The Oakie Charitable Foundation Trust concentrates its giving on performing and cinematic arts, funding both regional theater and university film programs. Grants are largely unrestricted mission support and frequently made as repeat awards to the same organizations, suggesting long-term relationships with a few arts institutions. While based in Oxnard, CA, the foundation supports both local performing arts and higher-education film programs outside the region.
Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants that together account for total giving, with multiple repeat grants to core grantees and primarily general/public support rather than narrowly restricted projects.
A defining feature of Oakie Charitable Foundation Trust Charitable Foundation is its repeated support for USC School of Cinematic Arts, with grants of $60,000 in 2023, $61,000 in 2024, and $65,000 in 2025 for public support of organization mission. That pattern points to a funder that sustains a small set of arts and education institutions over time rather than making many one-off awards. Its grant list also shows recurring support for Rubicon Theatre Company and Syracuse University, both funded in multiple years for mission support. The foundation’s giving centers on performing and cinematic arts, alongside arts-related higher education and cultural institutions. Recent grants extend to museums, magic arts organizations, a film festival, and local education-related recipients, showing a consistent interest in public-facing arts programming and organizational sustainability. The awards are generally unrestricted or mission-based, indicating support for the operating work behind those programs rather than project-specific activity. While the foundation is headquartered in Oxnard, its recent grants reach institutions in Los Angeles, Ventura, Syracuse, and other California communities, with a smaller set of awards outside California.
In cinematic arts, the foundation made a $65,000 grant to USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2025 for public support of organization mission. In theater, it gave $31,000 to Rubicon Theatre Company in 2025 and $35,049 in 2024, both for mission support. Arts education also appears in the recent grants list: Syracuse University received $27,500 in 2025, $26,000 in 2024, and $20,000 in 2023. The foundation’s interest in public-facing cultural institutions is also visible in grants to the Academy of Magical Arts, the Valley Relics Museum, and Hollywood Heritage Museum, each funded for organizational mission support. Several awards went to smaller arts organizations and festivals, including Cinecon Classic Film Festival Inc and The House of Magic Foundation for the Arts.
Typical grants cluster in the low-to-mid thousands, with a p25 of $4,500, a median of $7,500, and a p75 of $20,675. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which suggests an ongoing relationship model rather than isolated gifts. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Grant descriptions are commonly framed as public support of organization mission, general operating support, or unrestricted support.
$470K
$2.7M
$223K
$246K
Most grants fall between $5K and $21K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$21K
About 84% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: USC School of Cinematic Arts, Rubicon Theatre Company, Syracuse University
The foundation gives locally overall, and 84% of grants go to recipients in California. Los Angeles appears repeatedly through recipients such as USC School of Cinematic Arts, Academy of Magical Arts, and Hollywood Heritage Museum. Ventura also appears multiple times through Rubicon Theatre Company and Ventura High School. Outside California, Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY is a repeated recipient, and Zoppe Family Inc in Greenbrier, AR received grants in two years.
Its recent grants support performing and cinematic arts, arts education, and cultural institutions. Recipients include university film programs, a regional theatre company, museums, a magic arts organization, and a film festival, with most awards described as public support of organization mission.
Yes. USC School of Cinematic Arts received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Rubicon Theatre Company received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Syracuse University also appears in three consecutive years. That pattern indicates recurring support for selected organizations.
The grant-size distribution is centered at relatively modest awards: p25 is $4,500, median is $7,500, and p75 is $20,675. Recent grants range from small local awards to larger mission-support gifts, including several in the $20,000 to $65,000 range.
California receives most of the grants, with 84% of awards going to recipients in the state. Los Angeles and Ventura appear frequently in the recent grants list, while Syracuse, New York is a repeated out-of-state recipient.
No. The foundation’s data indicates that it does not fund individuals, and its recent grants go to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions for mission support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $65,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY | VENTURA, CA | $31,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY | SYRACUSE, NY | $27,500 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| ACADEMY OF MAGICAL ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $11,350 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| VALLEY RELICS MUSEUM | CHATSWORTH, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| GLOBAL VARIETY ARTS EDUCATION FOUNDATION | OAK PARK, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| CINECON CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL INC | BURBANK, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM | LOS ANGELES, CA | $6,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| THE HOUSE OF MAGIC FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS | SANTA PAULA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| ZOPPE FAMILY INC | GREENBRIER, AR | $1,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| NATE'S PLACE | OXNARD, CA | $300 | 2025 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $61,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY | VENTURA, CA | $35,049 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY | SYRACUSE, NY | $26,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| ACADEMY OF MAGICAL ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $8,100 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| VALLEY RELICS MUSEUM | CHATSWORTH, CA | $8,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM | LOS ANGELES, CA | $6,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| REDFORD CENTER INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| ZOPPE FAMILY INC | GREENBRIER, AR | $2,088 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| MOORPARK HIGH SCHOOL | MOORPARK, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| FROST MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT | GRANADA HILLS, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| VENTURA HIGH SCHOOL | VENTURA, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $60,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY | VENTURA, CA | $21,350 | 2023 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY | SYRACUSE, NY | $20,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS | SANTA CLARITA, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM | LOS ANGELES, CA | $7,500 | 2023 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| ACADEMY OF MAGICAL ARTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $6,700 | 2023 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| VALLEY RELICS MUSEUM | CHATSWORTH, CA | $6,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
| DIA VERNON FOUNDATION | STUDIO CITY, CA | $4,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION |
USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS
$65,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY
$31,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
$27,500PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
ACADEMY OF MAGICAL ARTS
$11,350PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
VALLEY RELICS MUSEUM
$10,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
GLOBAL VARIETY ARTS EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$10,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
CINECON CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL INC
$8,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM
$6,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
THE HOUSE OF MAGIC FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
$5,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
ZOPPE FAMILY INC
$1,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
NATE'S PLACE
$300PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS
$61,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY
$35,049PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
$26,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
ACADEMY OF MAGICAL ARTS
$8,100PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
VALLEY RELICS MUSEUM
$8,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM
$6,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
REDFORD CENTER INC
$5,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
ZOPPE FAMILY INC
$2,088PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
MOORPARK HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
FROST MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT
$1,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
VENTURA HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS
$60,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY
$21,350PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
$20,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS
$15,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM
$7,500PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
ACADEMY OF MAGICAL ARTS
$6,700PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
VALLEY RELICS MUSEUM
$6,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION
DIA VERNON FOUNDATION
$4,000PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION MISSION