McBETH FOUNDATION
The McBeth Foundation Trust is a private foundation established in 1989 in California and based in Irvine, CA. The foundation was created in memory of Ira McBeth by his daughter, Barbara McBeth Woodruff (1924–2007), an artist and philanthropist. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and distributes grants to qualified charitable organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.8M
+3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+13.0% YoY
Grant Count
35
+6.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$64K
+6.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, McBETH FOUNDATION reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's vision is to empower ideas that can make a difference by creating opportunities through funding for individuals and groups to launch meaningful programs. The foundation emphasizes measurable outcomes and impact-driven projects.
Primary funding areas include:
- Animal welfare and marine conservation
- Environmental protection and land conservation
- The arts and performing arts for special needs
- Children's programs and education
- Health sciences and emergency care
- Computer training and technology education
- Human services
- Communications and visual arts
Grantmaking
Average Grant
amounts are approximately $48,000–$56,000
Review Cycle
June 1st
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Southern California, with a particular emphasis on California-based initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $16,799,088
- Total Revenue: $3,541,431
- Total Expenses: $2,950,181
- Net Income: $591,250
- Total Liabilities: $12,000
Historical Giving:
- Since 2016, the foundation has awarded 131 individual grants totaling $6,244,474
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,799,088 | $16,192,602 | $17,694,524 |
| Revenue | $3,541,431 | $1,102,278 | $1,692,566 |
| Expenses | $2,950,181 | $2,604,200 | $2,918,463 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,447,574 | $2,193,736 | $2,416,050 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,038,824 | $691,752 | $1,190,091 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,207,431 | $1,844,263 | $2,033,786 |
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
166 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from McBETH FOUNDATION
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Teri Inc ($150,000), Pacific Marine Mammal Center ($113,500), University of Cal - Davis ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF CAL - DAVIS DAVIS, CA | RESEARCH EQUINE HEALTH | $100,000 |
| ZOOLOLOGICAL SOCIETY SD SAN DIEGO, CA | ANIMAL CARE AND CONSERVATION | $75,000 |
| SOUTH COAST SYMPHONY SANTA ANA, CA | FAMILY CONCERT PLAN, MARKETING, YOUNG STARS CONCERT. | $85,000 |
| LAGUNA ART MUSEUM LAGUNA BEACH, CA | ART EDUCATION & PROGRAMS | $70,000 |
| LAGUNA COLLEGE OF ART LAGUNA BEACH, CA | VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS STUDIOS | $82,700 |
| PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER LAGUNA BEACH, CA | FOOD, MEDICATION, EMERGENCY CARE | $113,500 |
| BEYOND BLINDNESS SANTA ANA, CA | EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| SANTA ANA ZOO SANTA ANA, CA | REMOVE AND REPLACE WATER FEATURE | $75,000 |
| UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY OF SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | MOBIL TOY AND SOFTWARE LIBRARY, PROJECT COLLEGE | $100,000 |
| NEW VISTA SCHOOL LAGUNA HILLS, CA | COMPUTER TRAINING FOR AUTISTIC STUDENTS | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustee:
- Martin DeKarver
Grant Committee Members:
- Tim Metcalf
- Amy Holmes
- Norm Timmins
- Skye Woods
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin L DeKarver | Trustee | 5 | $100,000 |
| Norm Timmons | Board Member | 2 | $50,000 |
| Skye Woods | Board Member | 2 | $50,000 |
| Tim Metcalf | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Amy Leite | Board Member | 3 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 15375 Nantes Circle, Irvine, CA 92604-2930
Phone: 949-551-3172
Website: mcbethfoundation.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What does McBETH FOUNDATION fund?
The foundation's vision is to empower ideas that can make a difference by creating opportunities through funding for individuals and groups to launch meaningful programs. The foundation emphasizes measurable outcomes and impact-driven projects. Primary funding areas include: • Animal welfare and marine conservation • Environmental protection and land conservation • The arts and performing arts for special needs • Children's programs and education • Health sciences and emergency care • Computer …
How do I apply for a grant from McBETH FOUNDATION?
**Grant Activity:** • In fiscal year 2024, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $2,225,200 • Typical grant awards range from $25,000 to $150,000 • Average grant amounts are approximately $48,000–$56,000 **Recent Grants (Fiscal Year 2024):** • Teri: $150,000 (Performing Arts for Special Needs) • Pacific Marine Mammal Center: $113,500 (Food, Medication, Emergency Care) **Application Process:** • Annual application deadline: June 1st • Grant awards announced: September • Decision timeline: Appro…
Where does McBETH FOUNDATION make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Southern California, with a particular emphasis on California-based initiatives.
What size grants does McBETH FOUNDATION award?
In 2024, McBETH FOUNDATION awarded 35 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $64K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is McBETH FOUNDATION required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, McBETH FOUNDATION reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is McBETH FOUNDATION's EIN?
McBETH FOUNDATION's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0399736. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in McBETH 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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