The Ahmanson Foundation concentrates on large, place-based capital and collection support for Los Angeles cultural and educational institutions. Its recent grants show a strong preference for major museum acquisitions and building projects (art purchases, new centers and construction) and occasional support for Catholic parish/school property needs. Grants are high-dollar and targeted to a small set of flagship local organizations.
The Ahmanson Foundation’s recent giving is defined by large, place-based capital support and art acquisitions for Los Angeles institutions. In 2025, it gave $6.3 million to the Roman Archbishop of Los Angeles for property acquisition benefiting St. Genevieve School, $5 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History for preliminary costs on the Reimagining La Brea Tar Pits project, and $5 million to The Colburn School for construction of the Colburn Center. Across the recent grants list, the foundation also backed major collection purchases at the Huntington Library & Art Gallery, including Thomas Cole’s "Portage Falls on the Genesee" for $12 million and a Goya painting for $5.8 million. That pattern points to a funder that uses sizable grants to support buildings, acquisitions, and campus improvements rather than broad programmatic funding. The portfolio includes museums, schools, hospitals, arts venues, and community service organizations, with most awards tied to specific projects or physical assets. Recurring support appears around a small set of Los Angeles-area institutions, including the Huntington, the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, and Dignity Community Care, each receiving multiple awards in the recent record.
Museum and collection support is a clear theme. The foundation gave $12 million to Henry E. Huntington Library & Art Gallery for the acquisition of Thomas Cole’s "Portage Falls on the Genesee," then followed with $5.8 million to the same institution for a painting by Francisco José de Goya and $1 million toward library renewal. It also supported natural history infrastructure, including $5 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History for the Reimagining La Brea Tar Pits project and $2 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Foundation for construction of the Natural History Museum Commons. In education and arts facilities, it gave $5 million to The Colburn School for the Colburn Center and $1.231 million to California Lutheran University for roof replacement and HVAC upgrades at the Ahmanson Science Center. Health and housing needs also appear, with $1.5 million to Volunteers of America Inc for transitional housing and $1.5 million to The People Concern for capital upgrades at the New Skid Row Wellness Center.
$78.3M
$1.5B
$70M
$88.2M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Highly concentrated, few very large grants focused on capital projects and collection acquisitions; repeat support to flagship local institutions (notably the Huntington) rather than many small or unrestricted operating grants.
Notable grantees: Henry E. Huntington Library & Art Gallery, California Science Center Foundation, The Colburn School, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (La Brea Tar Pits project), Roman Archbishop of Los Angeles / St. Genevieve School (property acquisition)
Typical awards are in the capital-grant range: the provided distribution shows a p25 of $25,000, a median of $50,000, and a p75 of $100,000, while the recent list also includes multi-million-dollar project gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it makes grants locally. The recent record shows repeat support for some recipients across multiple years, including Henry E. Huntington Library & Art Gallery, The Shakespeare Center of La, and Dignity Community Care. The grants are overwhelmingly California-based, matching the foundation’s place-centered pattern.
Grants are concentrated in California, with 94% of awards going to recipients in the HQ state. Los Angeles appears most often, alongside San Marino, Pasadena, Covina, Thousand Oaks, and Sylmar. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 1,724 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. countries listed. This is a highly local giving pattern centered on the Los Angeles region rather than a multi-state or international portfolio.
Its recent grants favor capital and acquisition work: museum purchases, construction projects, facility upgrades, and campus improvements. Examples in the record include art acquisitions for the Huntington Library & Art Gallery, construction support for the Colburn Center, and infrastructure work tied to hospitals, schools, and cultural venues.
The provided grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $25,000, a median of $50,000, and a p75 of $100,000. The recent grants list also includes several multi-million-dollar awards for specific capital projects and acquisitions.
Yes. The recent record shows multiple awards to the same recipients across different years, including Henry E. Huntington Library & Art Gallery, The Shakespeare Center of La, and Dignity Community Care. That indicates some recurring project support rather than only one-time gifts.
It gives primarily in California: 94% of grants go to recipients in CA, and the top recipient cities include Los Angeles, San Marino, Pasadena, Covina, Thousand Oaks, and Sylmar. The recipient-country data is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMAN ARCHBISHOP OF LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $6,300,000 | 2025 | FOR ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR THE BENEFIT OF ST. GENEVIEVE SCHOOL |
| HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL | SAN MARINO, CA | $5,800,000 | 2025 | FOR ACQUISITION OF PAINTING BY FRANCISCO JOS DE GOYA |
| THE COLBURN SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF THE COLBURN CENTER |
| LOS ANGELES CTY MUS OF NAT HIST | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD PRELIMINARY COSTS FOR THE REIMAGINING LA BREA TAR PITS PROJECT |
| UNION RESCUE MISSION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,000,000 | 2025 | AC EXPANSION, TECH., INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, AND DORM/SPRUNG RECONFIG. |
| POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL | PASADENA, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD PURCHASE OF LAND FOR ATHLETIC FACILITIES |
| THE SHAKESPEARE CENTER OF LA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD RAISE THE ROOF CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| MEXICAN AMER LEG DEF & EDU FD | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD REPLACEMENT OF THE HVAC SYSTEM AT THE LOS ANGELES HEADQUARTERS |
| CHILDRENS INSTITUTE INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD THE UPGRADED HUMAN RESOURCES SYSTEM WORKDAY |
| DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER OF LA | SYLMAR, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | WILDLIFE CAROUSEL AND OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER AS PART OF THE STEM COURTYARD EXPANSION PROJECT |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF 50 UNITS OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR PREGNANT OR POSTPARTUM TRANSITION AGED YOUTH |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | FOR A NEW MRI MACHINE FOR THE HEART INSTITUTE |
| THE SHAKESPEARE CENTER OF LA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,250,000 | 2025 | ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TOWARD THE RAISE THE ROOF CAMPAIGN |
| CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY | THOUSAND OAKS, CA | $1,231,000 | 2025 | TOWARD ROOF REPLACEMENT AND HVAC UPGRADES FOR THE AHMANSON SCIENCE CENTER |
| OTIS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,110,500 | 2025 | FOR ELEVATOR REPLACEMENTS |
| HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL | SAN MARINO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD LIBRARY RENEWAL |
| PARACLETE HIGH SCHOOL | LANCASTER, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD ATHLETIC FACILITY UPGRADES |
| CROSSROADS SCHOOL FOR ARTS & SC | SANTA MONICA, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW MAIN THEATER BUILDING |
| HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL | SAN MARINO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD LIBRARY RENEWAL |
| PEOPLE ASSISTING THE HOMELESS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | FOR HVAC UPGRADES AT SIX BUILDINGS AND EQUIPPING A CENTRAL OFFICE SPACE WITH FURNISHINGS AND SECURITY |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD RENOVATION OF CREIGHTON HALL |
| CHILDRENS BUREAU OF SOUTHERN CALIF | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PALMDALE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER |
| PASADENA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | PASADENA, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD THE COMMON GROUND CAMPUS EXPANSION PROJECT OF BUILDING B |
| PASADENA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION LTD | PASADENA, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD A NEW CT SCANNER |
| HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL | SAN MARINO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TOWARD LIBRARY RENEWAL |
| EAST-WEST PLAYERS INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $981,000 | 2025 | FOR UPGRADES TO THE RIGGING SYSTEM |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $880,000 | 2025 | TOWARD RENOVATION OF THE PALMDALE SITE |
| SEED SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | TOWARD FURNITURE FOR THE NEW CAMPUS |
| LEGAL AID FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW EAST LOS ANGELES OFFICE |
| CALIFORNIA ST UNI - NRTHRDG FDN | NORTHRIDGE, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | TOWARD AUDIO/PA SYSTEM REPLACEMENT AT THE SORAYA |
| VILLA ESPERANZA SERVICES | PASADENA, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY CLINIC, SPORTS AND THERAPEUTIC CENTER, AND THREE CLASSROOMS |
| LOS ANGELES MISSION INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | TOWARD RENOVATION OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING DORMITORIES |
| MEND-MEET EACH NEED WITH DIGNITY | PACOIMA, CA | $720,000 | 2025 | TOWARD FACILITY UPGRADES |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE LA HARBOR | SAN PEDRO, CA | $710,000 | 2025 | TOWARD CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT TWO HARBOR GATEWAY CLUBS |
| ALTAMED HEALTH SERVICES CORP | LOS ANGELES, CA | $704,000 | 2025 | FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THREE PACE SITES |
| HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL | SAN MARINO, CA | $697,580 | 2025 | ACQUISITION OF PAINTING, PORTRAIT OF THE COMTE OF CROMOT, SUPT. OF THE COMTE DE PROVENCE, AT AN EASEL, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW (C. 1787), BY CALLET |
| BIOLA UNIVERSITY INC | LA MIRADA, CA | $692,000 | 2025 | TOWARD THE EXPANSION OF THE SPEECH-LANGUAGE AND PATHOLOGY CLINIC |
| ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER SCHOOLS | REDONDO BEACH, CA | $650,000 | 2025 | TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF ECHS-GARDENA |
| GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $609,500 | 2025 | TOWARD CREATION AND INSTALLATION OF THE PERMANENT CELESTIAL GLOBE EXHIBIT |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $576,000 | 2025 | TOWARD SECURITY SERVICES EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $566,300 | 2025 | FOR CREATION OF AN ADDITIONAL COLLABORATIVE STUDY AREA IN THE BIOMEDICAL LIBRARY |
| LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $560,000 | 2025 | FOR THE CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $520,000 | 2025 | FOR UPGRADED EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DIVISION OF GERIATRICS |
| THE CHILDRENS CLINIC | LONG BEACH, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE TCC FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER |
| WESTMONT COLLEGE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD RENOVATION OF THE DINING COMMONS |
| LEARNING WITH A DIFFERENCE INC | ENCINO, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD THE NEW LOWER SCHOOL CAMPUS |
| MAYFIELD SR SCH OF HOLY CH JESUS | PASADENA, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD THE NEW PLAYING FIELD AND PARKING COMPLEX |
| MAYFIELD SR SCH OF HOLY CH JESUS | PASADENA, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD RENOVATIONS TO STRUB HALL |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD THE LOS ANGELES CORPS PROGRAM, 2024-25 |
| SAINT MARKS SCHOOL ALTADENA INC | ALTADENA, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TOWARD PHASE 1A OF THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN: CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PRESCHOOL FACILITY |
ROMAN ARCHBISHOP OF LOS ANGELES
$6,300,000FOR ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR THE BENEFIT OF ST. GENEVIEVE SCHOOL
HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL
$5,800,000FOR ACQUISITION OF PAINTING BY FRANCISCO JOS DE GOYA
THE COLBURN SCHOOL
$5,000,000TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF THE COLBURN CENTER
LOS ANGELES CTY MUS OF NAT HIST
$5,000,000TOWARD PRELIMINARY COSTS FOR THE REIMAGINING LA BREA TAR PITS PROJECT
AC EXPANSION, TECH., INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, AND DORM/SPRUNG RECONFIG.
