The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation focuses its giving on Los Angeles County, and its stated priorities are healthcare programmes, higher education, social service programmes and youth-oriented organisations, so fit with one of these themes and the county matters most.
- Typical grants to organisations fall between $3,000 and $50,000, with the median grant at $3,000, so a modest request is the realistic starting point, though requests over $500,000 should first contact the Foundation office.
- Applications are accepted on fixed quarterly deadlines (31 December, 31 March, 30 June and 30 September) via the application link, using a free Submittable account.
- The Foundation looks relationship-led: 72% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the prior two filings, and it says it seldom takes part in capital campaigns except with organisations it has a longstanding relationship with, so new applicants may find it competitive and should not expect capital-campaign support on a first approach.
- It does not fund fundraising events, dinners or mass mailings, elementary and high schools, direct aid to individuals, political candidates, campaigns or legislation, for-profit organisations or businesses, scientific or medical research, grassroots advocacy, organising or policy work, or endowments, and it generally limits funding to 501(c)(3) organisations or fiscally sponsored organisations within Los Angeles County; organisations outside these terms should not apply.
Overview
The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey 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 Leavey Foundation directs its resources primarily to benefit residents of Los Angeles County, and its funding is generally limited to organisations in the county. Its stated priorities are healthcare programmes, higher education, social service programmes and youth-oriented organisations; it also describes its mission as helping disadvantaged people and supporting proven and promising educational institutions and programmes, and organisations that provide health care and other vital human services. Requests are considered from organisations classified by the IRS as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt agencies or fiscally sponsored organisations. It does not typically provide multi-year funding, and grantees must wait a year after the end of a grant before applying again.
Themes
- Healthcare programs
- Higher education
- Social service programs
- Youth-oriented organizations
Geographic Focus
Los Angeles County.
What They Don't Fund
- Fundraising events, dinners, and mass mailings
- Elementary and high schools
- Direct aid to individuals
- Support for political elections candidates, campaigns, or legislations
- For-profit organizations or businesses
- Scientific and/or medical research
- Grassroots advocacy, organizing or policy
- Endowments
How to apply
Organisations apply through the site’s application link, using a free Submittable account or signing in with Google or Facebook credentials.
Deadlines:
- Q1: December 31st.
- Q2: March 31st.
- Q3: June 30th.
- Q4: September 30th.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 72% 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 570 grants to organisations were $3,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- For requests over $500,000, applicants should contact the Foundation office.
- The Foundation seldom participates in capital campaigns and generally does so only with organisations with which it has a longstanding relationship.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 185 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $3,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Santa Clara University · Payment for educational purposes$1,550,0002024 tax year
- University of Southern California · Payment for educational purposes$1,550,0002024 tax year
- California Science Center Foundation · Payment for educational purposes$1,550,0002024 tax year
- Thacher School · Payment for educational purposes$1,250,0002024 tax year
- California Hospital Medical Center Foundation · Payment for health services$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Georgetown University · Payment for educational purposes$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles - Saint John's Seminary · Payment for educational purposes$1,000,0002024 tax year
- University of Puget Sound · Paymnet for educational purposes$1,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Brad Lemons — Trustee, As Needed
- Karen Hollins — Trustee, As Needed
- Kathleen Duncan — Trustee, As Needed
- Michael McCarthy — Trustee, As Needed
- John McCarthy — Trustee, As Needed
- Thomas Lemons — Trustee, As Needed
- Colleen Pennell — Trustee, As Needed
- Jeffrey Kearns — Trustee, As Needed
- Mark Lemons — Trustee, As Needed
- Louis Castruccio — Trustee, As Needed
- Jacqueline Powers Doud — Trustee, As Needed
- Kathleen L McCarthy — Chairman, As Needed
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $13,624,478 | $14,043,500 | $292,227,952 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $17,416,982 | $14,499,000 | $317,952,872 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $10,777,345 | $14,645,000 | $342,188,121 | 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.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (310) 551-9936
- Los Angeles, CA
- leaveyfoundation.org
Applying to The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (310) 551-9936
- Los Angeles, CA
- leaveyfoundation.org