Morris A Hazan Family Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,200,000
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000
• Grant Median: $10,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, California
• Total Assets: $58 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 11812 San Vicente Blvd Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Note: No website, email, or phone number publicly available. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Morris A Hazan Family Foundation was established in 1967 by Morris Hazan, a Los Angeles entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Western Linen Co. in Las Vegas and The Original Cookie Co. in Los Angeles. The foundation has been operating as a 501(c)(3) organization since June 1968 and continues the family's charitable legacy following Morris Hazan's death in 2004. With assets of $58 million and annual distributions of approximately $2.2 million, the foundation focuses its grantmaking on arts, education, and Jewish agencies and temples. The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation, making grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations through trustee discretion rather than through a public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Distribution

The foundation distributes approximately $2.2 million annually across 80-90 grants. All grants are designated for "general support" of recipient organizations. Grant amounts range significantly:

• Large grants: $100,000 - $500,000 (typically to major community foundations and donor-advised fund sponsors)
• Medium grants: $25,000 - $75,000
• Small grants: $1,000 - $10,000 (median grant size)

Priority Areas

The foundation gives primarily to three broad categories:

• Arts and Culture: Supporting arts organizations and cultural institutions
• Education: Funding educational initiatives and institutions
• Jewish Community: Supporting Jewish agencies, temples, and community organizations

Recent Grant Recipients (2024)

Recent major grants include:

• Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund: $500,000
• California Community Foundation: $450,000
• Keep Memory Alive: $100,000

Geographic Focus

Grants are concentrated in Beverly Hills and the greater Los Angeles area, California.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not publicly disclosed specific exclusions, but their giving pattern suggests a focused approach on arts, education, and Jewish community support within their local geographic area.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a small family board consisting of three trustees who serve without compensation:

• Morris A Hazan Jr - President
• Lovee Arum - Board Chair
• Judy Carmel - Chief Financial Officer

All trustees work on a voluntary basis without compensation, reflecting the foundation's commitment to directing maximum resources toward charitable purposes. The foundation maintains a lean operational structure with no paid staff.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

According to the foundation's publicly stated policy: "The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations that align with the family's philanthropic interests. The foundation does not maintain an application portal, accept letters of inquiry, or review unsolicited proposals.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made through trustee-initiated giving rather than in response to applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Morris A Hazan Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, success in receiving funding depends on the organization already being within the trustees' established network of supported charities. Based on the foundation's giving patterns:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Support:

• Established arts and cultural institutions in Los Angeles
• Educational organizations with strong track records
• Jewish temples, agencies, and community organizations
• Major community foundations and donor-advised fund sponsors (which may redistribute funds to other charities)

Grant Characteristics:

• All grants are for "general support" rather than project-specific funding
• The foundation distributes a high volume of grants (80-90 per year), suggesting broad rather than highly concentrated giving
• Grant amounts vary significantly, from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000
• Large grants to community foundations (Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund, California Community Foundation) suggest some giving may be channeled through intermediary organizations

Foundation Values: The foundation continues the legacy of Morris Hazan, who was known for supporting City of Hope and Israel Children's Centers during his lifetime. The current giving reflects sustained commitment to arts, education, and Jewish community support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests
• Relationship-based giving: Funding decisions are made by family trustees based on established relationships and organizational knowledge
• Local focus: Strong preference for Beverly Hills and Los Angeles-area organizations
• General support model: All grants are for general operating support rather than specific projects
• Thematic consistency: Clear focus on three areas - arts, education, and Jewish community - maintained since the foundation's establishment in 1967
• Intermediary giving: Significant grants to donor-advised funds and community foundations suggest some giving may be redistributed through these channels
• High grant volume: With 80-90 grants annually from $2.2 million in giving, the foundation supports a broad portfolio rather than concentrating on a few organizations

References

• Grantmakers.io Profile - Morris A Hazan Family Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/956220356-morris-a-hazan-family-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Morris A Hazan Family Foundation (EIN: 95-6220356). Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/956220356 (Accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ - The Morris A Hazan Family Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-morris-a-hazan-family-foundation,956220356/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Candid (Foundation Directory) - The Morris a Hazan Family Foundation. Retrieved from https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=HAZA004 (Accessed January 2026)
• Las Vegas Sun - "LV entrepreneur Hazan dies at 86" (May 17, 2004). Retrieved from https://lasvegassun.com/news/2004/may/17/lv-entrepreneur-hazan-dies-at-86/ (Accessed January 2026)