TOWARD PURCHASE OF LAND FOR ATHLETIC FACILITIES
THE SHAKESPEARE CENTER OF LA INC
$2,000,000TOWARD RAISE THE ROOF CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
MEXICAN AMER LEG DEF & EDU FD
$2,000,000TOWARD REPLACEMENT OF THE HVAC SYSTEM AT THE LOS ANGELES HEADQUARTERS
TOWARD THE UPGRADED HUMAN RESOURCES SYSTEM WORKDAY
DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER OF LA
$1,500,000WILDLIFE CAROUSEL AND OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER AS PART OF THE STEM COURTYARD EXPANSION PROJECT
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA INC
$1,500,000TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF 50 UNITS OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR PREGNANT OR POSTPARTUM TRANSITION AGED YOUTH
CHILDRENS HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES
$1,500,000FOR A NEW MRI MACHINE FOR THE HEART INSTITUTE
THE SHAKESPEARE CENTER OF LA INC
$1,250,000ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TOWARD THE RAISE THE ROOF CAMPAIGN
CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY
$1,231,000TOWARD ROOF REPLACEMENT AND HVAC UPGRADES FOR THE AHMANSON SCIENCE CENTER
HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL
$1,000,000TOWARD LIBRARY RENEWAL
PARACLETE HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000,000TOWARD ATHLETIC FACILITY UPGRADES
CROSSROADS SCHOOL FOR ARTS & SC
$1,000,000TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW MAIN THEATER BUILDING
HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL
$1,000,000TOWARD LIBRARY RENEWAL
FOR HVAC UPGRADES AT SIX BUILDINGS AND EQUIPPING A CENTRAL OFFICE SPACE WITH FURNISHINGS AND SECURITY
CHILDRENS BUREAU OF SOUTHERN CALIF
$1,000,000TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PALMDALE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
PASADENA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
$1,000,000TOWARD THE COMMON GROUND CAMPUS EXPANSION PROJECT OF BUILDING B
HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL
$1,000,000TOWARD LIBRARY RENEWAL
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$880,000TOWARD RENOVATION OF THE PALMDALE SITE
TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW EAST LOS ANGELES OFFICE
CALIFORNIA ST UNI - NRTHRDG FDN
$750,000TOWARD AUDIO/PA SYSTEM REPLACEMENT AT THE SORAYA
TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY CLINIC, SPORTS AND THERAPEUTIC CENTER, AND THREE CLASSROOMS
TOWARD RENOVATION OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING DORMITORIES
TOWARD CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT TWO HARBOR GATEWAY CLUBS
HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIB & ART GAL
$697,580ACQUISITION OF PAINTING, PORTRAIT OF THE COMTE OF CROMOT, SUPT. OF THE COMTE DE PROVENCE, AT AN EASEL, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW (C. 1787), BY CALLET
BIOLA UNIVERSITY INC
$692,000TOWARD THE EXPANSION OF THE SPEECH-LANGUAGE AND PATHOLOGY CLINIC
ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER SCHOOLS
$650,000TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF ECHS-GARDENA
GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION
$609,500TOWARD CREATION AND INSTALLATION OF THE PERMANENT CELESTIAL GLOBE EXHIBIT
TOWARD SECURITY SERVICES EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES
FOR CREATION OF AN ADDITIONAL COLLABORATIVE STUDY AREA IN THE BIOMEDICAL LIBRARY
FOR UPGRADED EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DIVISION OF GERIATRICS
THE CHILDRENS CLINIC
$500,000TOWARD ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE TCC FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER
WESTMONT COLLEGE
$500,000TOWARD RENOVATION OF THE DINING COMMONS
MAYFIELD SR SCH OF HOLY CH JESUS
$500,000TOWARD THE NEW PLAYING FIELD AND PARKING COMPLEX
MAYFIELD SR SCH OF HOLY CH JESUS
$500,000TOWARD RENOVATIONS TO STRUB HALL
TEACH FOR AMERICA INC
$500,000TOWARD THE LOS ANGELES CORPS PROGRAM, 2024-25
SAINT MARKS SCHOOL ALTADENA INC
$500,000TOWARD PHASE 1A OF THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN: CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PRESCHOOL FACILITY