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Stanley & Joyce Black Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.7M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,716,264 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $500 - $250,000
  • Median Grant: $10,000
  • Geographic Focus: Southern California (primarily Los Angeles area), with some support for Israel and national organizations

Contact Details

Address: 9665 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2309

Phone: 310-278-5333

Website: No public website

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

Overview

The Stanley & Joyce Black Family Foundation was established in 1989 by real estate developer Stanley Black and his late wife Joyce Black. The private family foundation holds approximately $31 million in assets and has granted more than $60 million to organizations helping underserved communities locally and internationally since its inception. Since 2014 alone, the foundation has awarded 1,452 individual grants totaling $35,474,250. The foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of Joyce Black, who passed away in 2013 after a prolonged battle with cancer, and reflects the family's deep commitment to healthcare (particularly pediatric care), Jewish life and community, homeless services, veterans support, education, and environmental beautification. The foundation is now led by family members including Stanley's daughters Jill Black Zalben and Janis Black Warner, grandson Zachary Zalben (serving as President), and other family members who serve as directors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretion grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Awards range from $500 to $250,000, with a median grant of $10,000. In 2023, the foundation made 75 grants totaling $2.7 million. Grant decisions are made by the board of directors on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Priority Areas

The foundation considers grants in the following areas:

  • Healthcare and Medical Research: Strong emphasis on pediatric healthcare, particularly Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where the Gateway Building was renamed the Joyce and Stanley Black Family Building following a $15 million gift in 2013
  • Israel and Jewish Life: Support for organizations including Israel Bonds, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles Jewish Home, Beverly Hills Hadassah, LA ORT, Beit T'Shuvah, and Holocaust Museum LA
  • Children's Charities and Education: Including Pepperdine University (home to the Joyce and Stanley Black Family Plaza Classrooms), ORT Technical School, New York University, De Toledo High School, UCLA Foundation, Exceptional Children's Foundation, and Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services
  • Homeless Services: Union Rescue Mission, Midnight Mission
  • Veterans Support: Navy Seal Foundation, Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
  • Mental Health Services: Support for organizations providing trauma-responsive services
  • Environmental Beautification and Community Gardens: Including support for organizations focused on environmental improvements and community spaces
  • International Development: Wells Bring Hope (drilling wells for safe water and sanitation in West Africa)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and only supports preselected organizations. There is no indication they support:

  • Organizations outside their established priority areas
  • Individuals
  • For-profit entities
  • Political campaigns

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by the Black family, with the following board structure (as of 2024 tax filing):

  • Zachary Zalben: President and Director (grandson of Stanley and Joyce Black)
  • Jill Black Zalben: Director (daughter of Stanley and Joyce Black; works at Black Equities Group)
  • Janis Black Warner: Director (daughter of Stanley and Joyce Black; works at Black Equities Group)
  • Victoria Zalben: Director
  • Jack Black: Director (son of Stanley and Joyce Black)
  • Jason Goldman: Director
  • Bernhard Punzet: Chief Financial Officer
  • Danny Fisk: Secretary

Stanley Black (born 1932) is the founder and chairman of Black Equities Group, a real estate investment company he established with his son Jack in 1985. The company owns 20 million square feet of commercial real estate. Prior to this, Stanley co-founded KB Development & Management, which developed more than 60 office, multifamily, and retail projects totaling over 10 million square feet in Southern California from 1955 to 1975.

Joyce Black, who passed away in 2013 at age 75 after a prolonged battle with cancer, was deeply involved in the foundation's work. Her personal connection to Children's Hospital Los Angeles—where she was treated for mastoiditis as a child—shaped the family's commitment to pediatric healthcare.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has indicated on its IRS Form 990-PF that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of directors to organizations with which the family has established relationships. The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

  • Board members' personal knowledge and involvement in the sector
  • Long-standing relationships with organizations the family has supported
  • Family connections to specific causes and institutions

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed, as grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for external applicants, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share certain characteristics:

Alignment with Family Values: The foundation's giving reflects the Black family's personal connections and values. Their major gift to Children's Hospital Los Angeles was motivated by Joyce Black's childhood treatment there. Organizations that align with causes the family has personal experience with or passion for are more likely to receive support.

Focus on Southern California: The vast majority of grants support organizations based in or serving the Los Angeles and Southern California region, reflecting the family's deep roots in Beverly Hills and the broader community.

Jewish Community Connection: A significant portion of giving supports Jewish organizations and causes related to Israel, reflecting the family's commitment to Jewish life and community.

Track Record and Reputation: Recent major recipients like Holocaust Museum LA ($250,000 in 2023) and Children's Hospital Los Angeles ($250,000 in 2023) are well-established institutions with strong reputations.

Unrestricted Giving Approach: The foundation has been noted for making unrestricted gifts, allowing organizations flexibility in how funds are used, suggesting they prefer to support organizations whose overall mission they trust rather than micromanaging specific projects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications: Do not submit proposals unless specifically invited by the board
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: All grants are made to preselected organizations known to the family and board members
  • Family foundation with personal connections: Giving reflects the Black family's personal experiences, values, and relationships with causes and institutions
  • Southern California focus: Geographic preference for Los Angeles and Southern California organizations
  • Range of grant sizes: While the median grant is $10,000, the foundation makes gifts ranging from $500 to $250,000, with major institutions receiving six-figure grants
  • Multi-generational leadership: The foundation is now led by the second and third generations of the Black family, ensuring continuity of the family's philanthropic legacy
  • Consistent annual giving: The foundation has maintained steady grantmaking at approximately $2.7-3 million annually

References

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