more equitable world through strategic investments in education, food equity, and leadership development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Standard Grants: $50,000 - $100,000 (typical range for most organizations)
  • Major Grants: Up to $200,000 (for established partnerships and multi-year commitments)
  • Application Method: Invitation-only with two-stage process (Letter of Inquiry, then Full Proposal)

Priority Areas

Education As Opportunity

  • Students ages 16-26, including low-income students, foster youth, opportunity youth, and first-generation college students
  • Educational pathways leading to promising careers
  • College degree pathways, industry certification programs, and career preparation

Food Equity

  • Low-income communities including seniors, foster youth, single parent households, families with young children, and veterans
  • Systemic efforts providing equitable access to quality food
  • Regional food systems strengthening, nutritious food access, and food insecurity education

Transformational Leadership

  • Programs inspiring compassionate leaders committed to social change
  • Leadership development, cohort-based training, and reflective practices
  • Workshops, coaching, and alumni engagement

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited requests (invitation-only process)
  • Political campaigns
  • Individuals
  • International projects
  • Organizations that discriminate

Governance and Leadership

President: Perry Oretzky

Executive Director/Vice President: Angel Roberson Daniels - Oversees strategic direction and daily operations, serves on boards of Liberty Hill Foundation and Boston Opportunity Agenda, chairs Los Angeles County Arts Education Collective, and is former co-chair of Los Angeles Partnership for Early Childhood Investment.

The foundation states: "We approach grantmaking with compassion and the belief that every person deserves the chance to reach their full potential."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Angell Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with a two-part application process:

  1. Letter of Inquiry (LOI) - by invitation only
  2. Full Grant Proposal - if LOI is approved

While unsolicited applications are not accepted, organizations may send a brief description of work aligned with foundation priorities to info@angellfoundation.org for potential future consideration.

Getting on Their Radar

  • Send a brief, targeted description of your work to info@angellfoundation.org highlighting alignment with their three focus areas
  • Executive Director Angel Roberson Daniels is active on boards including Liberty Hill Foundation and Boston Opportunity Agenda, providing networking opportunities
  • The foundation actively monitors the education, food equity, and leadership development sectors in Southern California and New England
  • They value organizations with evidence-based practices and evaluation frameworks

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Review: 6-8 weeks to determine eligibility
  • Full Proposal Review: At least 3 months from submission to decision
  • Review Frequency: Proposals reviewed 6 times per year

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified for invitation-only process.

Application Success Factors

Based on recent grant recipients and foundation priorities:

  • Demonstrate alignment with specific focus areas through evidence-based programs (recent grantees like Nourish California received $200,000 for policy work directly addressing food equity)
  • Show capacity for multi-year impact - the foundation frequently awards 2-year grants to organizations like LeadersUp ($250,000) and The RightWay Foundation ($200,000)
  • Present clear evaluation and learning frameworks - the foundation explicitly seeks organizations with these capabilities
  • Focus on systemic change rather than direct service alone - successful grantees like The Education Trust-West work on policy and system-level interventions
  • Demonstrate effective, values-driven leadership as this is a core selection criterion
  • Organizations serving foster youth, opportunity youth, and first-generation college students align particularly well with foundation priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The foundation operates exclusively through invitation - focus on getting on their radar through targeted outreach to info@angellfoundation.org
  • Typical grants range from $50,000-$100,000, with larger awards up to $200,000 for established partnerships
  • Multi-year funding is common - position your organization for sustained impact rather than one-time projects
  • Geographic focus is strict - organizations must be headquartered in Southern California or New England
  • The foundation values compassionate leadership and systemic approaches to creating equitable opportunities
  • With $125 million in assets and consistent annual giving of $6.5-8 million, the foundation is a stable, long-term funder
  • Build connections through board member Angel Roberson Daniels' network in Los Angeles education and nonprofit sectors

References

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