Herb Alpert Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 95-4191227 · since 1993herbalpertfoundation.org·Los Angeles County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$7.5M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $200k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$25,000

Typical grant (median)

86 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

This funder focuses on arts education, jazz, compassion and well-being, and legacy gifts, so it suits organisations working in those areas within its stated geographic priority of Los Angeles County.
Most grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $200,000, with a median of $25,000 and half of all grants at $25,000 or less, so a modest request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant recorded was about $1,450,000.
The foundation works by invitation only: it does not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry, so cold applications should not be sent; instead, staff research opportunities themselves against their priority areas.
A large share of grant dollars, 79%, went to organisations already funded in the two preceding filings, suggesting the foundation is relationship-led and tends to sustain existing relationships rather than open new ones through applications.
Only 501(c)3 organisations are funded and individuals are not supported, so organisations outside those terms should not apply.

Overview

Herb Alpert Foundation is a US private foundation based in Santa Monica, 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

Arts education gives children opportunities to encounter the arts in many forms and supports programmes from elementary-school provision through scholarships for high-school students to continue their training. The foundation also backs organisations celebrating jazz, educating children about the art form, sustaining audiences and nurturing the next generation of artists. In compassion and well-being, it supports organisations fostering empathy and cooperation and restoring individuals’ and families’ ability to stand independently. Its legacy gifts establish endowments for programmes and institutions, helping them remain sustainable and respond to community needs.

Themes

Arts education
Jazz
Compassion and well-being
Legacy gifts

Geographic Focus

Priority: Los Angeles County.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations other than 501(c)3 organizations
Individuals

How to apply

Grants are by invitation only. Foundation staff research opportunities against specific priority areas and objectives; the foundation does not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 79% 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 263 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The foundation identifies opportunities through staff research to find those that fit its specific priority areas and objectives.
It seeks out programmes that are creatively conceived and run.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

California80%

New York9%

Louisiana6%

Virginia<1%

District of Columbia<1%

Massachusetts<1%

6 other states: 2%

The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to organisations Herb Alpert Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

86 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $25,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 86 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$2.5k–$5k3%

$5k–$10k10%

$10k–$25k16%

$25k–$50k45%

$50k–$100k6%

$100k–$250k10%

$250k–$500k5%

$500k–$1M1%

$1M and over2%

Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)

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

UCLA Foundation UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music · Charitable
$1,300,0002024 tax year
California Institute Of Arts · Charitable
$1,152,4002024 tax year
Harlem School of the Arts · Charitable
$800,0002024 tax year
California State Summer School Foundation · Charitable
$424,3002024 tax year
Good People Fund · Charitable
$400,0002024 tax year
Pacific Jazz Orchestra · Charitable
$250,0002024 tax year
Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz · Charitable
$250,0002024 tax year
P.S. Arts · Charitable
$240,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Ian Wiener — Secretary, Cfo
Paul Frimmer — Director
Rona Sebastian — President
Lani Hall Alpert — Vice Chair.
Herb Alpert — Chairman
Eden Alpert — Director
Aria Alpert Adjani — Vice President
Arnold Santos — Assistant Secretary

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$8,507,905	$7,080,600	$39,299,947	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$11,220,710	$9,819,700	$55,077,881	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$9,969,074	$7,487,350	$50,138,705	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.