The Wolfen Family Foundation concentrates large, targeted gifts to major Bay Area and Los Angeles institutions, prioritizing higher education and health/medical research—particularly cancer—and local community needs. Their giving also includes significant support for direct-service community organizations (food security and volunteer mobilization) and local Jewish religious life. Grants are few but sizable and skew toward established institutions rather than many small grassroots groups.
Wolfen Family Foundation C/o Frazin & Co’s recent giving is defined by a small number of very large grants to major institutions, especially universities, cancer research organizations, and Los Angeles community anchors. In 2025, the foundation gave $600,000 to UCLA Foundation and $500,000 to Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, while 2024 included a $650,000 grant to Ucsf Foundation. Those gifts point to a pattern of support for higher education and medical research at established centers rather than broad, dispersed grantmaking. The foundation also backs direct-service and community institutions in Los Angeles. Big Sunday received $310,500 in 2024 and another $100,000 in 2025, and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank received $250,000 in 2025. Local Jewish congregational and campus organizations are also part of the portfolio, including Wilshire Blvd Temple, UCLA Hillel, and Jewish Federation of Greater La. The overall picture is of targeted philanthropy with large checks, repeat relationships, and a strong tilt toward organizations serving Greater Los Angeles and select Bay Area institutions.
Higher education and academic medical research are central to the foundation’s support. It gave $650,000 in 2024 to Ucsf Foundation and $600,000 in 2025 to UCLA Foundation, then added $250,000 to Ucsf Foundation in 2025. That pairing shows sustained backing for major university-based institutions. Cancer research and treatment funding is another clear area. The foundation made a $500,000 grant in 2025 to Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, linking its health giving to oncology work at a major medical center. On the community side, Los Angeles service organizations appear repeatedly. Big Sunday received $310,500 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025, while Los Angeles Regional Food Bank received $250,000 in 2025. The foundation also supports local Jewish institutional life through grants to Wilshire Blvd Temple and UCLA Hillel.
Wolfen Family Foundation C/o Frazin & Co’s grants are large relative to the overall distribution: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is also $10,000, which suggests many smaller gifts but a few very large outliers. The recent record shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including Ucsf Foundation, Big Sunday, Wilshire Blvd Temple, UCLA Hillel, Go Campaign, and La Goal. The foundation is not a private operating foundation that funds individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. The record provided does not show an application process.
$2.2M
$43.3M
$4.8M
$2.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of established institutions with some repeat funding (e.g., multiple grants to UCSF); mix of large institutional philanthropy (universities/medical centers) and targeted local community investments.
Notable grantees: UCSF Foundation, UCLA Foundation, Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, Big Sunday, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Giving is regional and heavily concentrated in California, with 71% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. San Francisco and Los Angeles anchor the portfolio, with additional California recipients in Pasadena, Santa Monica, Venice, and Culver City. Outside California, the foundation gives selectively: Evanston, New York City, and Philadelphia each appear in the recent-grants list, all tied to Hillel organizations. The grant recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation’s recent grants go primarily to universities and medical institutions, cancer research and treatment organizations, Los Angeles community service groups, food relief organizations, and Jewish congregational and campus institutions. Examples in the record include Ucsf Foundation, UCLA Foundation, Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, Big Sunday, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and Wilshire Blvd Temple.
Yes. The recent-grants list shows multiple recurring recipients across years, including Ucsf Foundation, Big Sunday, Wilshire Blvd Temple, UCLA Hillel, Go Campaign, and La Goal. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts only.
The typical grant size is modest compared with its largest awards: p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and p75 is $10,000. At the same time, the recent record includes several much larger grants, such as $650,000, $600,000, and $500,000.
Its top state by grant count is Illinois, even though 71% of grants go to recipients in California. Recent named recipients also include organizations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Evanston, New York City, and Philadelphia.
No. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $600,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JONSSON CANCER CENTER FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WILSHIRE BLVD TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $156,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BIG SUNDAY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UCLA HILLEL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GO CAMPAIGN | SANTA MONICA, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LA GOAL | CULVER CITY, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VENICE FAMILY CLINIC | VENICE, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| COLUMBIABARNARD HILLEL | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PENN HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTHWESTERN HILLEL | EVANSTON, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITEE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LA PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD LOS ANGELES | VAN NUYS, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LACMA ANNUAL FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BET TZEDEK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WALLIS ANNENBERG CTR FOR PERFORMING ARTS | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MOCA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CENTER THEATRE GROUP | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LAFLA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NEWS LITERACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $650,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BIG SUNDAY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $310,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| WILSHIRE BLVD TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| UCLA HILLEL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| GO CAMPAIGN | SANTA MONICA, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| LA GOAL | CULVER CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $7,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| LOS ANGELES FOOD BANK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| PENN HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BET TZEDEK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHIL ORCH | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| BIG SUNDAY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| ONE VOICE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
JONSSON CANCER CENTER FOUNDATION
$500,000CHARITABLE
UCSF FOUNDATION
$250,000CHARITABLE
WILSHIRE BLVD TEMPLE
$156,000CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITEE
$15,000CHARITABLE
LA PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION
$10,000CHARITABLE
LACMA ANNUAL FUND
$10,000CHARITABLE
MOCA
$5,000CHARITABLE
WILSHIRE BLVD TEMPLE
$20,000CHARITABLE
LOS ANGELES FOOD BANK
$5,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS
$5,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHIL ORCH
$2,500CHARITABLE