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Wolfen Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.2M

Wolfen Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,200,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies by program area
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California, with focus on healthcare, education, arts, Jewish organizations, and social services

Contact Details

Address: C/o Frazin & Co, Encino, CA
Phone: 818-528-3545
Email: Not publicly available
Website: No public website

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.

Overview

Established in 1999, the Wolfen Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation with total assets of $43.3 million as of 2024. Led by trustee Rick Wolfen, the foundation distributed $2.2 million in charitable disbursements in 2024, representing 88% of its total expenses. The foundation has awarded 319 individual grants totaling $6.5 million since 2014. The foundation's primary mission focuses on supporting healthcare (particularly cancer research and patient care), higher education, the arts, Jewish organizations, and children, youth, and social services. The foundation's revenue comes primarily from investment income, including dividends (41.8%) and sales of assets (38.1%), with additional contributions received (15.8%). The foundation has experienced exceptional growth, increasing revenue by an average of 48.5% annually over the past eight years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Recent grant activity includes:

  • 18 grants awarded in 2023 totaling $1,085,000
  • 3 grants awarded in 2022 totaling $135,000
  • 19 grants awarded in 2021

Priority Areas

Based on available information, the foundation funds:

  • Healthcare: Cancer centers providing research and patient care activities, including clinical trials and new cancer therapies
  • Higher Education: Support for educational institutions and student entrepreneurship programs
  • Arts and Culture: Support for arts organizations
  • Jewish Organizations: Funding for Jewish causes and community organizations
  • Children, Youth, and Social Services: Programs benefiting young people and providing social services

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. They do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their pre-identified network
  • Unsolicited grant requests
  • Organizations without prior relationships with the foundation or its trustees

Governance and Leadership

Rick Wolfen serves as Trustee and receives no compensation for his service. Historical records indicate that Mary G. Wolfen and Werner F. Wolfen also served as trustees in prior years.

The Wolfen family has demonstrated long-term commitment to specific causes, including a notable $2.2 million endowment to UCLA Anderson School of Management to support student entrepreneurship. Family members involved in this initiative include Mimi and Werner Wolfen; Rick Wolfen '80, MBA '83 and Karen Wolfen '82, JD '85; Jimmy Wolfen; and Cindy Wolfen Scott and Eric Scott.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly indicated 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 trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships or personal connections. The foundation operates in the traditional private family foundation model, where funding decisions are made internally based on the trustees' priorities and existing relationships with charitable organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

The Wolfen family has demonstrated a pattern of supporting organizations connected to their personal interests and community involvement, particularly:

  • UCLA Anderson School of Management: The family has a multi-generational connection to UCLA, with multiple family members being alumni. Their $2.2 million endowment supporting the Larry Wolfen Award demonstrates their commitment to entrepreneurship education at institutions where they have personal ties.
  • Organizations in the Los Angeles area, particularly in Encino and surrounding communities where the family is based.

Given the family's UCLA connection and focus on entrepreneurship, cancer research, and Jewish causes, organizations working in these areas that can demonstrate alignment with the family's values and have natural connection points through board members, alumni networks, or community involvement may have better positioning for future consideration.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as grants are made at the discretion of the trustees rather than through a formal review cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made by invitation or trustee discretion.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on their funding patterns, organizations most likely to receive support share these characteristics:

  • Established Track Record: The foundation supports established organizations with proven impact in their priority areas (healthcare, education, arts, Jewish causes, social services)
  • Connection to Family Interests: Organizations aligned with the Wolfen family's demonstrated interests, including cancer research, entrepreneurship education, and UCLA-affiliated programs
  • Los Angeles/California Focus: Geographic proximity to the foundation's Encino base appears to be a consideration
  • Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation's grantmaking pattern suggests preference for sustained relationships rather than one-time grants
  • Efficient Operations: With 88% of expenses going to charitable disbursements, the foundation demonstrates commitment to efficient grantmaking and likely values similar efficiency in grantees

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Applications Accepted: Do not submit unsolicited proposals - the foundation only funds preselected organizations
  • Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Focus on building authentic relationships through shared board members, community connections, or alumni networks rather than cold outreach
  • UCLA Connection: The family's significant UCLA involvement suggests opportunities for UCLA-affiliated programs or organizations with UCLA connections
  • Healthcare Priority: Cancer research and patient care appears to be a major funding priority, particularly programs offering clinical trials and innovative therapies
  • Family Foundation Model: As a private family foundation, decisions are personal and based on trustee priorities rather than formal criteria
  • Sustained Commitment: The foundation's pattern of repeat grants and multi-million dollar endowments suggests they prefer long-term partnerships over one-time funding
  • Entrepreneurship Focus: The family's support for entrepreneurship education may indicate openness to innovative, entrepreneurial approaches in their other funding areas

References

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