Wasserman Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 95-6038762 · since 1957wassermanfoundation.org·Los Angeles·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$13.7M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$2,500 to $120k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$10,000

Typical grant (median)

197 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

Wasserman Foundation funds organisations across education, arts and culture, health, service and global initiatives, with its education work centred on transforming Los Angeles public schools, and its geographic priority is Los Angeles.
It does not accept unsolicited requests for funding, so applying cold without an existing relationship is unlikely to succeed.
A realistic request should be modest: half of its 535 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fell between $2,500 and $120,000, with the median at $10,000, though occasional much larger grants such as $3,000,000 do occur.
This is a strongly relationship-led funder, as 82% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already supported in the previous two filings, so continuing partners are favoured over new applicants.
Because it works by invitation only, organisations should not send unsolicited requests for funding.

Overview

Wasserman 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 its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation funds non-profit organisations across education, arts and culture, health, service and global initiatives. In education, it works with organisations transforming Los Angeles public schools, reflecting its belief that education plays a pivotal role in improving a child’s future and community. It partners with organisations providing high-quality health care, fosters art and cultural institutions, supports service leaders including military, police and fire, and partners with organisations helping meet global challenges. Its approach is guided by the interests and passions of the Wasserman Family and is built around partnerships. It does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.

Themes

Education
Arts and culture
Health
Service
Global initiatives

Geographic Focus

Priority: Los Angeles.

How to apply

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.

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 535 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Its giving is driven by the interests and passions of the Wasserman Family.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

California72%

New York10%

Arkansas4%

Illinois3%

Florida2%

Ohio2%

6 other states: 4%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%

The largest single recipient received 42% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to organisations Wasserman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

197 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $10,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 197 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k1%

$1k–$2.5k6%

$2.5k–$5k9%

$5k–$10k17%

$10k–$25k35%

$25k–$50k14%

$50k–$100k6%

$100k–$250k6%

$250k–$500k3%

$500k–$1M2%

$1M and over2%

Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)

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

UCLA Foundation · UCLA CARES (childhood anxiety, reslience, educatio NECK SURGERY
$2,000,0002024 tax year
UCLA Foundation · Pauley Pavilion
$1,500,0002024 tax year
UCLA Foundation · Football/Basketball
$1,500,0002024 tax year
Choose Chicago Foundation · Hospitality & Tourism Initiatives
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Metropolitan Museum of Art · 2024 Costume Institute Benefit
$757,0002024 tax year
Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation · Endowment
$500,0002024 tax year
Lacma · Building LACMA Campaign
$500,0002024 tax year
Lacma · Momentum Campaign
$500,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Stella Wasserman — Vice President
Emmet Wasserman — Vice President
Charles Paul — Trustee
Mike Watts — Trustee
Ryan Berenson — CFO
Steve Guise — Secretary
Casey Wasserman — President / Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$14,608,352	$12,207,407	$131,085,982	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$15,833,358	$13,598,144	$124,839,898	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$15,683,216	$13,681,470	$113,748,925	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.