Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation
The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1959 and based in Beverly Hills, California. The foundation supports public charities across healthcare, education, social services, animal welfare, arts & culture, and environmental protection, with a particular emphasis on organizations serving the Los Angeles community and beyond.
Key facts about Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation
- EIN
- 95-6050036
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,237,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- Average grant
- $42,655
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (12 of 29, 2025)
- Total assets
- $21,837,493
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Organizations must submit a formal grant request that includes:. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; 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 Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation's 29 itemized 2025 grants were California (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (13 grants), Los Angeles, CA (4 grants), Montecito, CA (2 grants) and Santa Monica, CA (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 29 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $46K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 147% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 142% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). 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 Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation
- How to evaluate Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation 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 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.8M
+0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+91.5% YoY
Grant Count
29
+52.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
+25.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's guiding principle is reflected in the James Baldwin quote: "We are responsible for the world in which we find ourselves, if only because we are the only sentient force which can change it."
The foundation primarily focuses on:
- Healthcare — Medical services, hospitals, cancer research, and specialized medical initiatives
- Education — Public education support, scholarships, and research universities
- Social Services — Programs supporting children, families, and therapeutic services
- Animal Welfare — Animal rescue and disaster response programs
- Arts & Culture — Cultural preservation and community arts organizations
- Environment — Environmental protection initiatives
The foundation emphasizes "extreme effectiveness" and "pronounced impact on the communities they serve" as core selection criteria for grantmaking.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
Average Grant
amount: $34,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations working in California, with a specific focus on the Los Angeles community. Current grantmaking is limited to organizations that either work entirely in California or operate programs within the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 29 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending May 2024:
- Total Assets: $21.6–$21.8 million
- Total Revenue: $1.7 million
- Total Expenses: $1.16 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Number of Employees: 1
Tax Status:
- Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since July 1966
- EIN: 95-6050036
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,837,493 | $21,640,701 | $21,100,746 |
| Revenue | $1,974,535 | $1,704,065 | $1,140,768 |
| Expenses | $1,777,744 | $1,164,110 | $997,367 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,634,865 | $1,020,035 | $875,533 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,850,156 | $1,505,709 | $1,039,073 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,151,394 | $1,067,178 | $1,040,408 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Santa Barbara Humane ($250,000), CASA Del Herrero ($200,000), Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SANTA BARBARA HUMANE Santa Barbara, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $250,000 |
| CASA DEL HERRERO Montecito, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $200,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY Long Beach, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| COTTAGE HEALTH Santa Barbara, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| ST JOHN'S CANCER INSTITUTE Santa Monica, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Los Angeles, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| BEVERLY HILLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION Beverly Hills, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $35,000 |
| SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FC Los Angeles, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $35,000 |
| THE COLLEAGUES Santa Monica, CA | CHARITABLE-UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
James Patrick McAlister — President and Trustee (20 hours per week, $24,800 compensation)
Other Trustees:
- Lauren McAlister
- Mari McAlister
- Megan McAlister
- Michael McAlister
- Sean McAlister
- Christian J. Vanderwall
The foundation is managed as a family-run organization with multiple McAlister family members serving as trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Patrick McAlister | President/Trustee | 20 | $24,000 |
| Lauren McAlister | Trustee | 3 | $24,000 |
| Mari McAlister | Trustee | 3 | $24,000 |
| Megan McAlister | Trustee | 3 | $24,000 |
| Michael McAlister | Trustee | 3 | $24,000 |
| Sean McAlister | Trustee | 3 | $24,000 |
| Christian J Vanderwall | Trustee | 3 | $24,000 |
Contact Information
- Website: mcalisterfoundation.org
- Phone: 310-288-4391
- Email: McAlisterFoundation@gmail.com
- Address: 499 North Canon Drive, Suite 211, Beverly Hills, CA 90210-1761
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's guiding principle is reflected in the James Baldwin quote: "We are responsible for the world in which we find ourselves, if only because we are the only sentient force which can change it." The foundation primarily focuses on: • **Healthcare** — Medical services, hospitals, cancer research, and specialized medical initiatives • **Education** — Public education support, scholarships, and research universities • **Social Services** — Programs supporting children, families, and th…
How do I apply for a grant from Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation?
Organizations must submit a formal grant request that includes:. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations working in California, with a specific focus on the Los Angeles community. Current grantmaking is limited to organizations that either work entirely in California or operate programs within the state.
What size grants does Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation award?
In 2025, Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6050036. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.