The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation is a private foundation established in 1974 in California, founded in the name of Walt Disney by his wife, Lillian (Lilly) Disney. Based in San Francisco, the foundation operates as a trustee-directed grantmaking organization with total assets exceeding $153 million. The foundation is now managed by Walt and Lilly's descendants through their daughter Diane Disney Miller's family line.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$154.4M
+0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.2M
-21.6% YoY
Grant Count
9
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.0M
-30.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on:
- Arts and Culture
- Education
- Human Services
The foundation supports initiatives that align with Walt Disney's legacy as an innovator in animation, entertainment, and creative endeavors.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications or inquiries.
Grant Range
$1,461,681
Average Grant
$1,461,681
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations primarily in major urban centers across multiple states, including:
- California
- Illinois
- New York
- Pennsylvania
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $153,244,358
- Total giving: $9,168,075 (2024 data) / $11,693,450 (2023 data)
- Total revenues: $6,548,242
- Total expenses: $13,749,705
- Investment income and dividends: $3,844,366
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $154,363,972 | $153,244,358 | $152,999,149 |
| Revenue | $9,928,908 | $6,548,242 | $45,784 |
| Expenses | $9,861,621 | $13,749,705 | $10,085,572 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,332,128 | $11,844,241 | $8,887,568 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,525,065 | $5,858,073 | $1,085,183 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,588,314 | $7,416,132 | $7,973,489 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
37 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
The foundation's trustees include:
- Tamara D Miller
- Walter ED Miller
- Christopher D Miller
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WALTER ED MILLER | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER D MILLER | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| TAMARA D MILLER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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