Wallis Annenberg

Wallis Annenberg, president and chair of the Annenberg Foundation passed away Monday July 28 2025 at her home in Los Angeles from complications related to lung cancer. She was 86 years old. Since assuming chairmanship of the Foundation in 2009, Wallis has overseen the distribution of more than $595 million to over 2,181 organizations. Prior to that, Wallis directed the Los Angeles office of the Foundation in giving nearly half a billion dollars to over 1,000 organizations. Complementing this wide and high impact grantmaking are special projects and initiatives that push the boundaries of traditional philanthropy while serving the Los Angeles community. Wallis is the longest serving trustee at the University of Southern California. She serves on a number of boards including the Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; the California Science Center; the Music Center, Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County; the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Based in Los Angeles, Wallis was mother of four children and five grandchildren.