AEG Community Foundation (AEG Foundation) is the grantmaking arm of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), the world’s largest owner of sports teams and sports events, and second largest owner of live music venues. ¹

While AEG owner Philip Anschutz is a right-of-center donor and supporter of the Republican Party, AEG Foundation makes grants to left-of-center organizations. While many of the organizations the foundation supports provide education and entertainment services to the indigent, the foundation has supported organizations that oppose the removal of any illegal immigrants from the United States. ²

History

Anschutz Entertainment Group formed the AEG Foundation in 1997, and formerly operated under the Staples Center Foundation business name. ³

Finances

In 2019, AEG Foundation received $611,729 in contributions, incurred $574,680 in expenses, and had $67,678 in net assets. ^{4 5 6}

Grantmaking

In 2019, AEG Foundation made grants to organizations that provide housing, food, and entertainment services to the indigent and homeless. Other organizations supported by AEG Foundation have a history of obstructing immigration deportation actions against illegal aliens, environmentalist organizations, and organizations that support race-based social policies.

Immigration Organizations

In 2019 AEG Foundation contributed to Innercity Struggle ($10,000), an organization that has opposed U.S. immigration policies, advocates for rent control policies, and successfully advocating for the elimination of willful defiance actions in the Los Angeles County education system. Willful defiance actions allow teachers to suspend students for disrupting the classroom or failing to listen to a teacher’s request. ⁷ [not] “Zero suspensions for ‘willful defiance’ at Eastside schools.” Innercity Struggle. https://www.innercitystruggle.org/victories[/note]

Environmentalist Organizations

In 2019 AEG Community Foundation contributed to Grades of Green ($10,000), Grades of Green is an activist incubation organization that teaches students that continued emission of greenhouse gas emissions require drastic life-style changes and solutions, and in the organization’s own words “[b]uild and empower environmental changemakers and leaders to initiate and inspire local communities to make long-lasting impacts.” ⁸

Race Based Social Policies

In 2019 AEG Community Foundation contributed to Louisville Urban League ($10,000), an organization whose national affiliate opposed the Trump administration’s attempt to limit the use of affirmative action in college admissions. ⁹

Poverty Support Organizations

In 2019 AEG Community Foundation contributed to a host of organizations that provide entertainment and education services to the poor. AEG foundation has contributed to ACH Clear Pathways ($10,000), Adelante Youth Alliance ($10,000), Community Alliance ($10,000), Conscious Alliance ($10,000), Contra Tiempo ($10,000), Everybody Wins D.C. ($10,000), Higher Achievement Program ($10,000), Hollenbeck Police Activities League($10,000), just keep livin Foundation ($10,000), Living Arts ($10,000), Musicopia ($10,000), Nashville Public Library Foundation ($10,000), Playworks Education Energized ($10,000), United Roots ($10,000), Vista Maria ($10,000), Wellnest ($10,000), West End House ($10,000), Young Dance ($10,000).

Leadership

Dan Beckerman, the CEO of AEG, serves as the president of the AEG Foundation. Before joining AEG, Beckerman was the vice president of finance for the Los Angeles Clippers, and prior to that, he was a senior accountant at the now-defunct Arthur Andersen LLP accounting company. ¹⁰

1. “About” AEG Worldwide. https://www.aegworldwide.com/about
2. Kohli, Sonali. “What it’s like to be a teen in L.A. with a parent in the U.S. illegally | Los Angeles Times” Innercity Struggle. May 8, 2017. Accessed September 22, 2021. https://www.innercitystruggle.org/what_it_s_like_to_be_a_teen_in_l_a_with_a_parent_in_the_u_s_illegally
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). AEG Community Foundation. Section C and Section L. 2019.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). AEG Community Foundation. Part I, line 12. 2019.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). AEG Community Foundation. Part I, line 18. 2019.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). AEG Community Foundation. Part I, line 22. 2019.
7. “Rent Control.” Innercity Struggle. https://www.innercitystruggle.org/victories
8. “Who We Are” Grades of green. https://gradesofgreen.org/who-we-are/
9. “National Urban League Statement on Justice Department Intent to Undo Affirmative Action in College Admissions” Urban League of Springfield. August 2, 2017. Accessed September 22, 2021. http://ulspringfield.org/news_article/national-urban-league-statement-on-justice-department-intent-to-undo-affirmative-action-in-college-admissions/
10. Lopez, Ricardo. “Meet new AEG chief executive Dan Beckerman, longtime finance man” Los Angeles Times. March 14, 2013. September 22, 2021. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2013-mar-14-la-fi-mo-aeg-david-beckerman-20130314-story.html