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Fitzberg Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.8M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.2M

Fitzberg Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.8 million (2023)
  • Assets: $46.2 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $225,000
  • Median Grant: $50,000
  • Number of Grants: 28 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Pasadena, CA area with select national institutions
  • Application Process: Invitation only - no public application process

Contact Details

Address: 251 S Lake Avenue, Suite 730, Pasadena, CA 91101

Phone: 626-449-6321

EIN: 26-0659950

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

The Fitzberg Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2007 and based in Pasadena, California. With assets of approximately $46.2 million and annual grantmaking of $1.8 million (2023), the foundation supports preselected charitable organizations primarily in the Pasadena area. The foundation focuses on education, arts and culture, healthcare, and community development. All grants are provided as general purpose support to organizations that have been preselected by the board, which consists of three trustees who serve on a volunteer basis. The foundation operates as a typical private family foundation, making strategic investments in institutions that align with the board's philanthropic interests and community connections.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Fitzberg Foundation operates a single grantmaking program that provides general purpose support to preselected organizations. Grants are determined by trustee discretion and are not awarded through a formal application cycle.

2023 Grant Distribution:

  • Grant range: $5,000 to $225,000
  • Median grant: $50,000
  • Total grants awarded: 28
  • Method: Invitation only, trustee discretion

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports organizations in the following sectors:

Education: Major support to educational institutions including Pasadena Educational Foundation ($225,000), Vassar College ($220,000), and Chandler School ($100,000). Education appears to be a primary funding priority.

Arts and Culture: Significant investment in Pasadena arts organizations, including Pasadena Playhouse ($150,000 in multiple grants) and other cultural institutions.

Community Development: Support for community foundations and civic organizations such as Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation ($150,000 in multiple grants) and One Arroyo Foundation ($100,000).

Healthcare: Grants to healthcare institutions including Huntington Hospital ($100,000).

All grants are designated "for general purpose" support, suggesting the foundation does not typically restrict funding to specific programs or projects.

Geographic Focus

The foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to the Pasadena area, with the majority of grants supporting local organizations. Select grants are also made to national institutions, particularly those with connections to the trustees (such as Vassar College).

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests from any organization. There is no public application process available.

Governance and Leadership

The Fitzberg Foundation is governed by three trustees who serve on a volunteer basis (no compensation):

Erin E Baker - President
Time commitment: 5 hours per week

Catherine A Wei - Secretary
Time commitment: 1 hour per week

Daniel H Rothenberg - Treasurer
Time commitment: 1 hour per week

The small, dedicated board structure is typical of private family foundations, where trustees often have personal connections to the Pasadena community and the organizations they support.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Fitzberg Foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation has formally indicated through its IRS filings that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the three-member board of trustees. Organizations are selected based on the trustees' philanthropic interests and community connections rather than through a competitive application process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year as determined by the board, without formal application deadlines or decision cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications, so there is no traditional success rate metric.

In 2023, the foundation made 28 grants, all to preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no application process. Organizations that have previously received funding may continue to be considered for future grants at the board's discretion.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Not Currently Funded by Fitzberg Foundation

Since the Fitzberg Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations cannot apply directly for funding. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with grants determined entirely by trustee discretion.

Understanding Fitzberg's Grantmaking Pattern

Organizations seeking to understand whether they might align with Fitzberg's interests can review the foundation's grantmaking history through publicly available Form 990-PF filings. Recent funding patterns show:

Institutional Focus: The foundation tends to support established institutions with strong track records rather than newer or grassroots organizations.

General Operating Support: All 2023 grants were designated "for general purpose," indicating the foundation provides flexible, unrestricted funding rather than project-specific grants.

Multi-year Relationships: The pattern of repeated grants to organizations like Pasadena Playhouse and Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation (multiple grants in a single year) suggests the foundation values ongoing relationships with grantees.

Community Connection: Strong preference for Pasadena-based organizations, with some support for institutions with apparent personal significance to trustees (such as Vassar College).

Size and Capacity: Recent grantees include major institutions with significant operating budgets, suggesting the foundation focuses on established organizations rather than smaller nonprofits.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The Fitzberg Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and explicitly does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

  • Trustee connections are key - As a private family foundation with three volunteer trustees, grantmaking decisions are based on the board's personal philanthropic interests and community relationships.

  • Pasadena focus - The vast majority of grants support organizations in the Pasadena area, reflecting a strong local commitment.

  • Established institutions preferred - Recent grantees are primarily well-established organizations with significant operating capacity rather than newer or smaller nonprofits.

  • General operating support - The foundation provides unrestricted "general purpose" funding, allowing organizations maximum flexibility in use of funds.

  • Education priority - Education-related organizations received the largest individual grants in 2023, suggesting this is a primary area of interest.

  • Review Form 990-PF filings - Organizations can research the foundation's complete grantmaking history through publicly available IRS Form 990-PF filings to understand funding patterns and identify peer organizations that have received support.

References

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