The Old Oak Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,200,000
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $500 - $270,000
• Grant Median: $25,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California, with national reach
• Total Assets: $22 million (2024)

Contact Details

The Old Oak Foundation

• Location: Calabasas, California
• EIN: 81-4764333
• Website: None
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed

Note: This foundation does not have public contact information as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Old Oak Foundation, also known as the Megan Haller and Peter Rice Foundation, was established in 2017 as a private grantmaking foundation based in Calabasas, California. With total assets of approximately $22 million and annual distributions of $1.2 million, the foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes including education, arts and culture, healthcare, media, and journalism. The foundation is led by Megan Haller (Director, President, and CEO) and Peter Rice (Director, Treasurer, and CFO), both of whom serve without compensation. Peter Rice is a prominent media executive who previously served as chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content and president of 21st Century Fox. The foundation's grantmaking reflects their personal interests and professional background in the entertainment industry, with significant support to organizations like the Motion Picture and Television Fund, while also supporting educational institutions, public media, and various charitable causes across the United States.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific themes or application cycles. Instead, it makes discretionary grants to organizations selected by the trustees.

2024 Grantmaking Activity:

• Total Grants Awarded: 21
• Total Distribution: $1,200,000
• Grant Range: $500 - $270,495
• Median Grant Size: $25,000

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant recipients, the foundation supports:

• Entertainment Industry Support: Significant funding to the Motion Picture and Television Fund ($250,000 in 2024), reflecting Peter Rice's career in film and television
• Higher Education: Support for prestigious universities including Princeton University and Yale University
• Arts and Culture: Grants to institutions like The Public Theatre
• Public Media: Support for KPCC Southern California Public Radio
• K-12 Education: Multiple grants to Polytechnic School ($50,000 each)
• Healthcare: UCLA Medical Hospitality Program Fund
• General Charitable Giving: Grants through intermediaries like Charities Aid Foundation America, Network for Good, and MS Gift HR Charitable Giving

Geographic Focus

While based in California and with a concentration of grants to California organizations (particularly in the Los Angeles area), the foundation has funded projects across the United States, including organizations in New York, Washington DC, Virginia, and other states.

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation that makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations, the foundation does not fund:

• Unsolicited applications from any organization
• Individuals
• For-profit entities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Megan Haller - Director, President, and CEO

  • Serves approximately 1 hour per week
  • Receives no compensation for her role

• Peter Rice - Director, Treasurer, and CFO

  • Serves approximately 1 hour per week
  • Receives no compensation for his role
  • Background: Former chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content and former president of 21st Century Fox (1989-2019); departed Disney in June 2022; currently has a nonexclusive production deal with A24 and produced films for Columbia Pictures

The foundation has no full-time employees and operates with minimal overhead, with both trustees serving in voluntary capacities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Old Oak Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, Megan Haller and Peter Rice, based on their personal philanthropic interests and connections.

Organizations cannot apply for funding. Grants are made exclusively through trustee-initiated relationships and pre-existing connections.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made at the trustees' discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications (0% success rate, as they are not accepted).

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not accept initial applications, so reapplication is not possible for organizations not already in relationship with the trustees.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their grantmaking patterns reveals:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Support:

• Organizations connected to the entertainment industry, particularly film and television
• Educational institutions the trustees have personal connections to (alumni relationships)
• Southern California-based nonprofits, especially in the Los Angeles area
• Established, well-known institutions (universities, major cultural organizations)
• Organizations where trustees may serve on boards or have personal involvement

Recent Funding Examples:

• Motion Picture and Television Fund: $250,000 (2024) - aligns with Peter Rice's career in entertainment
• Multiple $50,000 grants to Polytechnic School - suggests personal connection to the institution
• Support for prestigious universities (Princeton, Yale) - likely alumni or personal connections
• KPCC Southern California Public Radio - reflects interest in quality journalism and local community

Foundation's Giving Pattern:

• Mix of large anchor grants ($100,000+) and smaller contributions ($500-$50,000)
• Repeat giving to organizations (multiple grants to Polytechnic School)
• Use of donor-advised fund intermediaries (Charities Aid Foundation America, Network for Good, MS Gift HR Charitable Giving) for some grantmaking, which may facilitate anonymous or strategic giving

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be applied to through normal channels. They exclusively fund preselected organizations.
• Relationship-Driven: All funding flows from personal relationships and connections with trustees Megan Haller and Peter Rice.
• Entertainment Industry Connection: Strong preference for organizations serving the film and television industry, reflecting Peter Rice's prominent career at Fox and Disney.
• Educational Support: Consistent funding to educational institutions, likely reflecting personal alumni connections or family interests.
• Geographic Focus: While national in scope, there's a clear concentration on Southern California organizations.
• Established Institutions Preferred: Grantmaking favors well-known, established organizations rather than emerging nonprofits.
• Intermediary Giving: Significant grants through charitable intermediaries suggest additional giving that may not be fully transparent in public records.

For Fundraisers: Unless your organization has a direct personal connection to Megan Haller or Peter Rice, or operates in the entertainment industry where such a connection could be cultivated, this foundation should not be considered a viable funding prospect.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Old Oak Foundation (EIN 81-4764333). Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/814764333 (Accessed January 2026)
• Grantmakers.io - The Old Oak Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/814764333-the-old-oak-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ - Megan Haller and Peter Rice Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/megan-haller-and-peter-rice-foundation,814764333/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Grantable.co - The Old Oak Foundation Foundation Profile & Grants. Retrieved from https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/the-old-oak-foundation-us-foundation-814764333 (Accessed January 2026)
• Wikipedia - Peter Rice (executive). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Rice_(executive) (Accessed January 2026)
• Alliance for Children's Rights - 2025 Champions for Children. Retrieved from https://allianceforchildrensrights.org/2025cfc/ (Accessed January 2026)