RDL Charitable Trust

Private foundation · EIN 81-6572207 · since 2016rdlcharitabletrust.org·California, Texas·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$591k

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$150 to $61,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$2,000

Typical grant (median)

35 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

Work on children facing life-threatening illness, or on support for military and veterans, is the clearest fit with what the foundation says it does, and its recorded grants include children's health and military service groups.
It accepts requests only from organisations it has preselected and does not take unsolicited requests, so a cold approach is unlikely to be considered and building a connection first is the sensible route.
Half of its organisational grants across its recent filings were $3,500 or less, so a modest request fits well, although about 8 in 10 grants fall between $150 and $61,000 and its largest grant was $150,000, so the typical band is not a ceiling.
The filings show that 54% of its grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing went to groups it had also funded in an earlier one, so an existing relationship is likely to matter more than a first approach.
Its stated focus names no geographic area, and most recorded organisational grant dollars went to California recipients, but this is a pattern in its grants rather than a rule, so an organisation elsewhere should not assume it is excluded.

Overview

RDL Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in Laguna Niguel, CA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

RDL Charitable Trust describes its focus as helping children and military families in their time of need. It provides resources and support for children battling life-threatening diseases, and helps active-duty military personnel and veterans with critical needs. Its recorded grants go to charitable organisations including children's health organisations, military and veteran service groups, an environmental organisation and public schools. Most recorded organisational grant dollars went to California recipients, although grants also went to organisations elsewhere. The trust's public description centres on children facing life-threatening illness and the military community; much of its organisational support is recorded as general support.

Themes

Children with life-threatening illnesses
Military and veterans

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California and Texas.

How to apply

Only preselected charitable organisations receive contributions; unsolicited requests are not accepted.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 54% 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 65 grants to organisations were $3,500 or less.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

California86%

Texas12%

Pennsylvania1%

Maryland<1%

Iowa<1%

New York<1%

6 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 23% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 54% of grant dollars went to organisations RDL Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

35 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $2,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 35 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k31%

$1k–$2.5k26%

$2.5k–$5k6%

$5k–$10k9%

$10k–$25k14%

$25k–$50k9%

$50k–$100k0%

$100k–$250k6%

Median $2,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

City of Hope · General support
$150,0002024 tax year
Jessie Rees Foundation · General support
$134,0812024 tax year
Patriots & Paws · General support
$43,3072024 tax year
Ecology Center · General support
$41,1842024 tax year
CHOC Foundation · General support
$25,7952024 tax year
Anaheim Elementary School District · Bicycles for anaheim elementary public schools
$21,5812024 tax year
Fisher House Southern California · General support
$20,9702024 tax year
Dawgs Project · General support
$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

David Lowenthal — Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$1,055,108	$413,322	$12,427,411	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$1,377,080	$313,399	$23,354,530	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,623,870	$590,975	$24,252,794	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.