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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Walt Disney Family Museum ($7,513,075), Walt Disney Family Foundation ($700,000), California Institute of the Arts ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WALT DISNEY FAMILY FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | EDUCATION - ARTS | $700,000 |
| THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM SAN FRANCISCO, CA | EDUCATION - ARTS | $7,513,075 |
| RESEARCH TO PREVENT BLINDNESS NEW YORK, NY | AMBLYOPIA RESEARCH | $150,000 |
| WALT DISNEY MAGNET SCHOOL CHICAGO, IL | EDUCATION - ARTS | $200,000 |
| JOHN TRACY CLINIC LOS ANGELES, CA | MEDICAL/HEARING LOSS | $25,000 |
| LA PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION LOS ANGELES, CA | ARTS | $250,000 |
| WALT DISNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVITTOWN, PA | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS SANTA CLARITA, CA | ARTS | $300,000 |
| HYPERION HISTORICAL ALLIANCE BAKERSFIELD, CA | HISTORY | $20,000 |
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 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $11.7 million (2023) • Number of grants: 8 awards in the most recent reporting period • Average grant size: $1,461,681 • Grant range: Varies significantly, with awards documented from $300,000 to $9,458,450 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications or inquiries. **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Walt Disney Family Museum: $9,458,450 • Walt Disney Family Foundati…
Where does The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations primarily in major urban centers across multiple states, including: • California • Illinois • New York • Pennsylvania
What size grants does The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation award?
In 2024, The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $9.2M — an average of about $1.0M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's EIN?
The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7425637. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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