Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust
The Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California. Its stated direct charitable activity is to support seniors through health and wellness initiatives that enable them to age with independence and dignity.
Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust gave $49.5M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $2.2M), mostly in California. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $49,510,525
- +65.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- +4.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,152,632
- +58.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $36,400
- Total assets
- $411,230,787
- +23.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (6 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 10350 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 369-3160
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Gary and Mary West Health Institute ($36.0M). Together the top 10 received $49.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 54 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 24% to recipients in Washington, DC. The filing also reports shares of 1% for Nebraska and 0% each for Minnesota and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 17 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $4.5M. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 306% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $342K (2022) to $49.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $49.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gary and Mary West Health Institute La Jolla, CA | To Support Operations and Applied Medical Research Initiatives | $36,000,000 |
| Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center Inc Washington, DC | See Statement for Expenditure Responsibility Grant | $12,000,000 |
| Omaha Community Foundation Omaha, NE | To support the trust's continued efforts in funding charitable organizations | $520,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of San Diego Inc San Diego, CA | To Support the Health Advocacy Project | $192,500 |
| Serving Seniors San Diego, CA | To Support Integrated Care Coordination | $130,500 |
| Serving Seniors San Diego, CA | To support operations at the gary and mary west senior wellness center | $105,000 |
| Serving Seniors San Diego, CA | To Support Integrated Care Coordination | $87,000 |
| San Diego Seniors Community Foundation San Diego, CA | To Support the General Operations | $75,000 |
| Serving Seniors San Diego, CA | To support operations at the gary and mary west senior wellness center | $63,000 |
| Interfaith Community Services Inc Escondido, CA | To support senior services in north san Diego county | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $411,230,787 | $131,725,584 | $63,613,371 | $49,510,525 | 23 | $51,042,688 | $33,135,250 | $16,691,959 |
| 2023 | $333,413,300 | $16,909,732 | $33,596,598 | $29,941,850 | 22 | $34,100,152 | $10,144,044 | $15,324,580 |
| 2022 | $328,719,511 | $316,867 | $2,301,036 | $342,300 | 9 | $814,089 | $2,117,856 | $3,421,383 |
| 2021 | $1,000 | $1,000 | — | — | — | — | — | $8 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $16.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust states that its direct charitable activity is supporting seniors through health and wellness initiatives to help them age with independence and dignity. Its 2024 grants included support for medical research, integrated care coordination, senior wellness services, health advocacy, and senior services in North San Diego County.
The Gary and Mary West Health Institute, a 2024 grantee, describes its mission as conducting applied medical and scientific research to lower healthcare costs, improve healthcare delivery, and support successful aging for seniors. Serving Seniors says it provides programs and services to older adults living in poverty, including life-sustaining services in a welcoming and supportive environment. The Legal Aid Society of San Diego describes its mission as advancing justice through legal advocacy, outreach, and education. The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation says it works to increase awareness and action on issues affecting seniors and to increase philanthropy for senior-focused organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the trust reported 23 grants totaling $49,510,525. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $36,000,000, and the median grant was $36,400.
The largest grants included $36,000,000 to the Gary and Mary West Health Institute for operations and applied medical research initiatives, and $12,000,000 to the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center for an expenditure-responsibility grant. Other grants included $520,000 to the Omaha Community Foundation to support the trust’s continued efforts in funding charitable organizations; $192,500 to the Legal Aid Society of San Diego for its Health Advocacy Project; and grants to Serving Seniors of $130,500, $105,000, $87,000, and $63,000 for integrated care coordination and operations at the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Shelley M. Lyford as CEO and chair; Sally Hallak as CFO and treasurer; Timothy Lash as president; Marc Harper, Mary E. West, and Gary L. West as trustees; and Kimberly G. McKinnon as administrative trustee.
Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust is led by Shelley M. Lyford, CEO & Chair since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 3 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Shelley M. Lyford
CEO & Chair
Trustee & Chair → CEO & Chair, 2022
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
$80K (2022) → $348K (2024)
Timothy Lash
President
New on the 2024 filing
15 hrs/week
$192K (2024)
Gary L. West
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Harper
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary E. West
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly G. McKinnon
Administrative Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Hallak
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
15 hrs/week
$206K (2023) → $246K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Tim Lash (2022–2023) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $348K, to Shelley M Lyford (CEO and Chair). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust
How much does Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust give each year?
Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust gave $49.5M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $29.9M across 22 grants.
What is Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $36,400, and its average grant was $2,152,632, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust that year got $25K on average.
Where does Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust give grants?
Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust gives mostly in California: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (9 grants), Escondido, CA (2 grants) and La Mesa, CA (2 grants).
Does Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Gary and Mary West Health Institute ($36,000,000), Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center Inc ($12,000,000) and Omaha Community Foundation ($520,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust?
Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust reported $411.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $16.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust fund?
The trust states that its direct charitable activity is supporting seniors through health and wellness initiatives to help them age with independence and dignity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's EIN?
Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3374164. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gary-and-mary-west-charitable-trust-morg_1a97177d4d3f445fab156482379db4dc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873374164_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gary-and-mary-west-charitable-trust-morg_1a97177d4d3f445fab156482379db4dc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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