
The Annenberg Foundation concentrates its giving in Southern California with a strong emphasis on arts & culture, major universities, conservation and animal-welfare initiatives, and civic journalism/memorial projects. Grants skew toward institutional support for established cultural institutions, repeat capital and program gifts to Los Angeles-area organizations, and multi-year investments in conservation and public policy work. The foundation frequently funds its own related entities and large legacy vehicles while also supporting national nonprofits on signature issues like wildlife crossings and journalist memorialization.
The Annenberg Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by a $150 million transfer to The Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation for charitable mission and programs, a signal of how much of its giving flows through related entities and long-term legacy vehicles. That pattern sits alongside major support for arts institutions, universities, wildlife work, animal welfare, and journalism memorial projects. The foundation has also made large program grants to the University of Southern California for renovation of the original Annenberg Building and to the National Wildlife Federation for a wildlife crossing initiative. Across its recent grants, the foundation supports a mix of capital, program, and institutional funding rather than isolated one-off awards. Its portfolio reaches from Los Angeles cultural infrastructure to national conservation efforts and commemorative journalism projects. Several of the largest awards go to established organizations with recurring support over multiple years, including the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, Animal Wellness Foundation, and Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation. The foundation’s leadership is publicly tied to Wallis Annenberg, who serves as CEO, chairperson, and president, and its current profile shows a national scope with especially heavy activity in California. The recent record also includes support for individuals through scholarships and fellowship-style awards when available.
Arts and culture remain central to The Annenberg Foundation’s giving. In 2025, it gave $1,428,572 to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts for “The Wallis Arrives: A Comprehensive Campaign,” and it also supported the Los Angeles Opera Company with $1,000,000 for “Lucia Di Lammermoor and Otello.” Education and campus infrastructure are another clear strand. The foundation awarded $5,000,000 to the University of Southern California for renovation of the original Annenberg Building, and it has also funded higher-education and school-related work through its general grantmaking and scholarship programs. Environmental work appears in large, targeted grants. The National Wildlife Federation received $4,000,000 in 2025 and $2,000,000 in 2024 for the Wildlife Crossing Initiative, showing sustained support for habitat connectivity. Animal welfare is also visible in support for Animal Wellness Foundation, including $2,200,000 for the design and operation of the Dog Bless You Doggy Day Care.
$258.7M
$1.5B
$123.1M
$309.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $65K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$65K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in CA.
WALLIS ANNENBERG
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for Annenberg Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 1,646 | $598.4M | 97.4% |
| 2 | France | 15 | $1.2M |
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Concentrated, institution-focused philanthropy: a small set of repeat, often large or multi-year grants to flagship cultural, educational, and conservation organizations (including significant internal/legacy foundation transfers), supplemented by targeted national grants on signature issues.
Notable grantees: The Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation, Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, University of Southern California, National Wildlife Federation, Animal Wellness Foundation
Typical awards cluster at a modest institutional size, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $25,000, and a p75 of $65,000. The recent grant list also shows a long tail of very large awards, including eight-figure and multi-million-dollar grants. The foundation gives in repeat patterns: the same organizations appear across multiple years, such as the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, National Wildlife Federation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation. It is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it also makes program-related investments. Its public grant opportunities include both unsolicited general grantmaking and occasional targeted RFPs.
Grant dollars are heavily concentrated in California, which is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients cluster in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, and other Southern California locations, including major institutions in Los Angeles County. The recipient-country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, at 97.4% of grants, with smaller counts in France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Luxembourg, Poland, Kenya, Spain, Mexico, and the Netherlands. The foundation’s HQ is in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, but only 2% of grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Its recent grants support arts and culture organizations, universities, wildlife and habitat initiatives, animal welfare groups, journalism memorial projects, and civic or public-interest institutions. Examples in the data include performing arts organizations, a wildlife crossing initiative, a women’s lung cancer initiative, and a memorial for fallen journalists.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, National Wildlife Federation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Animal Wellness Foundation, Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation, and The Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation. That indicates a recurring relationship with some grantees rather than purely one-time support.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $65,000 at the 75th percentile. Its recent grant list also includes much larger awards, ranging from seven figures to a $150 million transfer to a related legacy foundation.
Only 2% of grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania. The foundation’s grantmaking is much more concentrated in California, with Los Angeles-area recipients appearing repeatedly in the recent grants list.
