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Ben B. and Joyce E. Eisenberg Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.4M
Grant Range
$5K - $15.0M

Ben B. and Joyce E. Eisenberg Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,415,940 (2023)
  • Assets: $53,013,462
  • Grant Range: Under $10,000 to several million dollars
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles, California
  • Founded: 1986

Contact Details

Address: 127 E. 9th St., Suite 801, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: (213) 627-0671
Note: The foundation maintains a minimal web presence and does not have a website.

Overview

The Ben B. and Joyce E. Eisenberg Foundation was established in early 1986 when real estate entrepreneur Ben Eisenberg transferred all his properties to a charitable trust with the provision that all profits be donated to several pre-selected charities, primarily in the fields of medical research and the care of children and the elderly. When Ben passed away from cancer that same year, his wife Joyce Eisenberg (now Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer) became president of the foundation. The foundation experienced significant growth in annual giving following the 2022 sale of a 139,567-square-foot industrial park in Los Angeles for $37 million. Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer also serves as president of Ben B. Eisenberg Properties, a property management firm that owns the New Mart, a prominent fashion industry showroom building in downtown Los Angeles.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with set application cycles. Grantmaking is conducted through trustee discretion, with grants awarded to pre-selected organizations and causes. Grant amounts typically range from modest grants under $10,000 to major gifts of several million dollars, with recent annual grantmaking totaling approximately $4.4 million.

Priority Areas

Jewish Causes: The Eisenberg Foundation is a strong funder of Jewish organizations in Los Angeles, including:

  • Anti-Defamation League
  • Builders of Jewish Education
  • Sinai Temple
  • Valley Beth Shalom
  • SoCal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
  • American Jewish University
  • Hebrew Union College
  • Shalhevet School
  • Los Angeles Jewish Home (recipient of a $15 million grant for elderly care facilities)

Health and Medical Research: Cancer research and treatment is a key focus, reflecting the personal loss of Ben Eisenberg to melanoma. Grantees include:

  • American Cancer Society
  • Cedars Sinai Medical Center
  • Cedars Sinai Heart Institute
  • American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science (Joyce has endowed the Joyce and Ben B. Eisenberg Professorial Chair of Molecular Endocrinology and Cancer Research)

Human Services: Significant support for elderly care, particularly Jewish nursing homes and assisted living facilities, including naming rights for the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center and facilities at the Eisenberg Village campus in Reseda.

Education: Support for higher education institutions including USC, UCLA, American Jewish University, and Hebrew Union College.

Arts and Culture: Support for Los Angeles cultural institutions including Geffen Playhouse and Music Center-LA County (which houses Disney Concert Hall).

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish explicit exclusions, the grantmaking pattern indicates a clear focus on:

  • Los Angeles-area organizations
  • Jewish causes and institutions
  • Medical research and healthcare (especially cancer-related)
  • Elderly care and human services
  • Education and arts

Organizations outside these areas or outside the Los Angeles region are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

President and Director: Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer has led the foundation since Ben Eisenberg's death in 1986. She is also president of Ben B. Eisenberg Properties and has been inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame for her philanthropic contributions.

Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer's philanthropic vision has been deeply influenced by personal loss—her brother's death from brain cancer at age 53 and her first husband Ben's death from melanoma. This has shaped the foundation's strong commitment to cancer research and medical care.

At the Weizmann Institute of Science, Joyce has supported research on breast cancer, MS, alternative energy, personalized medicine, neuroscience, and has endowed three professorial chairs, with all chair incumbents being women, reflecting her commitment to advancing women in science.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or funding requests. Grantmaking decisions are made by the trustees based on pre-selected charities and organizations with which the foundation has established relationships.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than competitive application processes.

Getting on Their Radar

Relationship Building Through Existing Grantees: The foundation operates within established networks in the Los Angeles Jewish community and medical research sectors. Organizations seeking funding from the Eisenberg Foundation should focus on:

  • Building relationships with past grantees, particularly major recipients like Los Angeles Jewish Home, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, American Jewish University, and Weizmann Institute of Science
  • Connecting through Los Angeles Jewish community networks and institutions that have received prior funding
  • Establishing a track record in cancer research, elderly care, or Jewish causes in the Los Angeles area

Note: Given the foundation's minimal web presence and closed application process, networking within the Los Angeles philanthropic community and Jewish charitable sector represents the primary pathway for potential grantees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable—grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than a formal application and review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than public applications, the following factors characterize successful grantees:

Alignment with Personal Connections: The foundation's grantmaking reflects Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer's personal connections and values, including:

  • Jewish identity and community support
  • Cancer research and treatment (stemming from personal loss)
  • Elderly care and dignity
  • Support for women in science (all three of her endowed chairs at Weizmann Institute are held by women)

Los Angeles Geographic Focus: The vast majority of grants support Los Angeles-based organizations or programs serving the Los Angeles community.

Established Track Record: Grantees tend to be well-established institutions with strong reputations in their fields, such as Cedars Sinai, UCLA, USC, and major Jewish organizations.

Long-term Relationships: The foundation demonstrates loyalty to organizations it has supported over time, as evidenced by ongoing support to Los Angeles Jewish Home, Weizmann Institute, and other repeat recipients.

Major Institutional Presence: While the foundation makes grants under $10,000, its significant gifts have gone to major institutions capable of naming opportunities and substantial programs (e.g., $15 million to Los Angeles Jewish Home).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists—this foundation operates entirely through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships
  • Geographic focus is Los Angeles—nearly all grants support Los Angeles-based organizations or programs
  • Jewish causes receive priority—the foundation is one of the strongest funders of Jewish organizations in Los Angeles
  • Cancer research is a personal priority—reflecting the personal losses that shaped the foundation's mission
  • Elderly care is central—demonstrated by the $15 million grant to Los Angeles Jewish Home and continued support for senior services
  • Relationship-building is essential—networking through past grantees and the Los Angeles Jewish philanthropic community is the only pathway to consideration
  • Think institutional partnerships—the foundation supports established organizations with capacity for major projects

References

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