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Anderson Stewart Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$65.4M
Grant Range
$1000K - $50.0M

Anderson Stewart Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $65,445,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - invitation only
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000,000 - $50,000,000+ (major institutional gifts)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles, CA and U.S. Virgin Islands

Contact Details

Foundation Information:

  • EIN: 95-4074837
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
  • Founded: 1986

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Anderson Stewart Family Foundation was established in 1986 by John E. Anderson, founder and president of Topa Equities, Ltd., and his wife Marion Anderson. Since John's passing in 2011 and Marion's in 2017, the foundation has been led by their children, with Judy Munzig serving as chair and Bill Anderson (William S. Anderson) representing the family in various capacities. In 2023, the foundation awarded $65,445,000 across 36 grants. The foundation's strategic approach focuses on major institutional partnerships in education, healthcare innovation, and community-based initiatives, particularly in Los Angeles and the U.S. Virgin Islands where Topa Equities maintains business operations. Since 2014, the foundation has awarded 186 individual grants totaling over $521 million, establishing itself as one of Southern California's most significant private family foundations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Awards are made at the discretion of family leadership to preselected organizations.

Major Institutional Partnerships:

  • Large-scale gifts ranging from $1 million to $50 million+
  • Multi-year funding relationships with select institutions
  • Focus on transformational gifts that enable major initiatives

Average Grant Size: Approximately $1.8 million based on 2023 data (36 grants totaling $65.4 million)

Priority Areas

Healthcare:

  • Children's healthcare and pediatric medicine
  • Healthcare innovation and research
  • Healthcare access and technology advancement
  • Public health emergency response

Education:

  • Higher education, particularly business and management education
  • Teacher support and student education programs
  • Educational infrastructure

Community Support:

  • Disaster relief and recovery
  • Community-based organizations in areas where Topa Equities operates
  • Public health services

Geographic Focus:

  • Los Angeles, California (primary)
  • U.S. Virgin Islands (significant presence due to Topa Equities business operations)

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's approach indicates they do not fund:

  • Unsolicited applications from unknown organizations
  • Organizations without established relationships with the foundation or family
  • Small-scale community grants or individual assistance

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

  • Judy Munzig - Chair, Anderson Stewart Family Foundation; daughter of Marion and John E. Anderson
  • William S. Anderson (Bill Anderson) - Executive Chairman of Topa Equities, Ltd.; son of Marion and John E. Anderson; represents the foundation in public statements
  • Susan McKinley - Family member involved in foundation decisions

Founders (Deceased):

  • John E. Anderson (1917-2011) - Founder and president of Topa Equities, Ltd.; major benefactor to UCLA Anderson School of Management
  • Marion Anderson (died 2017) - Philanthropist; served as Children's Hospital Los Angeles Board Trustee from 1989-2017, including co-chairing the Board from 1999-2012

Foundation Management: The foundation's assets are managed by the board of directors, which consists primarily of family members.

Leadership Philosophy: In announcing the $50 million gift to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Judy Munzig stated: "Children's Hospital Los Angeles has been very close to our hearts since our parents discovered it more than three decades ago. We are honored to continue this great legacy they began."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Anderson Stewart Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

How Grants Are Awarded:

  • Grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's board of directors (family leadership)
  • Organizations are identified through existing relationships, family connections, and board member knowledge
  • The foundation maintains long-term partnerships with select institutions rather than accepting open applications

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has strong, multi-decade relationships with specific institutions in Los Angeles and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Key pathways to foundation awareness include:

Established Institutional Connections:

  • The foundation has sustained relationships with UCLA (particularly the Anderson School of Management) and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, both of which have received over $100 million from the family
  • Organizations in regions where Topa Equities operates businesses (Los Angeles, U.S. Virgin Islands) appear to receive consideration, particularly in education and community support

Family and Business Network:

  • William S. Anderson serves as executive chairman of Topa Equities and has been involved in identifying grant recipients, particularly related to COVID-19 response and community needs in the Virgin Islands
  • Marion Anderson's 28-year tenure as a trustee at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (1989-2017) exemplifies how family board service can lead to major philanthropic relationships

Crisis Response:

  • The foundation has demonstrated responsiveness to community emergencies, including $5 million for USVI hurricane recovery (2018) and $1 million for COVID-19 response (2020), suggesting they may be receptive to urgent community needs in their areas of focus

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the trustee-discretion model, decisions likely occur at board meetings on the family's schedule rather than fixed cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations with existing relationships appear to receive ongoing support over multiple years.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals:

Demonstrated Funding Patterns:

  1. Long-term Institutional Relationships: The foundation strongly favors sustained partnerships. Children's Hospital Los Angeles has received over $100 million over three decades, and UCLA Anderson has received over $140 million from the family.

  2. Transformational Impact Focus: The foundation makes large, transformational gifts rather than small grants. Recent examples include:

    • $50 million to Children's Hospital Los Angeles (2019)
    • Major gift to fund UCLA Anderson Center for Healthcare Innovation (2024)
    • $1 million for COVID-19 response in USVI (2020)

  3. Healthcare Innovation Priority: The John Anderson Jr. Healthcare Research Initiative supports faculty research grants studying "how new technologies like artificial intelligence are improving access to and lowering the costs of health care," indicating interest in innovation and technology-driven solutions.

  4. Geographic Alignment: Organizations in Los Angeles (foundation headquarters) and U.S. Virgin Islands (where Topa Equities has significant operations including beverage distribution and insurance) receive consistent support.

  5. Education and Youth Focus: Beyond UCLA, the foundation has supported teachers and students in the USVI for two decades, indicating sustained commitment to educational access.

  6. Family Legacy Continuation: Current leadership explicitly connects their grantmaking to their parents' values. Judy Munzig's statement about CHLA emphasizes "continuing this great legacy they began."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - do not submit proposals unless specifically invited
  • Relationship-based grantmaking: All evidence suggests grants flow from existing family relationships, board connections, or Topa Equities business presence
  • Major gifts only: With average grants of $1.8 million and recent gifts of $50 million, this foundation makes transformational institutional gifts, not small community grants
  • Multi-year partnerships: The foundation maintains decades-long relationships with select organizations rather than one-time grants
  • Healthcare and education focus: Strongest track record in pediatric healthcare, higher education (business schools), and healthcare innovation
  • Geographic concentration: Los Angeles is the clear priority, with secondary focus on U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Legacy-driven: Current generation explicitly continues founders' philanthropic relationships and values, suggesting existing partnerships will continue while new relationships may be limited

References

Accessed December 2024

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