United Plankton Charitable Trust is a Los Angeles–based funder that concentrates its support on contemporary visual and performing arts institutions and arts education, primarily in California. The foundation makes a small number of large, repeat grants to museums, university arts programs, and performing arts organizations, while also awarding targeted funding to a few non-arts causes such as reproductive health. Its giving favors established cultural institutions and higher-education arts programs that anchor the LA arts ecosystem.
United Plankton Charitable Trust’s largest recent grant was $1,000,000 to California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, a signal of how heavily the foundation invests in arts institutions and arts education. The trust has repeated this pattern across a set of Los Angeles-area museums, conservatories, and performance organizations, with grants that range from six figures to seven figures and recur across multiple years for some recipients. Its recent giving shows sustained support for contemporary visual art and performance institutions, especially in Southern California. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Hammer Museum Los Angeles, Institute of Contemporary Art, and Los Angeles Philharmonic Association all appear in the grant record, alongside Pasadena Conservatory of Music and Polytechnic School. The trust also backs selected non-arts work, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc and Heart of the Brain. The grant history suggests a funder that favors established organizations with ongoing institutional needs rather than one-off project bets. Several recipients receive follow-on grants in later years, and the largest awards are directed toward organizations that anchor the region’s arts and education landscape.
Contemporary visual arts is a core area of support. United Plankton Charitable Trust gave $315,000 to The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 2025 and $150,000 to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 2024, continuing a pattern of backing museums with contemporary programs. Arts education is another clear emphasis. The foundation awarded $1,000,000 to California Institute of the Arts in Valencia in 2025 and $345,000 to Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation in Arcata in 2025, showing support for higher-education arts institutions. Performance and music organizations also receive funding. In 2025, the trust gave $150,000 to Los Angeles Philharmonic Association in Los Angeles, and in 2023 it awarded $220,000 to Pasadena Conservatory of Music in Pasadena. These grants point to a mix of institutional and education-oriented arts support.
Typical grants fall in a middle range of $23,750 at the 25th percentile, $45,000 at the median, and $81,250 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent record also includes larger institutional awards. The trust’s grantmaking is repeated over time: California Institute of the Arts, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Hammer Museum Los Angeles, Institute of Contemporary Art, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc, Heart of the Brain, Future Roots Inc, and Lace all appear more than once across 2023 to 2025. The organization does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The records provided do not indicate an application process.
$3.4M
$8.3M
$2.6M
$3.4M
Most grants fall between $24K and $81K, with a median of $45K.
25th Percentile
$24K
Median
$45K
75th Percentile
$81K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for United Plankton Charitable Trust.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 48 | $5.1M | 98.0% |
| 2 | Germany |
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a relatively small set of repeat grantees—primarily major LA-area cultural institutions and university arts programs—with occasional non-arts gifts. Most funding is large, multi-grant support rather than many small, one-off awards.
Notable grantees: California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Hammer Museum (Los Angeles), The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Pasadena Conservatory of Music
Giving is highly concentrated in California, which accounts for 88% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Los Angeles appears most often among recipient cities, followed by Pasadena, Valencia, Arcata, and Santa Monica-area institutions through organizations such as Southern California Public Radio. Outside the United States, the recipient distribution shows one grant in Germany. The pattern is local, with most support staying within the foundation’s California footprint.
The grant record centers on contemporary visual and performing arts institutions, arts education, and a small number of other causes. Recent recipients include museums, conservatories, university arts programs, orchestras, and selected health advocacy organizations.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $23,750 at the 25th percentile, $45,000 at the median, and $81,250 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger awards such as $1,000,000 and several six-figure grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including California Institute of the Arts, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Hammer Museum Los Angeles, Institute of Contemporary Art, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc, Heart of the Brain, Future Roots Inc, and Lace.
Giving is concentrated in California, which represents 88% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Los Angeles is the most common recipient city, with additional support going to Pasadena, Valencia, and Arcata.
Recent grantees include California Institute of the Arts, Hammer Museum Los Angeles, Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc, and Heart of the Brain.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $5K |
2.0% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS | VALENCIA, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| HAMMER MUSEUM LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $615,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| CAL POLY HUMBOLDT FOUNDATION | ARCATA, CA | $345,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $315,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| PASADENA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | PASADENA, CA | $120,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| HEART OF THE BRAIN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LACE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $45,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL | PASADENA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LAXART | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LCYC COMMUNITY SAILING FOUNDATION | ISLESFORD, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY | BERLIN, BE | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| THE NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $2,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| HAMMER MUSEUM LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $157,200 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS | VALENCIA, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| HEART OF THE BRAIN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| FUTURE ROOTS INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL | PASADENA, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LACE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LAISTSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO | PASADENA, CA | $40,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $32,500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| PASADENA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | PASADENA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY DOMINGUES HILLS PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION | CARSON, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| THE HUNTINGTON | SAN MARINO, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| PBS SOCAL | SANTA ANA, CA | $1,200 | 2024 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| PASADENA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | PASADENA, CA | $220,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS | VALENCIA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| HEART OF THE BRAIN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $65,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| FUTURE ROOTS INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL | PASADENA, CA | $45,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $45,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO | PASADENA, CA | $40,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $32,500 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| KCRW FOUNDATION INC | SANTA MONICA, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| LACE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| HAMMER MUSEUM LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY DOMINGUES HILLS PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION | CARSON, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
| EQUITABLE VITRINES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. |
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS
$1,000,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
HAMMER MUSEUM LOS ANGELES
$615,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$315,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$250,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
PERFORMANCE ART MUSEUM
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
PASADENA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
$120,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
HEART OF THE BRAIN
$100,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
LAXART
$25,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
LCYC COMMUNITY SAILING FOUNDATION
$5,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY
$5,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
THE NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER
$2,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
HAMMER MUSEUM LOS ANGELES
$157,200TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$150,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$100,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS
$100,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
HEART OF THE BRAIN
$75,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
LAISTSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO
$40,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
THE HUNTINGTON
$2,500TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
PBS SOCAL
$1,200TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
PASADENA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
$220,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS
$100,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
HEART OF THE BRAIN
$65,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$50,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$45,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO
$40,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
HAMMER MUSEUM LOS ANGELES
$10,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.
EQUITABLE VITRINES
$5,000TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE.