The Rudolph J. and Daphne A. Munzer Foundation (Munzer Foundation) is a left-of-center grantmaking organization. The Munzer Foundation primarily makes grants to organizations that support social programs for children and the poor, but it has also made contributions to several left-of-center organizations on issues related to education, health care, and immigration. ¹

History

The Munzer Foundation was created in 1996 by Rudolph and Daphne Munzer. ² Rudolph Munzer was the president and chairman of Petrolane, Inc., a liquid petroleum gas company. ³ Rudolph Munzer passed away in 2000, and Daphne Munzer passed away in 2015. Today, their children, Daniel Munzer and Anne Bourne, manage the Munzer Foundation, along with some of their grandchildren. ⁴

Finances

In 2019, the Munzer Foundation received $2.2 million in contributions, $369,606 in dividends, and $1.4 million from the sale of stock, with revenue totaling just under $4 million. ⁶ In 2019, the Munzer Foundation incurred nearly $5.5 million in expenses ⁷ and reported over $18.5 million in net assets. ⁸

Grantmaking

While most of the Munzer Foundation’s spending went to charitable organizations that support social service programs, it also made several contributions to left-of-center organizations focused on education, immigration, and health care.

Education

While some of the organizations to which the Munzer Foundation contributes provide community services, such as daycare and after-school programs, other organizations, such as the California Conference for Equity and Justice (CCEJ), promote critical race theory-inspired education policies which teach ethnic minority students that they suffer from alleged “inequities.” CCEJ states that it provides “young people [with] a safe place to talk about culture and conflict,” ⁹ and that these programs offer students “knowledge of inequities in their families, schools and communities.” ¹⁰

In 2021, the Munzer Foundation contributed to several left-of-center education-focused organizations, including $50,000 to the California Conference for Equality and Justice. The foundation also contributed $35,000 to Khmer Girls in Action, an organization which is part of the left-wing “Check the Sherriff” coalition. The coalition seeks to force Los Angeles County Sherriff Alex Villanueva (D) to resign and calls on the California Attorney General’s Office to investigate the department. ^{11 12}

Immigration and Family Services

The Munzer Foundation has contributed to several organizations which support left-of-center immigration policy, including organizations which seek to stop deportation proceedings against illegal immigrants, such as the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition. ¹³

In 2021, the foundation contributed $27,000 to the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition and $63,000 to the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, which focuses on providing pro bono legal services to the poor, including illegal immigrants. ¹⁴

Healthcare

The Munzer Foundation supports many organizations which provide health care services to low-income people and children. However, the foundation has also supported left-of-center organizations that provide and advocate in support of abortions. ¹⁵ In 2021, the Munzer Foundation contributed $25,000 to Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles, which advocates for taxpayer-funded family planning and abortion services. ¹⁶

Leadership

Zayda Garcia is the executive director of the Munzer Foundation. ¹⁷ Before joining the foundation, she was the CEO of Kids in Sports, ¹⁸ a business that provides sports programs for children between ages 1 and 12. ¹⁹

1. “Planned Parenthood’s Taxpayer Funding” House Committee on Oversight and Reform. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-114hhrg26029/html/CHRG-114hhrg26029.htm
2. “The Munzer Foundation” Rudolph J. & Daphne A. Munzer Foundation. https://munzerfdn.org/about/family-history/
3. Smith, William D. “The Different Gas” New York Times. July 21, 1974. Accessed August 22, 2021.   https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1974/07/21/93278621.html?pageNumber=127
4. “The Munzer Foundation” Rudolph J. & Daphne A. Munzer Foundation. https://munzerfdn.org/about/family-history/
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Rudolph J. & Daphne A. Munzer Foundation. Part I, lines 1-12. 2019. ⁵ Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Rudolph J. & Daphne A. Munzer Foundation. Part I, lines 1-12. 2019.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Rudolph J. & Daphne A. Munzer Foundation. Part I, line 27. 2019.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Rudolph J. & Daphne A. Munzer Foundation. Part II, line 30. 2019.
9. “About Us” California Conference for Equity and Justice. https://www.cacej.org/about-us/
10. “Building Bridges for Youth” California Conference for Equity and Justice. https://www.cacej.org/cause/building-bridges/
11. “About.” Check the Sherriff. Accessed August 26, 2021. https://www.checkthesheriff.com/about
12. “Grants Awarded – EDUCATION” California Conference for Equity and Justice. https://munzerfdn.org/grants-awarded/grants-awarded-in-2021/
13. “Deportation Defense” Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition. https://www.lbirc.org/sanctuarylb
14. “Grants Awarded – Family Support” California Conference for Equity and Justice. https://munzerfdn.org/grants-awarded/grants-awarded-in-2021/
15. “Planned Parenthood’s Taxpayer Funding” House Committee on Oversight and Reform. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-114hhrg26029/html/CHRG-114hhrg26029.htm
16. “Planned Parenthood’s Taxpayer Funding” House Committee on Oversight and Reform. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-114hhrg26029/html/CHRG-114hhrg26029.htm
17. “Zayda L. Garcia” Rudolph J. & Daphne A. Munzer Foundation. https://munzerfdn.org/about/foundation-leadership/
18. “Zayda L. Garcia” Rudolph J. & Daphne A. Munzer Foundation. https://munzerfdn.org/about/foundation-leadership/
19. “About” Kids in Sports. https://kidsinsports.com/about_us.html