The Mesdag Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Mesdag Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
- According to the filing, it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations chosen by its trustees, and it gives no route for an organisation to become preselected, so a cold approach is unlikely to succeed.
- An organisation that is not already among its preselected recipients should not send an application, and individuals should not apply because the foundation does not fund them.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $1,000 and $50,000, with a median of $10,000, though its largest grant was $125,000, so any request that did reach it would sit near that band.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 92% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests that existing relationships matter more than a fresh proposal.
Overview
The Mesdag Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations exempt under section 501(c)(3); its trustees choose recipient organisations based on their knowledge of those organisations’ activities. Its recorded grants are described as general support and include educational institutions, arts and cultural bodies, environmental and conservation organisations, religious organisations, humanitarian and relief groups, and community-service organisations. The records also show grants to civic and public-policy organisations. Recorded recipients are concentrated in Colorado and California, with sizeable support in New Jersey and New York. The filings describe a trustee-selected approach rather than a public invitation for applications.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Colorado, California, New Jersey, New York and Illinois.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
How to apply
The filing says contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted; it provides no route for an organisation to become preselected.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 153 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
- The largest single recipient received 13% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations The Mesdag Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 46 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Aspen Music Festival and School · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- Princeton University · General support$75,0002024 tax year
- St Monica's Catholic Church · General support$60,0002024 tax year
- Harvard-Westlake School · General support$60,0002024 tax year
- Obama Foundation · General support$55,6002024 tax year
- La Clippers Fire Aid · General support$50,0002024 tax year
- Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund · General support$50,0002024 tax year
- Theater Aspen · General support$35,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lisa Ann Mesdag — Trustee / Part-Time
- T Willem Mesdag — Trustee / Part-Time
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $841,771 | $753,400 | $15,513,183 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $936,626 | $822,700 | $17,902,733 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $920,170 | $810,200 | $18,309,866 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Mesdag Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA
Applying to The Mesdag Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA