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James Annenberg La Vea Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.4M

James Annenberg La Vea Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,400,000 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $197,900,000 (2024)
  • Grant Range: Information not publicly available
  • Geographic Focus: National (US-based organizations)
  • Established: 2000

Contact Details

Address: 1650 Market St Ste 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7391

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or provide contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The James Annenberg La Vea Charitable Foundation was established in 2000 by James Annenberg La Vea (1939-2014), an heir to the Annenberg publishing and media fortune. With total assets of $197.9 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $10.4 million in grants during that year. Mr. La Vea believed deeply that "children are our future leaders" and established the foundation guided by his mother's words: "Don't give until it pinches, give until it hurts." The foundation focuses primarily on children and youth services, health care, human services, and medical research. It operates as a private foundation managed by corporate and individual trustees who proactively identify and select charitable organizations aligned with the foundation's mission. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on:

  • Children and Youth Services: Supporting programs that benefit children, combat childhood hunger and disease
  • Health Care: Medical organizations and health services
  • Human Services: Comprehensive human service programs
  • Medical Research: Research initiatives focused on health advancement
  • Animal Welfare: Wildlife and domesticated animal charities (reflecting the founder's belief in the connection between how we treat animals and how we treat each other)

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions
  • As a preselected grantmaking foundation, they do not fund organizations outside their existing relationships

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2024):

  • Glenmede Trust Co N A (Corporate Trustee): A Philadelphia-based wealth management firm that provides professional trustee services
  • Lawrence J Miller, Esquire (Individual Trustee): Legal professional serving as co-trustee

The foundation's governance structure relies on these trustees to identify and evaluate potential grant recipients aligned with the foundation's mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The James Annenberg La Vea Charitable Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The trustees proactively identify and select organizations that align with the foundation's mission and strategic priorities.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their assessment of organizational alignment with the foundation's focus areas: children and youth services, health care, human services, medical research, and animal welfare.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding typically demonstrate:

  • Strong alignment with founder's values: Organizations working in children's services, health care, medical research, and animal welfare that reflect James Annenberg La Vea's philanthropic priorities
  • Established track record: The foundation appears to support established organizations with proven programs
  • Mission-driven focus: Organizations that embody the founder's belief in supporting future leaders through children's programs and demonstrating compassion through animal welfare

The foundation's grantmaking reflects the personal philanthropic vision of its founder, who passed away in 2014, with grants distributed through trustee discretion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications
  • Preselected grantmaking only: The trustees identify and select recipients proactively
  • Substantial resources: With nearly $198 million in assets and $10.4 million in annual giving, this is a significant foundation
  • Focused mission: Strong emphasis on children and youth services, health care, medical research, and animal welfare
  • Professional management: Corporate trustee (Glenmede Trust Co) provides institutional oversight alongside individual trustee
  • Legacy foundation: Continues the philanthropic vision of founder James Annenberg La Vea following his death in 2014
  • Relationship-based: Organizations supported likely have established relationships with trustees or were known to the founder

References

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