J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Film and Television Producer, Screenwriter, Director.

FUNDING AREAS: Education and Youth, Arts, Health, Human Services, Equity and Policy, Global Development, Los Angeles Community.

OVERVIEW: J.J. Abrams and his wife Katie McGrath do their grantmaking through the Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation. The foundation supports education, policy, human services, the arts and more. The city of Los Angeles, where the couple lives, is a significant focus of their grantmaking.

BACKGROUND: Born in New York City in 1966, Abrams developed an early interest in filmmaking. As an undergraduate at Sarah Lawrence College, he co-wrote the screenplay that would be developed into the 1990 Jim Belushi comedy, Taking Care of Business. Abrams has gone on to create a number of hit television series, including Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe. Abrams also recently directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

ISSUES:

EDUCATION & YOUTH: Abrams and McGrath, through their family foundation, have supported a number education and youth organizations. In higher education, Abrams' supports Sarah Lawrence. The couple has also supported Loyola Law School in Los Angeles County, Harvey Mudd College in suburban Los Angeles, and Katie's alma mater, Simmons College in Boston. In K-12 education, grantees include City Year Los Angeles, L.A.'s Promise, a nonprofit"working to improve schools & empower neighborhoods in some of the most disenfranchised communities in L.A.," Panorama City High School, The Archer School for Girls, Wildwood School, and Los Angeles Fund for Public Education.

The couple has also made grants to organizations that support youth and children outside school. The couple has been involved with Children's Defense Fund, where Katie sits on the board. Abrams and Katie have supported CDF Freedom Schools, "child-centered summer enrichment programs that boost student capacity and motivation to read, and connect the needs of children and families to resources in their communities." Abrams also supports organizations such as Gabriella Foundation, whose mission is to "transform the lives of underserved youth in Los Angeles through high-quality dance instruction," and Diamond in the RAW, "devoted to empowering and transforming the lives of foster care and at-risk teen girls."

ARTS: Given Abrams' profession, it is no surprise that a component of the couple's philanthropy involves the arts. Grantees include Writers Guild Foundation, Academy of Motion Pictures Foundation, the Paley Center for Media, Vineyard Playhouse Company, and Producers Guild of America, among others.

HEALTH: The couple does not seem to have singled out a particular health cause, with grantmaking supporting a range of organizations, such as Project ALS, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, Stand Up to Cancer, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

HUMAN SERVICES: The couple also has an interest in human services. They have supported Community Coalition, which "works to help transform the social and economic conditions in South LA"; A Window Between Worlds, "a nonprofit organization dedicated to using art as a healing tool for survivors of domestic violence"; OPCC, a "Santa Monica based social services agency providing housing programs and supportive services"; and Homeboy Industries. 

EQUITY & POLICY: Abrams and McGrath, through their foundation have supported organizations like ProPublica; Advancement Project, a "nonprofit organization that focuses on racial justice issues."; American Foundation for Equal Rights, "dedicated to achieving full marriage equality nationwide" ; California Calls, "a growing alliance of grassroots, community-based organizations"; Feminist Majority Foundation; Death Penalty Focus; and People for the American Way.

In 2020, the couple pledged $10 million over five years, through their foundation and Abrams’ production company Bad Robot, to “organizations and efforts committed to anti-racist agendas that close the gaps, lift the poor and build a just America for all.” Initial grantees include Equal Justice Initiative, Black Futures Lab, Know Your Rights Camp, Black Lives Matter L.A., and Community Coalition.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT: Past grantees include the Mona Foundation, "an international nonprofit charity working to eradicate global poverty through education," the Unatti Foundation, which "raises funds for education, food and shelter for underprivileged and orphaned girls in Nepal," and Operation Smile.

LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY: The couple has supported organizations such as Greater Los Angeles Zoo Foundation, Los Angeles Police Foundation, Santa Monica PAL, and KPCC - Southern California Public Radio.

ENVIRONMENT: Grantees include Environmental Media Association, "a nonprofit created to inspire and coordinate an entertainment industry response to the global environmental crisis," Heal the Bay, and Coastal Mountain Land Trust in Maine. Note that a component of the couple's philanthropy involves Maine, where McGrath is from.

LOOKING FORWARD: Abrams is already rather involved in his philanthropy, despite an active Hollywood career. The couple seems to prefer spreading their money to a number of different causes for now, but it is possible that certain interests, particularly education and policy, will emerge more prominently down the line. Additionally, the couple may have more direct avenues of giving and some grants may be missing from this guide.

CONTACT:

The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for contact, but below is a mailing address: 

Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation
16000 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 900
Encino, CA 91436