David Bohnett Foundation
ActivePhilanthropy & VoluntarismFunds Individuals
About David Bohnett Foundation
The David Bohnett Foundation concentrates on higher education, civic leadership and LGBTQ leadership development while also funding major cultural institutions in Los Angeles. It makes large, named gifts for capital projects (residential colleges, named chairs) and sustained program support for public service and leadership fellowships that place emerging leaders into government and civic roles. While rooted in Los Angeles (USC, LA Phil), the foundation also supports national fellowship programs at major universities. Its grants frequently carry the Bohnett name and are structured as repeat or multi-year commitments to a core set of institutions.
Focus Areas
University campus capital and named facilities (e.g., David C. Bohnett residential college at USC)Leadership and public service fellowships for emerging civic leaders (e.g., Bohnett public service/Mayors' fellowships)LGBTQ leadership development and political training (e.g., LGBTQ Victory Institute Bohnett Fellows)Support for major cultural institutions in Los Angeles, especially the Los Angeles PhilharmonicSTEM/visitor-experience projects at science museums (e.g., Museum of Science and Industry entry study)
Who They Fund
About David Bohnett Foundation
The David Bohnett Foundation’s signature pattern is visible in its repeated million-dollar commitments to the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Those gifts point to a funder that combines higher education, civic leadership, and major cultural support with long-running named projects tied to the Bohnett family name. Across recent grants, the foundation also backs fellowship pathways that place emerging leaders into public service roles, including municipal leadership and mayoral fellowship programs, alongside LGBTQ leadership development. Its grantmaking includes both large capital-style gifts and recurring program support. The USC residential college in the USC Village appears as a multi-year commitment, while public service fellowships at the University of Michigan and NYU Wagner show a consistent investment in leadership training. The foundation also supports LGBTQ-focused leadership through the LGBTQ Victory Institute’s Bohnett Fellows program. In Los Angeles, its grants extend beyond campuses to arts and civic institutions, including support tied to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and UCLA-affiliated public affairs and law programs. The result is a portfolio centered on education, leadership pipelines, and institutions that shape civic life.
What David Bohnett Foundation Funds
Higher education is one of the clearest threads in the portfolio. The foundation gave $1,000,000 in 2025 to the University of Southern California for the David C. Bohnett Residential College in the USC Village, continuing a named campus commitment that also appeared in 2024 and 2023. Leadership development shows up through public-service fellowships. It gave $252,907 in 2025 to the Regents of the University of Michigan for David Bohnett Foundation Leadership and Public Service Fellowships, and $228,800 in 2025 to NYU Wagner for the David Bohnett Public Service Fellowship. Both grants point to support for training the next generation of civic and municipal leaders. LGBTQ leadership is another recurring area. The foundation awarded $167,748 in 2025 to the LGBTQ Victory Institute for the David Bohnett Leaders Fellowship. It also supports social justice work at UCLA School of Law through the Rand Schrader Social Justice Fund, including an $80,000 grant in 2025.
How David Bohnett Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$7M
Total Assets
$7.5M
Total Revenue
$8M
Total Expenses
$8.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $1K and $13K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$13K
Geographic Reach
Regional18 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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