The Peters Pharis Foundation concentrates its giving on scholarship and college-access programs that support underserved, first-generation, and historically underrepresented students, primarily in the Los Angeles/California area. Grants are largely unrestricted and directed to established scholar programs run by universities and nonprofit scholarship organizations. The foundation favors direct investments in student success rather than project-specific funding, suggesting a priority on long-term educational outcomes.
Concentrated, relatively small portfolio of multi-year/repeat grants to a few established scholarship programs; grants tend to be unrestricted and aimed at sustaining core operations rather than funding many new or experimental initiatives.
Peters Pharis Foundation’s recent grantmaking is built around college-access and scholarship organizations serving high-performing students from low-income, underserved, and underrepresented communities. The pattern is consistent across university-based programs and nonprofit scholar pipelines, with unrestricted grants used to support the organizations’ exempt purposes rather than narrow projects. The foundation’s largest recent awards include two $50,000 grants to UCLA Giving - Riordan Scholars in 2024 and 2025, both in Los Angeles. It also supported Thrive Scholars with $40,000 in 2025 and $30,000 in 2023, showing repeated backing for a scholar-support model over multiple years. Other recurring recipients such as Ron Brown Scholars, Fulfillment Fund, and Community Partners indicate sustained attention to organizations that help students move from college access into college success. The grant list also includes support for education-focused groups beyond direct scholarship providers, such as the Council for Great City Schools, suggesting a broader interest in student opportunity systems while still staying centered on educational mobility.
In college-access work, Peters Pharis Foundation gave $50,000 in 2025 to UCLA Giving - Riordan Scholars and $40,000 in 2025 to Thrive Scholars, both unrestricted grants to further exempt purpose. For scholarship and student-support pipelines, it made a $40,000 grant in 2024 to Ron Brown Scholars and repeated support to the same organization in 2023 at $35,000. The foundation also funds organizations that help students persist through college. It gave $20,000 in 2025 to Operation Jump Start and $20,000 in 2025 to Council for Great City Schools, both positioned as educational support organizations within its broader student-success pattern. Its portfolio includes continuing support for local nonprofit infrastructure as well, such as $20,000 grants to Community Partners in 2023 and 2024 and $20,000 in 2025 to Fulfillment Fund.
Typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $40,000 at the 75th percentile, with larger awards reserved for a small set of repeat recipients. The foundation’s recent grants are all unrestricted and made to organizations rather than individuals. Recipients appear across multiple years, including UCLA Giving - Riordan Scholars, Thrive Scholars, Ron Brown Scholars, Community Partners, Fulfillment Fund, and New Village Academy/New Village Girls Academy, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The active grant programs are annual and accept unsolicited applications from qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
$580K
$4.3M
$510K
$669K
Most grants fall between $20K and $40K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$40K
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Notable grantees: UCLA Giving - Riordan Scholars, Ron Brown Scholars, Thrive Scholars
Grantmaking is regional, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. California receives the bulk of awards, and 75% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Los Angeles is the main recipient city, including grants to UCLA Giving - Riordan Scholars, Thrive Scholars, Community Partners, Fulfillment Fund, and New Village Girls Academy. Outside California, grants reached Washington, DC through Council for Great City Schools, Charlottesville, VA through Ron Brown Scholars, and Annapolis, MD through New Village Academy.
It funds qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide educational opportunities and support for highly motivated, high-performing students from low-income families and underserved or underrepresented communities. Recent grants show a strong emphasis on college access, scholarships, and student success programs.
Its recent awards are unrestricted grants to further an organization’s exempt purpose. The foundation gives to organizations rather than individuals, and its active programs are annual education-grant programs that accept unsolicited applications from qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
The typical grant size is $20,000 at both the 25th percentile and the median, with a $40,000 75th percentile. Recent grants also show larger repeat awards at $50,000 for selected recipients.
Its grants are regional, with 75% of grants going to recipients in California. Los Angeles appears frequently in the recent grants list, alongside recipients in Washington, DC; Charlottesville, VA; and Annapolis, MD.
They are often recurring. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including UCLA Giving - Riordan Scholars in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Thrive Scholars in 2023 and 2025; Ron Brown Scholars in 2023 and 2024; and Fulfillment Fund and Community Partners across multiple years.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Peters Pharis Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must be qualified nonprofit organizations with current tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The foundation does not make grants to individuals, does not fund churches or other religious organizations, and does not fund event sponsorships.
Deadline: Application must be postmarked no later than March 1 each year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THRIVE SCHOLARS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| RON BROWN SCHOLAR FUND | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $150,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UCLA GIVING - RIORDAN SCHOLARS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| COUNCIL FOR GREAT CITY SCHOOLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $60,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| COLLEGE BOUND | MESA, AZ | $40,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| QUESTBRIDGE | PALO ALTO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW VILLAGE ACADEMY | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| FULFILLMENT FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HIGH JUMP | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UCLA GIVING - RIORDAN SCHOLARS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THRIVE SCHOLARS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| COUNCIL FOR GREAT CITY SCHOOLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| OPERATION JUMP START | LONG BEACH, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| FULFILLMENT FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW VILLAGE ACADEMY | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UCLA GIVING - RIORDAN SCHOLARS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| RON BROWN SCHOLARS | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $40,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| FULFILLMENT FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UCLA GIVING - RIORDAN SCHOLARS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $40,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| RON BROWN SCHOLARS | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $35,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THRIVE SCHOLARS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| FULFILLMENT FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW VILLAGE GIRLS ACADEMY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
RON BROWN SCHOLAR FUND
$150,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UCLA GIVING - RIORDAN SCHOLARS
$75,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
COLLEGE BOUND
$40,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEW VILLAGE ACADEMY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UCLA GIVING - RIORDAN SCHOLARS
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEW VILLAGE ACADEMY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UCLA GIVING - RIORDAN SCHOLARS
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
RON BROWN SCHOLARS
$40,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UCLA GIVING - RIORDAN SCHOLARS
$40,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
RON BROWN SCHOLARS
$35,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
