The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This foundation operates strictly by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so unless you are approached directly, you should not apply.
- Its application information says contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations, and in its latest filing 99% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two previous filings, so it looks strongly relationship-led rather than open to new applicants.
- Its funding is led by arts education and arts, with further grants recorded for education, amblyopia research, hearing loss and history, and a museum receives the largest share of its giving.
- For request size, aim modest: half of its 24 grants were $150,000 or less, with a median of $150,000, though its grants range from $10,000 up to $7,550,000.
- No geographic focus is stated, so do not assume this rules you in or out based on location.
Overview
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (fitchratings.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation provides financial support to a museum, alongside smaller charitable grants, mainly for education and the arts. Its filed grant purposes are led by arts education and arts, with additional grants recorded for education, amblyopia research, hearing loss and history. Recipients include cultural institutions, schools and medical organisations; the museum receives the largest share of recorded giving. Its application information says contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations, so the filings describe a selective rather than open request process. The records show a strong concentration of giving in California.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Arts education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California.
How to apply
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; the filing gives no submission steps.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% 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 24 grants to organisations were $150,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 85% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 7% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 9 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $200k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Walt Disney Family Museum · Education - arts$7,513,0752024 tax year
- Walt Disney Family Foundation · Education - arts$700,0002024 tax year
- California Institute of the Arts · Arts$300,0002024 tax year
- La Philharmonic Association · Arts$250,0002024 tax year
- Walt Disney Magnet School · Education - arts$200,0002024 tax year
- Research to Prevent Blindness · Amblyopia research$150,0002024 tax year
- John Tracy Clinic · Medical/hearing loss$25,0002024 tax year
- Hyperion Historical Alliance · History$20,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Tamara D Miller — Secretary
- Christopher D Miller — Vice President / Treasurer
- Walter Ed Miller — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $10,085,572 | $8,809,325 | $152,999,149 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $13,749,705 | $11,693,450 | $153,244,358 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,861,621 | $9,168,075 | $154,363,972 | 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 Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA
Applying to The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA