The James Annenberg La Vea Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 2000 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The foundation was created by James Annenberg La Vea (1939-2014), an heir to the Annenberg publishing and media fortune. Operating as a non-operating private foundation, it proactively identifies and selects charitable organizations aligned with its mission rather than accepting unsolicited grant applications.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$197.9M
+0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.0M
-2.3% YoY
Grant Count
21
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$476K
-2.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving is guided by James Annenberg La Vea's belief that "children are our future leaders" and his mother's philosophy: "Don't give until it pinches, give until it hurts."
Primary funding priorities include:
- Children and Youth Services — Programs benefiting children and young people
- Health Care — Medical organizations and health services
- Human Services — Comprehensive human service programs
- Medical Research — Health advancement research initiatives
- Animal Welfare — Wildlife and domesticated animal charities, reflecting the founder's belief in the connection between how we treat animals and how we treat each other
The foundation also supports education and philanthropy/voluntarism initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. It operates by proactively selecting charitable organizations to support and does not maintain a public website or provide contact information for grant inquiries.
Grant Range
$476,000
Average Grant
$497,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- Illinois
The foundation also supports national U.S.-based organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $196.8 million to $197.9 million
- Total Revenues: $18.5 million
- Total Expenses: $11.4 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $6.1 million
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $197.9 million
- Annual Giving: $10.4 million
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $38.2 million in 2011 to $196.8 million in 2023, demonstrating significant growth over the foundation's history.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $197,946,329 | $196,766,658 | $189,128,643 |
| Revenue | $14,026,919 | $18,535,222 | $9,031,566 |
| Expenses | $11,527,145 | $11,374,136 | $12,196,296 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,356,754 | $10,568,197 | $11,522,317 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,915,505 | $17,428,901 | $7,863,970 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,339,473 | $10,327,178 | $10,580,659 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: PNC Bank
- Trustees: Lawrence J Miller and PNC Bank
- Staff: 2 employees (as of 2023)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE J MILLER ESQUIRE | CO-TRUSTEE | 5 | $279,692 |
| GLENMEDE TRUST CO N A | CO-TRUSTEE | 40 | $613,322 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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