Gary and Mary West Foundation
The Gary and Mary West Foundation is a private family foundation based in La Jolla, California, dedicated to addressing the needs of vulnerable seniors in America. As one of only a handful of nonprofit foundations in the U.S. solely focused on aging, the foundation represents a significant commitment to improving the lives of older adults through strategic philanthropy and collaborative initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$9.0M
-5.2% YoY
Grant Count
39
-22.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$232K
+21.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to enable seniors to successfully age in place, with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life, and independence.
Primary funding areas include:
- Geriatric Emergency Care — Supporting the development and accreditation of geriatric emergency departments across the country
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) — Funding comprehensive community-based care programs that help seniors avoid nursing home placement
- Palliative Care Research — Supporting academic research to advance palliative care approaches
- Healthcare Innovation — Funding solutions to improve community health and access to affordable healthcare
- Legal Services for Seniors — Supporting organizations providing free legal services to low-income older adults
- Rehabilitation and Wellness Programs — Funding programs that enhance quality of life for individuals with disabilities
Grantmaking
The foundation has distributed over 750 grants and collaborations totaling more than $600 million in support of successful aging initiatives.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in California, Nebraska, and Vermont, with a national scope for aging-focused programs and research.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $0 (as of 2022 filing)
- Total Giving (2022): $9,036,679
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since December 1995
- EIN: 47-0793015
| Metric | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2022
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2022 grants, the largest include Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center Inc ($5,998,879), Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center Inc ($900,000), Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center Inc ($306,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 211 SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY INFORMATION EXCHANGE CALIFORNIA FORUM 2022. | $2,500 |
| APPLE TREE DENTAL MOUNDS VIEW, MN | TO SUPPORT THE HEALTHY AGING PROJECT. | $16,800 |
| CHALLENGE CENTER LA MESA, CA | AGING WITH INDEPENDENCE AND DIGNITY. | $35,750 |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY OMAHA, NE | TO SUPPORT GERIATRIC COLLABORATIVE CARE PROJECT. | $50,000 |
| 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 |
| GIFFORD MEDICAL CENTER INC RANDOLPH, VT | TO SUPPORT THE LAST MILE EVENT 2022. | $12,500 |
| GRANTMAKERS IN AGING ARLINGTON, VA | TO SUPPORT GRANTMAKERS IN AGING GENERAL OPERATIONS. | $8,000 |
| GRANTMAKERS IN HEALTH WASHINGTON, DC | PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT PALLIATIVE, SERIOUS ILLNESS AND END OF LIFE CARE. | $6,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gary West — Founder & Trustee
- Shelley Lyford — President and CEO
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
From 2022 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY L WEST | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARY E WEST | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SHELLEY LYFORD | PRESIDENT, CEO & DIRECTOR | 20 | $229,562 |
| MARC HARPER | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| TIMOTHY LASH | CSO | 20 | $130,565 |
| DR ZIA AGHA | CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER | 8 | $40,744 |
| SALLY HALLAK | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & TREASURER | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation received the Generations United Leadership Award for outstanding support of intergenerational programs, recognizing its commitment to advancing successful aging in America.
The Gary and Mary West Foundation Receives Generations United ...The foundation operates as part of West Health, a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West. West Health also includes the Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gary and Mary West Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to enable seniors to successfully age in place, with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life, and independence. Primary funding areas include: • **Geriatric Emergency Care** — Supporting the development and accreditation of geriatric emergency departments across the country • **Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)** — Funding comprehensive community-based care programs tha…
How do I apply for a grant from Gary and Mary West Foundation?
The foundation has distributed over 750 grants and collaborations totaling more than $600 million in support of successful aging initiatives. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $150 to $5,998,879 • Recent annual giving: $9,036,679 (2022) • The foundation has impacted 60 million+ U.S. seniors through its grantmaking **Recent Grant Activity:** • Awarded $11.8 million in support to launch geriatric emergency departments • Provided seed grants to five academic researchers to advance …
Where does Gary and Mary West Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in California, Nebraska, and Vermont, with a national scope for aging-focused programs and research.
What size grants does Gary and Mary West Foundation award?
In 2022, Gary and Mary West Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $9.0M — an average of about $232K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gary and Mary West Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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