The David Geffen Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The David Geffen Foundation contributes only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is not the route in.
- If your work sits within its themes of arts, gay and lesbian causes, HIV/AIDS, Jewish issues or medicine, look for a way to be introduced rather than submitting a proposal blind.
- Its typical grants run from $3,600 to $700,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 282 grants to organisations falling in that band and a median of $10,000; its largest grant was $50,000,000, so the band is not a ceiling, and a request around the median is a sensible size to have ready.
- Because 82% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, prior support plays a large part in its giving, though no geographic focus is stated, so your location is not in itself a bar.
- The filing gives no application stages or deadlines, so there is no set timetable to plan around.
Overview
The David Geffen Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (philanthropy.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports groups that focus on the arts, gay and lesbian causes, HIV/AIDS, Jewish issues and medicine. Its grants include general support for arts institutions and museums, universities, medical organisations, advocacy charities and community service providers. This range of recipients sits alongside the foundation’s stated fields rather than defining a narrower programme: the evidence describes support across several charitable areas. Its approach is selective; it contributes to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests. No wider eligibility criteria or public application route are set out in the available information.
Themes
- Arts
- Gay and lesbian causes
- HIV/AIDS
- Jewish issues
- Medicine
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, New York and Connecticut.
How to apply
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The available filing gives no applicant-facing stages.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 82% 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 282 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 30% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to organisations The David Geffen Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 93 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- La County Museum Of Art · General support$50,000,0002024 tax year
- Yale University · General support$15,000,0002024 tax year
- UCLA Foundation · General support$10,049,1002024 tax year
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · General support$10,000,0002024 tax year
- Columbia University · General support$8,333,3332024 tax year
- Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream · General support$6,000,0002024 tax year
- Academy Foundation · General support$5,000,0002024 tax year
- 92nd Street Y · General support$3,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- J Dallas Dishman — Executive Director
- David Geffen — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $91,794,289 | $90,593,083 | $561,073,981 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $131,554,319 | $129,741,899 | $482,219,448 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $113,343,413 | $112,492,683 | $418,751,231 | 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.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The David Geffen Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA
Applying to The David Geffen Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA