Menard Family Foundation
The Menard Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1998 and based in La Jolla, California. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation has been operating for over 25 years with a mission to enrich lives locally and globally through philanthropic support across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.6M
+2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$797K
-5.2% YoY
Grant Count
53
-1.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-3.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Menard Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $793K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations that enhance lives through:
- Medicine and Medical Research – including in-patient medical care and hospital care
- Education – including scholarships and educational initiatives
- Arts and Culture – music and the arts
- Direct Service – assistance to the poor and underserved
- Animal Conservation – biodiversity and wildlife conservation, as well as therapeutic animal programs
- Religion – financial assistance to Roman Catholic and other faith-based organizations, including social service organizations, parishes, schools, and retreat centers
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 55 grants in 2023, with recent examples including:
Ready to take the next step with Menard Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across the United States and Canada, with particular activity in:
- California (including San Diego area)
- Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and Oregon
- Canadian locations including Montreal
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $12,271,436
- Annual Revenue: $999,715
- Annual Expenses: $1,074,343
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Staff: 1 employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,617,362 | $12,271,436 | $12,346,064 |
| Revenue | $1,424,820 | $999,715 | $375,248 |
| Expenses | $1,079,550 | $1,074,343 | $1,051,912 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $883,706 | $919,756 | $869,528 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,256,059 | $838,225 | $217,862 |
| Distributable Amount | $792,529 | $770,855 | $823,356 |
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
249 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Scripps Health Foundation ($80,675), Father Joe's Villages ($63,000), Nativity Prep Academy ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A FAITH THAT DOES JUSTICE BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| ADVANCING STUDENTS FORWARD SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ARTS COUNCIL OF SANTA CRUZ SANTA CRUZ, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BIRTHLINE OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY INC SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $16,500 |
| BORDERLINKS TUCSON, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,000 |
| CASA CORNELIA LAW CENTER SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $17,500 |
| CASA DE LOS POBRES AC SAN YSIDRO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $21,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL UNION - BERNARDIN CENTER CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Barbara Menard – Trustee (compensation: $75,000 for 14 hours of work)
- Marcel Menard – Trustee (compensation: $30,000 for 5 hours of work)
- Don Harrington – Secretary
- Marlene Miller – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA MENARD | TRUSTEE | 26 | $75,000 |
| DON HARRINGTON | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| MARCEL MENARD | TRUSTEE | 5 | $30,000 |
| MARLENE MILLER | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant grants beyond its annual grantmaking, including:
$5 million gift to the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center at Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law
Drug Enforcement and Policy Center receives $5M gift from the Menard family$5.5 million gift to North Dakota State University
Multi-million dollar gift to the Challey Institute at North Dakota State University to support a national speaker series
Menard family multi-million-dollar gift to the Challey Institute supportsThe foundation actively engages with local organizations and hosted attendance at the 18th Annual La Mancha Awards presented by Casa Cornelia Law Center in October 2025. The foundation features partner organizations through its website, including Birthline of San Diego.
Midland Area Community Foundation announces first quarter awardsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Menard Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations that enhance lives through: • **Medicine and Medical Research** – including in-patient medical care and hospital care • **Education** – including scholarships and educational initiatives • **Arts and Culture** – music and the arts • **Direct Service** – assistance to the poor and underserved • **Animal Conservation** – biodiversity and wildlife conservation, as well as therapeutic animal programs • **Religion** – financial assistance to Roman Catholic and o…
How do I apply for a grant from Menard Family Foundation?
The foundation made 55 grants in 2023, with recent examples including: • Nativity Prep Academy of San Diego: $32,500 (scholarships) • Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego: $20,000 (general support) • Lambs Players Theatre: $18,000 (general support) The foundation provides both general support and project-specific funding. Grant recipients have included organizations such as Scripps Health Foundation and Casa Cornelia Law Center.
Where does Menard Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across the United States and Canada, with particular activity in: • California (including San Diego area) • Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and Oregon • Canadian locations including Montreal
What size grants does Menard Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Menard Family Foundation awarded 53 grants totaling $797K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Menard Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Menard Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $793K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Menard Family Foundation's EIN?
Menard Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0834790. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Menard Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Menard Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Menard Family Foundation to a real strategy.