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Chuck Lorre Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$19.3M
Grant Range
Up to $30.0M00
00

Chuck Lorre Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $19,306,839 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $223,372,857
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely from school grants to multi-million dollar institutional partnerships
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles and Southern California, with select national initiatives

Contact Details

Website: chucklorrefamilyfoundation.org

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals or donations.

Overview

Established in 2015 by television writer and producer Chuck Lorre (creator of The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Two and a Half Men, and The Kominsky Method), the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation has quickly become a significant philanthropic force in Los Angeles. With total assets exceeding $223 million and annual giving of approximately $19.3 million (2023), the foundation is dedicated to funding innovative and compassionate organizations in education, health, and the arts. Reflecting the values and unique experiences of the Lorre family, the foundation supports programs, services, and opportunities "for those struggling with less and striving for more." The foundation distributed 63 grants in 2023, with an average grant size of approximately $306,458. The foundation primarily focuses its philanthropic partnerships and programs on organizations and institutions in the Los Angeles area that inspire hope, leadership, creativity, and productivity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate open grant programs but instead partners directly with select institutions and organizations. Major funding initiatives include:

Education Programs:

  • The Big Bang Theory Scholarship Endowment at UCLA: Multi-million dollar endowment supporting undergraduate students in STEM fields who need financial aid. In 2024, Chuck Lorre pledged an additional $24.5 million to double the number of annual recipients to 80 students in perpetuity. The program has expanded to include the UCLA Chuck Lorre Scholars Program with graduate studies scholarships, mentorship, and up to five years of graduate funding support.

  • Young Sheldon STEM Initiative: Currently supporting 115 K-12 schools in Southern California and East Texas with two-year grants specifically designed to support STEM teachers' in-class curricula and after-school programs. The foundation has provided more than $1.6 million in funding through this program, partnering with organizations like 9 Dots, Burbank USD, MOCA, and Just Keep Livin Foundation. The grant supports GALA, the only all-girls STEM school in LAUSD.

  • DonorsChoose Partnerships: National campaigns supporting public school teachers during back to school, National STEM Day, and Teacher Appreciation Week. In 2024, donated $500,000 for music education projects, setting a record for the biggest single day of giving exclusively for music projects on the platform.

Health Programs:

  • Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles: One of the largest gifts in CHLA's history, this first-of-its-kind institute serves as a national model for training health professionals including doctors, nurses, clinical care providers, researchers, and students.

  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles Research Education: $10 million pledge to support research education for underrepresented high school and college students from under-resourced communities throughout greater Los Angeles through the Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program.

  • Chuck Lorre School of Allied Health at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: $30 million gift in 2023 to create this new educational institution.

  • Van Ness Recovery House: $350,000 grant for comprehensive kitchen renovation at this Los Angeles recovery facility.

Arts Programs:

  • Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): $1 million gift to support Contemporary Art Start (CAS), MOCA's nationally-renowned Los Angeles school-based learning initiative.

Community Support:

  • LA Unified School District: $250,000 matching grant to support Grab & Go Food Centers during COVID-19 for students most in need.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three core areas:

  1. STEM Education: Supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs for under-resourced communities, particularly K-12 public schools and undergraduate/graduate students
  2. Health and Healthcare Education: Workforce development for health professionals and improving access to health services for underserved populations
  3. Arts Education: Music and contemporary art programs in public schools

Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles and Southern California, with select initiatives in East Texas and national partnerships

Population Focus: Under-resourced communities, students with financial need, underrepresented populations in STEM and healthcare

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, which means they do not fund organizations outside of their established partnerships and trustee-identified initiatives. The foundation appears to focus exclusively on education, health, and arts—other sectors are not mentioned in their materials.

Governance and Leadership

Chuck Lorre - Founder: Television writer and producer known for creating some of the most successful sitcoms in television history, including The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Two and a Half Men, Mom, and The Kominsky Method.

Trisha Cardoso - President & Chief Giving Officer: Oversees the foundation's philanthropic strategy and partnerships. She also serves as a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees.

Chuck Lorre on Philanthropy: "From the beginning, I wanted my foundation to focus on education and health. They are both integral to having a life worth living." On the impact of giving, Lorre stated: Giving back "creates joy. It's different from just happy; it's deeper than happy; it's more meaningful."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals or donations. Instead, the foundation operates through direct partnerships and trustee-identified initiatives with select forward-thinking charitable organizations and institutions.

Grants are awarded based on the foundation's proactive identification of organizations and programs that align with their mission in education, health, and the arts, primarily in the Los Angeles area.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies potential partners through their network and the personal interests of the Lorre family. Specific strategies for this foundation include:

  • Existing Institutional Relationships: The foundation has established long-term partnerships with major Los Angeles institutions including UCLA, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and MOCA. Organizations already working with these institutions may have better visibility.

  • Trisha Cardoso's Network: As President & Chief Giving Officer, Trisha Cardoso appears to be the key decision-maker for partnerships. She is also on the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees, suggesting healthcare and children's services connections may be particularly relevant.

  • Public School Partnerships: For K-12 programs, the foundation works through partner organizations like 9 Dots, Burbank USD, and Just Keep Livin Foundation to identify schools for the Young Sheldon STEM Initiative. Building relationships with these intermediary organizations could provide a pathway.

  • STEM and Health Education Focus: The foundation's priorities are deeply tied to Chuck Lorre's successful TV shows (The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon), suggesting they value organizations that can demonstrate innovative approaches to STEM education and workforce development in health fields.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable—grants are made at trustee discretion based on identified opportunities rather than on a review cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—the foundation operates through ongoing partnerships rather than grant cycles.

Application Success Factors

Since the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors characterize their successful partnerships based on publicly announced grants:

Alignment with Personal Mission: Chuck Lorre has stated that education and health are "integral to having a life worth living." The foundation's largest grants reflect this deeply personal commitment. Successful partners demonstrate innovative approaches in these fields.

Focus on Under-Resourced Communities: The foundation's mission explicitly supports "those struggling with less and striving for more." All major partnerships serve underrepresented populations, students with financial need, or under-resourced schools and communities in Los Angeles.

Institutional Excellence with Local Impact: The foundation partners with major, established institutions (UCLA, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai, MOCA) that have strong track records but focuses on programs that serve Los Angeles communities.

STEM Education Innovation: Given Chuck Lorre's success with science-focused sitcoms, programs that foster "excitement for learning in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics" are central to the foundation's identity. The Young Sheldon STEM Initiative supports both in-class curricula and after-school programs.

Transformational vs. Operational: Recent grants suggest the foundation prefers to make transformational gifts that create new programs or endowments (e.g., the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute, the Chuck Lorre School of Allied Health) rather than supporting general operations.

Long-Term Partnerships: Many of the foundation's relationships are ongoing and multi-year (e.g., two-year school grants, endowments, named institutes), suggesting they value sustained impact over one-time funding.

Workforce Development in Health: Multiple grants focus on training the next generation of healthcare professionals, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. This appears to be a growing priority area.

Arts Access for Students: The foundation supports arts education programs that bring contemporary art and music to public school students who might not otherwise have access.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Do not submit applications or letters of inquiry unless specifically invited.

  • Partnership-based model: The foundation identifies and approaches organizations rather than responding to requests. Focus on building visibility within the Los Angeles philanthropic community and with the foundation's existing partner institutions.

  • Large-scale, transformational giving: With an average grant size exceeding $300,000 and several multi-million dollar commitments, the foundation makes significant investments in select partners rather than numerous small grants.

  • Education and health workforce are core: The foundation's two primary interests—STEM education and health professional training—reflect Chuck Lorre's personal values. Programs serving under-resourced communities in these areas align best.

  • Los Angeles focus: The vast majority of funding stays in Southern California, particularly Los Angeles. Organizations outside this region should not expect support unless they offer exceptional national models.

  • Trisha Cardoso is the key contact: As President & Chief Giving Officer, Cardoso appears to be the decision-maker for partnerships. Building awareness with her and her network (including CHLA connections) would be the most direct path.

  • Think legacy and naming opportunities: Many grants result in named programs, institutes, or endowments (Chuck Lorre Scholars, Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute, Chuck Lorre School of Allied Health), suggesting the foundation values lasting recognition of their impact.

References

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