The Esper A Petersen Foundation concentrates its giving into a small number of relatively large grants that support local civic/government accountability and healthcare institutions, with an additional strand for education and science. Although based in Grayslake, IL, several major grants flow to Ventura County organizations and to large medical centers, and the foundation also makes sizable contributions via a donor-advised vehicle. Grants tend to be unrestricted or general support for organizations that inform the public, sustain local health services, or advance science/education.
A defining feature of the Esper A Petersen Foundation is its repeated support for Ventura County civic accountability and local public-interest organizations. One of its largest recent gifts went to the Ventura County Taxpayers Foundation for work informing taxpayers about issues affecting Ventura County and the wise use of public money. The foundation also backed VC Colab Foundation in multiple years to advance education and science while combatting community deterioration and lessening the burdens of government. Beyond that civic thread, the foundation has made substantial grants to healthcare institutions and service providers. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center received repeated support for affordable health care, while Bear Valley Community Healthcare District was funded for more comprehensive medical care and emergency services. These gifts sit alongside contributions to organizations working in reproductive health, adult rehabilitation, food security, animal rescue, and arts education. The pattern suggests a foundation that mixes public-service grantmaking with direct support for health access and selected community programs. Its giving is regional rather than national, and several grants recur across multiple years, indicating an ongoing relationship with certain recipients rather than isolated awards.
Ventura County civic and public-information work is a clear emphasis. The foundation gave $150,000 to Ventura County Taxpayers Foundation in 2024 and $50,000 in 2023 for informing taxpayers about issues affecting Ventura County and the wise use of public money. It also supported VC Colab Foundation with $105,700 in 2023 and $100,000 in 2024 for education and science. Healthcare is another strong thread. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center received $80,000 in 2023 and $40,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for affordable health care. Bear Valley Community Healthcare District was awarded $80,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2024 for more comprehensive medical care and emergency services. The foundation also funded arts education and community programming, including $50,000 in 2025 to Madison Project at Santa Monica Col for education programs for the Broad Stage and $40,000 in 2023 to Los Angeles Opera for educational and community programs.
$760K
$7M
$1.2M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 12% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving: few (7) grants totaling ~$918k with multiple repeat recipients and two grants routed through a donor-advised/fiscal sponsor. Mix of multi-year or repeat support and one-off large gifts focused on institutions rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: VC Colab Foundation, Ventura County Taxpayers Foundation, Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Schwab Charitable
Typical grants cluster around a modest center, with a p25 of $4,500, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $20,000, even though the recent top end includes much larger awards. The pattern is relationship-based: several organizations appear in multiple years, including VC Colab Foundation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, Los Angeles Opera, and Planned Parenthood. The foundation funds individuals and also gives through Schwab Charitable, which appears as a donor-advised vehicle in the recent grants list. Its latest 990 year on file is 2025, and the grants shown are all programmatic or general-support style awards.
Grantmaking is regional and concentrated in California, with the top state by grant count being CA and 12% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state of Illinois. Ventura, Los Angeles, Big Bear Lake, Santa Monica, Chatsworth, Placentia, North Hollywood, Oxnard, and Santa Clarita all appear in the recipient list. The recent grants are entirely domestic, with 106 grants to US recipients and no non-US countries represented.
The foundation supports civic and public-information groups, healthcare providers, arts education programs, animal rescue, food security, and rehabilitation services. Recent grants include funding for taxpayers’ information in Ventura County, affordable health care, reproductive health care, educational arts programming, and rescue-related services.
Typical grants are small relative to the foundation’s largest awards: p25 is $4,500, median grant size is $5,000, and p75 is $20,000. The recent grants list also shows several much larger awards, including six-figure gifts.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear in more than one year, including VC Colab Foundation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, Los Angeles Opera, Planned Parenthood, and OC Pom Rescue. That points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time-only support.
Grantmaking is concentrated in California, with CA listed as the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Ventura, Los Angeles, Big Bear Lake, Santa Monica, Oxnard, Placentia, North Hollywood, and Santa Clarita.