The foundation’s general grantmaking accepts unsolicited proposals, and it also posts occasional request-for-proposals and targeted grant opportunities. A separate general grantmaking program supports U.S. and Los Angeles-area organizations, while the RFP program is only available when specific opportunities are posted.
CEO/CHAIRPERSON/PRESIDENT
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 | United Kingdom | 8 | $2.1M | 0.5% |
| 4 | Canada | 5 | $150K | 0.3% |
| 5 | Portugal | 3 | $910K | 0.2% |
| 6 | Kenya | 3 | $800K | 0.2% |
| 7 | Luxembourg | 3 | $162K | 0.2% |
| 8 | Netherlands | 2 | $102K | 0.1% |
| 9 | Mexico | 2 | $100K | 0.1% |
| 10 | Spain | 2 | $31K | 0.1% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE WALLIS ANNENBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION | PLAYA VISTA, CA | $11,603,575 | 2025 | CHARITABLE MISSION AND PROGRAMS |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION | RESTON, VA | $4,000,000 | 2025 | WILDLIFE CROSSING INITIATIVE |
| PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,680,404 | 2025 | ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS FUND, TOURING FUND, ED FUND AND TECH FUND |
| ANIMAL WELLNESS FOUNDATION | MARINA DEL REY, CA | $2,200,000 | 2025 | DESIGN AND OPERATION OF THE DOG BLESS YOU DOGGY DAY CARE |
| WALLIS ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $1,428,572 | 2025 | THE WALLIS ARRIVES: A COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN |
| FALLEN JOURNALISTS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | VIENNA, VA | $1,300,000 | 2025 | FALLEN JOURNALISTS MEMORIAL |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,166,667 | 2025 | WOMEN'S LUNG CANCER INITIATIVE |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY OF PROVIDENCE | PROVIDENCE, RI | $833,333 | 2025 | LINDEMANN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT BROWN UNIVERSITY |
| LOS ANGELES OPERA COMPANY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PRODUCTION BUDGET |
| UTAH FILM CENTER DBA SALT LAKE CITY FILM CENTER AND | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $700,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 5TH EPISODE OF SOCIAL STUDIES |
| GORILLA REHABILITATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION CENTER INC | NIWOT, CO | $425,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KATMAI CONSERVANCY | ANCHORAGE, AK | $402,000 | 2025 | OTIS FUND 2024 |
| CASAPO | LOS ANGELES, CA | $351,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DREAMYARD PROJECT INC | BRONX, NY | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MUSEUM ASSOCIATES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $340,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $333,334 | 2025 | WOMENS CANCER RESEARCH FUND |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $333,333 | 2025 | NEUROLOGY PROJECT |
| CITIZENS OF THE WORLD CHARTER SCHOOLS - LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $333,333 | 2025 | CWC SILVER LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS RAJA AMPAT AND RESHARK PROGRAMS |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | SEABIRD INSTITUTE AND ROWE SANCTUARY |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | SOCIOEMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF OPERA CHOIR FOR CHILDREN STUDY |
| POLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL | BOZEMAN, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | JOEL FLEISCHMAN PROFESSORSHIP FUND IN THE SANFORD SCHOOL |
| EAST COAST ASSISTANCE DOGS INC | TORRINGTON, CT | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CLOONEY FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ENSEMBLE LES TALENS LYRIQUES | PARIS | $221,360 | 2025 | THE 2024- 2025 SEASON OF THE ENSEMBLE LES TALENS LYRIQUES |
| DEMOCRACY NOW PRODUCTIONS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | ADVOCACY WORK RELATED TO PROGRAMMING AREAS |
| LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GROW ROOFTOP GARDEN A FEATURE OF BUILDING TRUTH |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | SATURDAY MATINEE RADIO BROADCASTS |
| KATMAI CONSERVANCY | ANCHORAGE, AK | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND THE OTIS FUND |
| MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ACTORS GANG INC | CULVER CITY, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MPALA RESEARCH CENTRE | NANYUKI | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE MISSIONS AND PROGRAMMING OF THE MRC |
| WALLIS ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GROW @ THE WALLIS EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $175,000 | 2025 | INCLUSION ACROSS THE LIFESPAN PROJECT AT USC ANNENBERG |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $166,666 | 2025 | CENTER FOR EAST-WEST MEDICINE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PARIS OPERA AND BALLET | NEW YORK, NY | $162,514 | 2025 | PARIS OPERA JUNIOR COMPANY |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $160,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MAUI UNITED WAY INC | WAILUKU, HI | $156,000 | 2025 | RECOMMENDS SUPPORT FOR MAUI BIOREMEDIATION GROUP |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $155,000 | 2025 | LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF FOOD EQUITY |
| WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | ACTING LIKE WOMEN PROJECT |
| RAPTOR RESOURCE PROJECT | DECORAH, IA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL |
| WORLD MONUMENTS FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $133,334 | 2025 | GOS AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS IN BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY LONDON INC | NEW YORK, NY | $128,309 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $127,800 | 2025 | SALARY FOR THE COMMUNITY LIAISON OF THE WLI |
THE WALLIS ANNENBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
$11,603,575CHARITABLE MISSION AND PROGRAMS
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
$4,000,000WILDLIFE CROSSING INITIATIVE
PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION
$2,680,404ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS FUND, TOURING FUND, ED FUND AND TECH FUND
ANIMAL WELLNESS FOUNDATION
$2,200,000DESIGN AND OPERATION OF THE DOG BLESS YOU DOGGY DAY CARE
WALLIS ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$1,428,572THE WALLIS ARRIVES: A COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN
FALLEN JOURNALISTS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$1,300,000FALLEN JOURNALISTS MEMORIAL
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
$1,166,667WOMEN'S LUNG CANCER INITIATIVE
BROWN UNIVERSITY OF PROVIDENCE
$833,333LINDEMANN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
LOS ANGELES OPERA COMPANY
$750,000GENERAL PRODUCTION BUDGET
UTAH FILM CENTER DBA SALT LAKE CITY FILM CENTER AND
$700,000TO SUPPORT THE 5TH EPISODE OF SOCIAL STUDIES
GORILLA REHABILITATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION CENTER INC
$425,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
KATMAI CONSERVANCY
$402,000OTIS FUND 2024
CASAPO
$351,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DREAMYARD PROJECT INC
$350,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MUSEUM ASSOCIATES
$340,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
$333,334WOMENS CANCER RESEARCH FUND
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
$333,333NEUROLOGY PROJECT
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD CHARTER SCHOOLS - LOS ANGELES
$333,333CWC SILVER LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
$300,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
$300,000GENERAL OPERATIONS RAJA AMPAT AND RESHARK PROGRAMS
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND INC
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC
$250,000SEABIRD INSTITUTE AND ROWE SANCTUARY
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$250,000SOCIOEMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF OPERA CHOIR FOR CHILDREN STUDY
POLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$250,000JOEL FLEISCHMAN PROFESSORSHIP FUND IN THE SANFORD SCHOOL
EAST COAST ASSISTANCE DOGS INC
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CLOONEY FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ENSEMBLE LES TALENS LYRIQUES
$221,360THE 2024- 2025 SEASON OF THE ENSEMBLE LES TALENS LYRIQUES
DEMOCRACY NOW PRODUCTIONS INC
$200,000ADVOCACY WORK RELATED TO PROGRAMMING AREAS
LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LA
$200,000GROW ROOFTOP GARDEN A FEATURE OF BUILDING TRUTH
METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC
$200,000SATURDAY MATINEE RADIO BROADCASTS
KATMAI CONSERVANCY
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND THE OTIS FUND
MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ACTORS GANG INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MPALA RESEARCH CENTRE
$200,000CHARITABLE MISSIONS AND PROGRAMMING OF THE MRC
WALLIS ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$200,000GROW @ THE WALLIS EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$175,000INCLUSION ACROSS THE LIFESPAN PROJECT AT USC ANNENBERG
THE UCLA FOUNDATION
$166,666CENTER FOR EAST-WEST MEDICINE
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PARIS OPERA AND BALLET
$162,514PARIS OPERA JUNIOR COMPANY
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$160,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MAUI UNITED WAY INC
$156,000RECOMMENDS SUPPORT FOR MAUI BIOREMEDIATION GROUP
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$155,000LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF FOOD EQUITY
WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC
$150,000ACTING LIKE WOMEN PROJECT
RAPTOR RESOURCE PROJECT
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC
$150,000ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL
WORLD MONUMENTS FUND INC
$133,334GOS AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS IN BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY LONDON INC
$128,309TO SUPPORT THE DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE
THE UCLA FOUNDATION
$127,800SALARY FOR THE COMMUNITY LIAISON OF THE WLI