About Annenberg Foundation
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.
Focus Areas
Major Los Angeles performing arts institutions and museum capital campaigns (e.g., The Wallis, LA opera, museum acquisitions/exhibitions)Higher education discretionary and center funding at leading universities (e.g., USC, UCLA, Brown)Wildlife conservation and large-scale habitat initiatives (e.g., wildlife crossings, African Parks, polar bear research)Animal welfare and rescue/clinic infrastructure (e.g., Animal Wellness Foundation, Katmai Conservancy)Journalism commemoration and press freedom projects (e.g., Fallen Journalists Memorial, National Press Club Journalism Institute)
Who They Fund
About Annenberg Foundation
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.
What Annenberg Foundation Funds
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.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$258.7M
Total Assets
$1.5B
Total Revenue
$123.1M
Total Expenses
$309.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $65K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$65K
Geographic Reach
National42 states funded
About 2% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Annenberg Foundation Funds
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 |
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