Schwab Charitable appears in the recent grants list with $224,000 in 2023 and $178,000 in 2025 for public charity support. That indicates the foundation also channels some giving through a donor-advised vehicle in addition to direct grants.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab Charitable | Orlando, FL | $154,758 | 2026 | For public charity support. |
| Westlake Christian Academy | Grayslake, IL | $70,000 | 2026 | To support beautification project of the school |
| VC Colab Foundation | Ventura, CA | $50,368 | 2026 | Advance education and science, combat community deterioration and lessen the burdens of government |
| Los Angeles Opera | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Support the opera's educational and community programs |
| Cedars Sinai Medical Center | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Provide affordable health care |
| Salvation Army | Oxnard, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Support the adult rehabilitation center |
| Madison Project at Santa Monica Col | Santa Monica, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | To support education programs for the Broad Stage. |
| Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra | Los Angeles, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | Support orchestra's education and outreach programs |
| The Foundation for Pierce College | Woodland Hills, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Support development of resources to support educational programs, students and campus |
| Nenn Foundation | Camarillo, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | To support veterinary students in large animal medicine |
| Friends of Robinson Gardens | Beverly Hills, CA | $22,500 | 2026 | To support preservation and promotion of the historical estate for the education and enjoyment of the general public |
| Planned Parenthood | Los Angeles, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | Provide affordable access to a full range of reproductive health care |
| OC Pom Rescue | Placentia, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | Support rescue of the Pomeranian breed and educate about responsible dog ownership |
| Bear Valley Comm Healthcare Dist Fo | Big Bear Lake, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | To provide more comprehensive medical care and emergency services. |
| Animal Tracks | Santa Clarita, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | To help keep wildlife preserved and to keep rescue animals healthy & fed. |
| Salastina | Glendale, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | To support appreciation of chamber music through performance and appreciation |
| The Rescue Train | North Hollywood, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | To help eliminate animal suffering and euthanasia through hands on rescue work. |
| Los Angeles Regional Food Bank | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | To help mobilize resources to fight hunger in the community. |
| Tanka Fund | Rapid City, SD | $10,000 | 2026 | To support the return of the buffalo to Native American lands |
| The UCLA Foundation | Pasadena, CA | $7,500 | 2026 | To support enhancement of physical and emotional well being through canines |
| University of Southern CA | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | To support innovative research to develop targeted new therapies and cures |
| Studio Channel Island Arts Center | Camarillo, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | To support bringing artists and community together to educate, enrich and entertain |
| The Pepper Foundation | Studio City, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | Support rescuing senior and special needs animals |
| Rotary Club of Grayslake Foundation | Grayslake, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | To support local humanitarian needs, youth programs and community development |
| Shepherds Paws Animal Rescue | Templeton, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | To help large and medical dogs in need |
| The Danish Home Foundation | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | To support communities centered in Danish and Scandinavian customs |
| A Purposeful Rescue | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | To help homeless pets in need |
| Frosted Faces Foundation | Ramona, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | To help senior dogs in need |
| Village of Grayslake | Grayslake, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | To share engaging programs and exhibitions through the years |
| Community Youth Network | Grayslake, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | To support mental health services |
| Dream Fetchers | Huntington Beach, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | To support rescue, training and providing animal assisted activities therapies |
| Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation | Burbank, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | To support rehabilitation and rehoming of abused and neglected animals |
| Saving K9 Lives Plus | Encino, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | To provide public awareness of the growing population of homeless animals and animals being euthanized in crowded shelters. |
| Treepeople Inc | Beverly Hills, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | To inspire and engage people to take personal responsibility fo the environment |
| Wallis Annenburg Ctr-Perf Arts | Beverly Hills, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | To support public engagement with the performing arts |
| Southern CA Pomeranian Rescue | Irvine, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | To support rescue and rehabilitation of small dogs |
| Rins Rescue | Crescent City, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | To support rescue and rehabilitation of homeless pets |
| Women's Guild Cedars Sinai | Los Angeles, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | To support programs at Cedars Sinai Medical Centers |
| Ventura County Sheriff Foundation | Camarillo, CA | $1,300 | 2026 | To promote civic spirit and public safety in support of the Ventura County Sheriff's office. |
| Ventura Cnty Animal Services Founda | Camarillo, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | To improve the lives of animals at the facility |
| Villa Esperanza | Pasadena, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | Provide for special needs children, adults and their families |
| Schwab Charitable | Orlando, FL | $178,000 | 2025 | For public charity support. |
| Bear Valley Comm Healthcare Dist Fo | Big Bear Lake, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | To provide more comprehensive medical care and emergency services. |
| Madison Project at Santa Monica Col | Santa Monica, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | To support education programs for the Broad Stage. |
| VC Colab Foundation | Ventura, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Advance education and science, combat community deterioration and lessen the burdens of government |
| Cedars Sinai Medical Center | Los Angeles, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | Provide affordable health care |
| Los Angeles Opera | Los Angeles, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | Support the opera's educational and community programs |
| Salvation Army | Oxnard, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | Support the adult rehabilitation center |
| OC Pom Rescue | Placentia, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Support rescue of the Pomeranian breed and educate about responsible dog ownership |
| The Rescue Train | North Hollywood, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | To help eliminate animal suffering and euthanasia through hands on rescue work. |
Schwab Charitable
$154,758For public charity support.
