McDonald-Wright Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Palm Springs, CA EIN: 95-4530438

McDonald-Wright Foundation is a private foundation, based in Palm Springs, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $289K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $53K. Net investment income was $73K.

McDonald-Wright Foundation at a glance

In short: McDonald-Wright Foundation gave $53K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $53K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$53,000
+134.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
1
-66.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$53,000
+603.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$53,000
Total assets
$289,021
+7.6% vs 2024
Primary geography
New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who McDonald-Wright Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2025

Lambda Legal Defense and Education: $53KLambda Legal Defense andEducation$53K

The largest 2025 recipient was Lambda Legal Defense and Education ($53K).

Grant Size Distribution

8 grants across all recorded years

7<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 8 (88%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

Cities

Palm SpringsLos AngelesNew YorkFort LauderdaleVail

How McDonald-Wright Foundation gives

  • In 2025 it paid out 154% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K1 grant2020 2 grants2021 0 grants2022 2 grants2023 3 grants2024 1 grant2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2023) to $54K (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $53K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Lambda Legal Defense and Education New York, NYCivil Rights Litigation$53,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with McDonald-Wright Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$289,021$81,519$61,172$53,0001$53,000$73,347$34,308
2024$268,674$26,803$30,801$22,6003$22,600$18,602$30,572
2023$272,672$-1,196$8,801$2,0002$2,000$147$23,084
2022$282,669$19,644$8,049———$13,492$21,566
2021$271,162$76,017$63,347$54,1742$54,174$67,062$24,095
2020$258,492$19,253$28,550$25,0001—$15,708$19,925

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, McDonald-Wright Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

McDonald-Wright Foundation is led by John McDonald, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • John McDonald

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Wright

    Secretary

    Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about McDonald-Wright Foundation

How much does McDonald-Wright Foundation give each year?

McDonald-Wright Foundation gave $53K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $23K across 3 grants.

How large is McDonald-Wright Foundation?

McDonald-Wright Foundation reported $289K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $53K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $34K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

Where does McDonald-Wright Foundation operate?

McDonald-Wright Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Florida, New York.

What is McDonald-Wright Foundation's EIN?

McDonald-Wright Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4530438. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 2, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in McDonald-Wright Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California

Collingwood Foundation

Los Angeles, CA

The Collingwood Foundation’s recent reported support was unrestricted operating funding for the Center for Responsive Politics, with a $5,000 grant in 2025; it previously made 40–41 grants totaling about $1.35 million in 2023 and 2024. Its reported 2025 grant went to a Washington, DC organization, and the foundation gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$17.6M

Grants

1

Total Given

$5K

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

Los Angeles, CA

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation funds programs in education, health care, homelessness and social justice, primarily serving communities in Los Angeles. In 2024, grants ranged from $7,600 to $2 million, with a median of $30,000; it accepts written grant applications twice a year.

Recreation & Sports

Assets

$4.1M

Grants

54

Total Given

$4.2M

The Deutsch Foundation

Santa Monica, CA

The Deutsch Foundation supports nonprofit work benefiting children, youth, and families in Los Angeles County, with focus areas in education, humanitarian services, and capacity building. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $1 million, with a median of $100,000. It funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$189.4M

Grants

73

Total Given

$7.7M

Wurwand Foundation

Encino, CA

The Wurwand Foundation supports Los Angeles entrepreneurs, practical skills training for living-wage careers, young people—especially foster and LGBTQ youth—and organizations addressing local problems. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $1.2 million, with a median of $4,025; Skill Set Training grants may be up to $75,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and generally awards grants by invitation, except for its annual grants challenge.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$68.3M

Grants

66

Total Given

$2.5M

The Audrey Irmas Foundation for Social Justice

Los Angeles, CA

In 2024, the foundation funded scholarships, housing, legal services, cancer care, youth development, and LGBTQ, gender, and reproductive justice, with most grants going to California organizations. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $295,985, with a median of $25,000. It accepts a letter as application material and has no stated deadline.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$39.5M

Grants

36

Total Given

$2.2M

Grace and Li Yu Family Foundation

Los Angeles, CA

The foundation supports a varied range of charitable organizations, including cultural, health, humanitarian, educational, and religious causes, with nearly all 2025 funding going to California. Its 20 grants ranged from $100 to $187,500, with a median grant of $10,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.

Assets

$7.4M

Grants

20

Total Given

$619K

More similar funders

More Funders in California

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from McDonald-Wright Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

McDonald-Wright Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?