Gary and Mary West Foundation
The Gary and Mary West Foundation is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California, focused on addressing the needs of vulnerable seniors and advancing successful aging. The foundation’s 2022 filing is marked as its final return and describes transfers upon dissolution to the Gary & Mary West Charitable Trust; it therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Gary and Mary West Foundation at a glance
In short: Gary and Mary West Foundation gave $9.0M across 39 grants in 2022 (avg $232K), mostly in District of Columbia. 12% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $9,036,679
- -5.2% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 39
- -22.0% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $231,710
- +21.5% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (3 of 25, 2022)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (66% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gary and Mary West Foundation
- 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. Its 2022 filing is marked as its final return.
- 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 Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center Inc ($6.0M). Together the top 10 received $8.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
153 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 153 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, D.C.; 24% to California; and 9% to Nebraska. The filing also lists grant-dollar shares of 0% for Colorado and Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Gary and Mary West Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 3 of 25 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $408K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 80% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 285% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2022). 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 2020 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $9.0M (2022) to $9.6M (2020). In 2022 it made 39 grants totaling $9.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center Inc Washington, DC | To support and develop innovative healthcare delivery models and alternative payment models to improve care and access for seniors. | $5,998,879 |
| Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center Inc San Diego, CA | To provide low-income seniors with oral healthcare through an integrated, community-based model of care. | $900,000 |
| Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center Inc San Diego, CA | To provide oral healthcare for pace and community seniors in an integrated, community-based model of care at the san marcos outpatient dental clinic. | $306,000 |
| Omaha Community Foundation Omaha, NE | To support the foundation's continued efforts in funding charitable organizations. | $250,000 |
| Omaha Community Foundation Omaha, NE | To support the foundation's continued efforts in funding charitable organizations. | $250,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of San Diego Inc San Diego, CA | To Support the Health Advocacy Project. | $192,500 |
| The Scan Foundation Long Beach, CA | To support the California master plan for aging project. | $150,000 |
| Serving Seniors San Diego, CA | To support core operations - gary & mary west senior wellness center | $125,000 |
| Serving Seniors San Diego, CA | To Support Integrated Care Coordination. | $112,500 |
| Project Houseworks Omaha, NE | To Support Home Repairs for Seniors. | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The most recent filing on record is for 2022; no later filing is reported.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | $3,327,973 | $9,049,576 | $9,036,679 | 39 | $13,121,009 | $2,525,590 | $4,609,736 |
| 2021 | $155,029,230 | $33,544,767 | $11,383,526 | $9,534,086 | 50 | $11,599,458 | $27,616,145 | $6,477,125 |
| 2020 | $127,685,246 | $-5,762,075 | $13,164,267 | $9,638,273 | 64 | — | $4,564,875 | $6,117,696 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gary and Mary West Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2022 — 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 foundation’s website says its grantmaking supports healthcare research and advancements, models of care for seniors, and resources that improve care for seniors and their families. Its 2022 filing describes direct charitable activity that included advocacy for older adults’ healthcare interests and efforts to identify ways to improve healthcare for seniors. The filing also describes a program-related investment in Civica, a nonprofit organization.
Among its 2022 grantees, the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center said its mission is to provide affordable, high-quality oral healthcare, education, clinical care, and wellness services to seniors in need. Serving Seniors described its mission as providing impactful programs and services to older adults living in poverty. The Legal Aid Society of San Diego said it advances justice through legal advocacy, outreach, and education.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation reported 39 grants totaling $9,036,679. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $5,998,879, with a median of $25,000. The largest award was $5,998,879 to the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center to support development of healthcare delivery and alternative payment models intended to improve care and access for seniors. Other awards included $900,000 and $306,000 to the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center; $250,000 each to the Omaha Community Foundation in two grants; $192,500 to the Legal Aid Society of San Diego; and $150,000 to The SCAN Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Gary L. West and Mary E. West as directors; Shelley Lyford as president, CEO, and director; Marc Harper as director and secretary; Timothy Lash as chief strategy officer; Dr. Zia Agha as chief medical officer; and Sally Hallak as chief financial officer and treasurer.
Gary and Mary West Foundation is led by Shelley Lyford, President, CEO & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 7 officers listed in 2022 are compensated.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Shelley Lyford
President, CEO & Director
President, CEO & Treasurer → President & CEO, 2021
President & CEO → President, CEO & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$299K (2020) → $230K (2022)
Gary L. West
Director
Co-Chairman → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Harper
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary E. West
Director
Co-Chairman → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zia Agha
Chief Medical Officer
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$51K (2020) → $41K (2022)
Timothy Lash
Cso
New on the 2022 filing
20 hrs/week
$131K (2022)
Sally Hallak
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Tim Lash (2020–2021) — Cso
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $230K, to Shelley Lyford (President, CEO & Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Gary and Mary West Foundation
How much does Gary and Mary West Foundation give each year?
Gary and Mary West Foundation gave $9.0M across 39 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $9.5M across 50 grants.
What is Gary and Mary West Foundation's typical grant size?
Gary and Mary West Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $25,000, and its average grant was $231,710, across 39 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gary and Mary West Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Gary and Mary West Foundation give grants?
Gary and Mary West Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (24%) and Nebraska (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (14 grants), San Diego, CA (12 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Long Beach, CA (2 grants).
Does Gary and Mary West Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of Gary and Mary West Foundation's 2022 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 39) were for general or operating support, per its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gary and Mary West Foundation's largest grantees?
Gary and Mary West Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center Inc ($5,998,879), Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center Inc ($1,206,000 across 2 grants) and Omaha Community Foundation ($521,500 across 5 grants), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
What does Gary and Mary West Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website says its grantmaking supports healthcare research and advancements, models of care for seniors, and resources that improve care for seniors and their families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gary and Mary West Foundation?
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 ↑
How much is Gary and Mary West Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, Gary and Mary West Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gary and Mary West Foundation's EIN?
Gary and Mary West Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0793015. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Does Gary and Mary West Foundation 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
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
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