Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust
The Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California, established in 2006 by philanthropists Gary and Mary West. The foundation is one of only a handful of private foundations in the United States solely focused on addressing the needs of vulnerable seniors. The trust operates as part of West Health, a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations dedicated to lowering healthcare costs and enabling seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services.
Key facts about Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust
- EIN
- 87-3374164
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $49,510,525
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- Average grant
- $2,152,632
- Median grant
- $36,400
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (6 of 17, 2024)
- Total assets
- $411,230,787
- Primary geography
- California (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- Invitation-only. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust's 23 itemized 2024 grants were California (74%) and 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). 13% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
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. 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust
- How to evaluate Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$411.2M
+23.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$49.5M
+65.4% YoY
Grant Count
23
+4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.2M
+58.2% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on improving aging and lowering the cost of healthcare in America. The trust awards outcomes-based grants designed to create and advance innovative, integrated, and cost-effective models of care that meet the needs of older adults who aspire to age in place in their communities.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Healthcare and social support services for vulnerable seniors living at or below the federal poverty level
- Geriatric emergency care
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- Nursing home alternatives and senior care innovations
- Human services and poverty alleviation
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $10,000 to $22 million
Invitation Only
** Invitation-only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Ready to take the next step with Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a national focus with particular emphasis on San Diego, California and Omaha, Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 23 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $411,230,787
Total Annual Giving: $49,511,228 (most recent filing)
Annual Giving (2023): $29.9 million
Total Giving Since 2006: Over $550 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $411,230,787 | $333,413,300 | $328,719,511 |
| Revenue | $131,725,584 | $16,909,732 | $316,867 |
| Expenses | $63,613,371 | $33,596,598 | $2,301,036 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $51,042,688 | $34,100,152 | $814,089 |
| Net Investment Income | $33,135,250 | $10,144,044 | $2,117,856 |
| Distributable Amount | $16,691,959 | $15,324,580 | $3,421,383 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Gary and Mary West Health Institute ($36,000,000), Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center Inc ($12,000,000), Omaha Community Foundation ($520,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Shelley Lyford — Chief Executive Officer
Gary West — Founder & Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelley M Lyford | CEO and Chair | 20 | $348,010 |
| Sally Hallak | CFO & Treasurer | 15 | $246,158 |
| Timothy Lash | President | 15 | $191,709 |
| Marc Harper | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Mary E West | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Gary L West | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Kimberly G McKinnon | Administrative Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported major initiatives including:
**Geriatric Emergency Care:** Supporting the development of accredited geriatric emergency departments across the United States, with 460+ such departments currently in operation
$11.8 Million in Support from Gary and Mary West to Launch Geriatric Emergency**PACE Programs:** Supporting Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly initiatives, with 94% of PACE participants avoiding nursing home placement
**Collaborative Partnerships:** Working with organizations including Civica Rx, Challenge Center, Interfaith Community Services, and the Legal Aid Society of San Diego
The foundation continues to address the critical demographic shift as baby boomers turn 65 at the rate of 10,000 per day, with projections that 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2030.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust fund?
The foundation's mission centers on improving aging and lowering the cost of healthcare in America. The trust awards outcomes-based grants designed to create and advance innovative, integrated, and cost-effective models of care that meet the needs of older adults who aspire to age in place in their communities. Primary funding focus areas include: • Healthcare and social support services for vulnerable seniors living at or below the federal poverty level • Geriatric emergency care • Program of …
How do I apply for a grant from Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust?
Invitation-only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust make grants?
The foundation maintains a national focus with particular emphasis on San Diego, California and Omaha, Nebraska.
What size grants does Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust awarded 23 grants totaling $49.5M — an average of about $2.2M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $16.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.