Westlake Christian Academy
$70,000To support beautification project of the school
VC Colab Foundation
$50,368Advance education and science, combat community deterioration and lessen the burdens of government
Los Angeles Opera
$50,000Support the opera's educational and community programs
Salvation Army
$50,000Support the adult rehabilitation center
To support education programs for the Broad Stage.
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
$40,000Support orchestra's education and outreach programs
The Foundation for Pierce College
$25,000Support development of resources to support educational programs, students and campus
Nenn Foundation
$25,000To support veterinary students in large animal medicine
Friends of Robinson Gardens
$22,500To support preservation and promotion of the historical estate for the education and enjoyment of the general public
Provide affordable access to a full range of reproductive health care
OC Pom Rescue
$15,000Support rescue of the Pomeranian breed and educate about responsible dog ownership
Bear Valley Comm Healthcare Dist Fo
$10,000To provide more comprehensive medical care and emergency services.
Animal Tracks
$10,000To help keep wildlife preserved and to keep rescue animals healthy & fed.
Salastina
$10,000To support appreciation of chamber music through performance and appreciation
To help eliminate animal suffering and euthanasia through hands on rescue work.
To help mobilize resources to fight hunger in the community.
Tanka Fund
$10,000To support the return of the buffalo to Native American lands
To support enhancement of physical and emotional well being through canines
University of Southern CA
$5,000To support innovative research to develop targeted new therapies and cures
Studio Channel Island Arts Center
$5,000To support bringing artists and community together to educate, enrich and entertain
The Pepper Foundation
$5,000Support rescuing senior and special needs animals
Rotary Club of Grayslake Foundation
$5,000To support local humanitarian needs, youth programs and community development
Shepherds Paws Animal Rescue
$5,000To help large and medical dogs in need
The Danish Home Foundation
$5,000To support communities centered in Danish and Scandinavian customs
Village of Grayslake
$5,000To share engaging programs and exhibitions through the years
Dream Fetchers
$5,000To support rescue, training and providing animal assisted activities therapies
Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation
$2,500To support rehabilitation and rehoming of abused and neglected animals
Saving K9 Lives Plus
$2,500To provide public awareness of the growing population of homeless animals and animals being euthanized in crowded shelters.
To inspire and engage people to take personal responsibility fo the environment
To support public engagement with the performing arts
Southern CA Pomeranian Rescue
$2,500To support rescue and rehabilitation of small dogs
Rins Rescue
$2,500To support rescue and rehabilitation of homeless pets
Women's Guild Cedars Sinai
$2,000To support programs at Cedars Sinai Medical Centers
Ventura County Sheriff Foundation
$1,300To promote civic spirit and public safety in support of the Ventura County Sheriff's office.
Ventura Cnty Animal Services Founda
$1,000To improve the lives of animals at the facility
Villa Esperanza
$1,000Provide for special needs children, adults and their families
Schwab Charitable
$178,000For public charity support.
Bear Valley Comm Healthcare Dist Fo
$80,000To provide more comprehensive medical care and emergency services.
To support education programs for the Broad Stage.
VC Colab Foundation
$50,000Advance education and science, combat community deterioration and lessen the burdens of government
Los Angeles Opera
$35,000Support the opera's educational and community programs
Salvation Army
$30,000Support the adult rehabilitation center
OC Pom Rescue
$25,000Support rescue of the Pomeranian breed and educate about responsible dog ownership
To help eliminate animal suffering and euthanasia through hands on rescue work.