David Geffen Foundation
OVERVIEW: The foundation of the music and film industry mogul David Geffen works broadly in the areas of human rights, women and girls, LGBTQ causes, disease research, arts and culture, criminal justice reform, civic engagement and democracy and Jewish causes.
IP TAKE: The David Geffen Foundation tends to support well-established organizations operating in Los Angeles and New York City. Though a largely regional funder, it’s a major player in its regions and focus areas of interest. Unfortunately, this funder lacks accessibility, preferring to maintain a low profile. It does not appear to accept applications for funding.
However, this is an open-minded, thoughtful funder, so don’t hesitate to contact its limited, but responsive staff to learn more about how its grantmaking is evolving.
PROFILE: The David Geffen Foundation represents the philanthropic undertakings of David Geffen, the renowned American music and film executive David Geffen. A New York City native, Geffen is the son of Jewish immigrants. As a youngster, he was a poor student, which he attributes to dyslexia. He studied at the University of Texas at Austin, Brooklyn College and Santa Monica City College with little success, but found his niche in the entertainment industry. He was hired as a mailroom clerk at the William Morris Agency but was quickly promoted to talent agent.
In 1971, he co-founded Asylum Records, which produced recordings for the Eagles, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, among others. In 1981 he founded another successful label, Geffen Records, and branched out to theater and film production. With Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, he established Dreamworks-SKG in 1994. Geffen, who is openly gay, has an estimated wealth of about $8 billion and supported the elections of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Recently, he has given to the Lincoln Project, a conservative organization opposed to the reelection of President Donald Trump in 2020.
The David Geffen Foundation was established in 1987 and maintains assets of about $400 million. The foundation engages in a broad range of grantmaking areas, including human rights, women and girls, LGBTQ causes, disease research, arts and culture, criminal justice reform, civic engagement and democracy and Jewish causes. This funder maintains a low profile; it does not maintain a website or a formal staff, limiting information about its specific grantmaking practices.
Grants for Disease Research
Disease research constitutes a significant portion of the David Geffen Foundation’s grantmaking. As far back as 2002, Geffen demonstrated a strong commitment to health causes, bankrolling the UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine with $200 million. One primary focus of his current disease-related funding is AIDS/HIV research. In this area, the foundation has given to the Foundation for Aids Research, the AIDS Project Los Angeles and Sisterhood Mobilized for AIDS/HIV Research. Other disease-related grantees include the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Race to Erase MS and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Grants for Music
Geffen has deep roots in the music industry, and music represents a large area of his foundation’s grantmaking. In 2015, the foundation donated $100 million to New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for a renovation of one of the center’s main music venues, Avery Fisher Hall, which has since been renamed David Geffen Hall. Other music grantees include the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the Music Center of Los Angeles, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Young Musicians Foundation and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Grants for Theater
Theater is another area in which David Geffen maintains both personal and professional interest. The foundation’s work in this area consists mainly of grants to well-recognized theaters and venues in Los Angeles and New York City. Geffen provides ongoing support for UCLA’s Geffen Playhouse and supports the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles. New York City grantees include Lincoln Center, the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre Company and the American Theatre Wing, which runs the Obie Awards, as well as a series of master classes and symposia. Geffen also gave $150 million to Yale to help establish his David Geffen School of Drama in 2021.
Grants for Visual Arts
The David Geffen Foundation’s visual arts funding emphasizes art museums that focus on contemporary and modern art. Past grantees include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and UCLA’s Hammer Museum.
Grants for LGBTQ Causes
As an openly gay man, Geffen has been a vocal proponent of LGBTQ including the campaign against California’s Proposition 8, which would have overturned California’s recognition of same-sex marriage. Other past LBGTQ grantees include the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Gill Foundation, the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the Equality California institute and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
Grants for Women and Girls
Nonprofit organizations working in women’s and girls’ causes have received funding from the David Geffen Foundation. Past grantees in this area include the Feminist Majority Foundation, which works globally for women’s equality, and the Women’s Media Center, which was founded by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem and which works in the areas of advocacy and leadership training.
Grants for Human Rights
The David Geffen Foundation does not name human rights as a grantmaking priority, but tax filings indicate a funding interest in this space. Past human rights grantees include the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Human Rights Watch.
Grants for Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal justice reform appears to be a newer area of interest for this foundation. In recent years, the foundation has supported the Innocence Project and the Inner City Law Center of Los Angeles. It doesn’t state a grantmaking strategy here, preferring to evolve with rising grant needs in its communities.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
The Geffen Foundation’s work in the areas of civic engagement and democracy focuses mainly on the state of California. Past grantees include the California Community Foundation and Los Angeles’s Community Partners, which organizes people and funding “to grow creative solutions to community challenges.”
Grants for Jewish Causes
Geffen steadily supports a few select Jewish organizations. Los Angeles grantees include Bet Tzedek Legal Services, the Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Los Angeles and the Jewish Healing Center of Los Angeles. Other past grantees are Israel’s Sport Center for the Disabled, the World Jewish Congress and the International Society of Yad Vasham, a Holocaust survivors’ organization.
Important Grant Details:
The David Geffen Foundation made over $35 million in grants in a recent year, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $15 million. Geffen’s average grant size is about $100,000. A significant portion of grantmaking is directed toward organizations in Los Angeles and New York City. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s recent tax filings.
This funder maintains a low profile and does not appear to accept applications for funding. The foundation may be reached via email or telephone at 301-581-5900. A mailing address is provided below.
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CONTACT:
David Geffen Foundation
12011 San Vicente Blvd., Ste. 606
Los Angeles, CA United States 90049-4926
(301) 581-5900