The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 95-6085895 · since 1963rmpf.org·Los Angeles County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$18.2M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $100k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$30,000

Typical grant (median)

403 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation funds public charities serving Los Angeles County across its four areas of Civic & Cultural, Education, Health and Human Services, with a stated preference for organisations that provide direct service; it does not fund work outside Los Angeles County, nor fundraising events, direct aid to individuals including scholarships, conferences, seminars or workshops, sectarian or religious purposes, federated fundraising appeals, political campaigns or legislation, for-profit organisations, animal welfare, environmental causes, documentary filmmaking or television programming, scientific or medical research, disease-specific organisations, grassroots advocacy, summer camps or endowments.
About 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $100,000, and the median grant was $40,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant made was $1,500,000.
Organisations submit Letters of Inquiry at any time throughout the year, and only the most competitive are invited to submit a full proposal, due within 60 days of invitation, which suggests a fairly selective process that may include a site visit with a programme officer once invited.
A substantial share, 72%, of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in its two prior filings, so established relationships appear to carry weight, though this is not a reason to hold back from a first approach.
Organisations seeking capital support are advised to approach the foundation near the end of a campaign.

Overview

The Ralph M. Parsons 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 makes responsive grants to public charities serving Los Angeles County and prioritises organisations that provide direct services. Its four programme areas are Civic & Cultural, Education, Health and Human Services. Civic and cultural grants support organisations contributing to the region’s cultural and civic vibrancy, including performing arts, museums, arts education and civic engagement. Education funding promotes access to learning, with a special focus on underserved populations. Health grants address well-being among vulnerable populations, particularly through community clinics, mental health, prevention and health-care facilities. Human Services funding supports vulnerable community members, including low-income children and families, foster youth, seniors, the working poor and homeless populations, through child welfare, youth development, supportive services and basic needs. Support includes general operating, programme and capital grants.

Themes

Civic & Cultural
Education
Health
Human Services

Geographic Focus

Los Angeles County.

What They Don't Fund

Fundraising events, dinners, and mass mailings
Organizations outside of Los Angeles County
Direct aid to individuals, including scholarship support
Conferences, seminars, and workshops
Sectarian, religious, or fraternal purposes
Federated fundraising appeals
Support for political elections, candidates, campaigns, or legislation
For-profit organizations or businesses
Animal welfare
Environmental issues or causes
Documentary filmmaking or television programming
Scientific and/or medical research
Organizations focused on specific diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart disease)
Grassroots advocacy, organizing, or policy
Summer camps
Endowments

How to apply

Organisations submit Letters of Inquiry at any time throughout the year. The foundation reviews them; the most competitive are invited to submit a full proposal, due within 60 days of invitation.

Deadlines: Invited full proposals are due within 60 days of the invitation.

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 1,123 grants to organisations were $40,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The foundation prioritises organisations that provide direct service.
For capital requests, it generally prefers organisations to approach near the end of a campaign.
The staff and Board look for exemplary programmes and projects that best meet the Foundation’s areas of interest.
Full-proposal review is likely to include a site visit with a program officer.
Grantees submit reports at the end of the grant period to share progress, learnings, and feedback.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

California98%

Massachusetts<1%

District of Columbia<1%

New York<1%

Maryland<1%

Arkansas<1%

6 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

403 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $30,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 403 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k4%

$1k–$2.5k2%

$2.5k–$5k3%

$5k–$10k9%

$10k–$25k22%

$25k–$50k15%

$50k–$100k32%

$100k–$250k12%

$250k–$500k1%

$500k–$1M<1%

Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)

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

Colburn School · Over three years for support of the campus expansion project
$500,0002024 tax year
People Concern · Over two years for general support of homeless services
$300,0002024 tax year
SEED School of Los Angeles County · For capital support to construct the seed school of los angeles county
$250,0002024 tax year
Pasadena Conservatory of Music · Over two years to construct a new music learning center and outdoor amphitheater
$250,0002024 tax year
Project Angel Food · Over two years for the campus expansion project
$200,0002024 tax year
People Assisting the Homeless · Over two years for general support of housing and homeless services in los angeles county
$200,0002024 tax year
Liberty Hill Foundation · Over two years to support capacity building for youth development programs
$200,0002024 tax year
Southern California Grantmakers · Over two years for general support of strategic restructuring and executive transition
$200,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Paul G Haaga Jr — Director, Chair
Nina Revoyr — Director, Vice Chair
Elizabeth Hamilton Lowe — Director
Steven A Nissen — Director
Gayle E Wilson — Director
Melanie Fujii — Grants Manager
Jonathan Wald — Director, Finance
Nicole Larsen — Director, Grants Administration
E Thomas Brewer — VP, Finance & Administration
Peter J Taylor — Director
Stephanie Ivy Sanford — Director
John B Emerson — Director
Manuel A Abascal — Director
Stasia Washington — Director
Jennifer Price-Letscher — President & CEO

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$35,190,434	$21,716,998	$415,112,931	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$33,149,535	$19,623,245	$438,732,767	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$34,000,855	$18,183,017	$452,365,338	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.