Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust

SOUTH PASADENA, CA EIN: 94-2450149

The Neil & Amelia McDaniel Charitable Trust is a private family foundation established in 1977 and based in South Pasadena, California. Operating with a low profile, the trust does not maintain a website or employ formal staff. It functions as an invite-only funder that provides philanthropic support across multiple issue areas, with a primary emphasis on education.

Financial Overview

From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.3M

+463.1% YoY

Grant Count

65

-12.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$35K

+541.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $467K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The trust's primary giving focus is education, though it supports a diverse range of charitable activities including:

  • Arts and culture
  • Education (K-12, higher education, and adult education)
  • Health and diseases
  • Religion, particularly Christianity
  • Human services
  • Economic opportunity

The trust does not maintain a formal application program and keeps minimal public visibility regarding its specific funding priorities within these areas.

Grantmaking

The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is conducted on an invite-only basis. While the trust does not run a formal application program, contact information is available for inquiries.

Grant Range

$5,000

Average Grant

$138

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The trust gives primarily in California, though it also supports organizations in New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and other states across the United States.

Grant Distribution by State

17states
+9 more states

Cities

AlamoAlbert LeaAtlantaBear ValleyBerkeleyBerkerleyBethesdaBethsdaBooneBostonBrooklynCambridgeChicagoClarksburgColorado SpringsConcordDanvilleDuncan MillsDuncans MillsEtna

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

  • Total assets: Approximately $9.35 million
  • Total annual giving: $2.3 million (2023)
  • Annual expenses: Approximately $2.44 million
  • Annual revenue: $724,257
  • EIN: 94-2450149
  • Ruling year: 1978
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$672K$1M$2M$3M2020202120222023
Metric202320222021
Total Assets$9,354,000$12,038,454
Revenue$724,257$130,601$837,735
Expenses$2,443,337$560,501$533,656
Qualifying Distributions$2,401,949$520,820$480,130
Net Investment Income$682,869$136,071$784,209
Distributable Amount$466,908$494,159$549,484

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$570K$1M$2M$2M74 grants202084 grants202174 grants202265 grants2023

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2023

FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHA…$1.9MNEXT STEP LEARNING CENTER$45KFOOD BANK OF CONTRA COST…$30KMONTHLY MIRACLES$26KCANTARE CON VIVO$15KCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TH…$10KGRID ALTERNATIVES$10KHUMANAS INC$10KKQED INC$10KMUSIC FROM BEAR VALLEY$10K

Grant Size Distribution

200 grants across all recorded years

199<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($1,874,614), Next Step Learning Center ($45,000), Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano ($30,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OAKLAND, CAGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$3,000
AMERICAN RED CROSS BOONE, IAHAWAII WILDFIRES$250
BAY AREA CRISIS NURSERY CONCORD, CAGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$1,000
BRADY CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$3,000
BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION CLARKSBURG, MDALZHEIMERS DISEASE RESEARCH$2,000
CAMP FRIENDSHIP BROOKLYN, NYGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$1,000
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA WALNUT CREEK, CAGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$1,000
CANTARE CON VIVO OAKLAND, CAGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$15,000
CARE USA ATLANTA, GAGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$3,000
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF SANTA ROSA SANTA ROSA, CAYOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The trust is managed by a board of directors serving without compensation:

  • Joanne Dale – President
  • Marianne Gagen – Vice President
  • William Gagen Jr. – Treasurer
  • Terry Dale – Secretary
  • Daniel Gagen – Board Member
  • Andrew Hahn – Board Member

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

From 2023 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
TERRY DALESECRETARY2
WILLIAM GAGEN JRTREASURER2
MARIANNE GAGENVICE PRESIDENT2
JOANNE DALEPRESIDENT2
DANIEL GAGENBOARD MEMBER2
ANDREW HAHNBOARD MEMBER2

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2023

The trust filed its most recent IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2023, with the filing published in June 2024. The organization continues to operate as an active grantmaker, though it maintains a deliberately low public profile with no website or formal communications program.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust fund?

The trust's primary giving focus is education, though it supports a diverse range of charitable activities including: • Arts and culture • Education (K-12, higher education, and adult education) • Health and diseases • Religion, particularly Christianity • Human services • Economic opportunity The trust does not maintain a formal application program and keeps minimal public visibility regarding its specific funding priorities within these areas.

How do I apply for a grant from Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust?

**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: approximately $2.3 million • Number of grants: 62-65 annually • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $1.9 million • Average grant size: $138 **Application Process:** The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is conducted on an invite-only basis. While the trust does not run a formal application program, contact information is available for inquiries. **Grantmaking Approach:** The trust tends to provide multi-year sup…

Where does Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust make grants?

The trust gives primarily in California, though it also supports organizations in New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and other states across the United States.

What size grants does Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust award?

In 2023, Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust awarded 65 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $467K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust's EIN?

Neil & Amelia Mcdaniel Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2450149. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.

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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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