Robert & Margaret McNamara

Private foundation · Grantmaker Los Angeles, CA EIN: 27-2141567

Robert & Margaret McNamara is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. In 2024, it gave 31 grants totaling $96,287 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in food access, literacy, humanitarian relief, civil rights, and environmental protection.

Robert & Margaret McNamara at a glance

In short: Robert & Margaret McNamara gave $96K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), top state District of Columbia. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$96,287
+35.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
31
-16.2% vs 2023
Average grant
$3,106
+61.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$3,000
Total assets
$1,055,406
-7.2% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
19% first-time grantees (6 of 31, 2024)
Primary geography
District of Columbia (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Robert & Margaret McNamara

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 3390 Federal Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Phone: (202) 965-7731

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Robert & Margaret McNamara funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Doctors Without Borders: $6KDoctors Without Borders$6KMartha's Table: $5KMartha's Table$5KAmnesty International: $5KAmnesty International$5KCapital Area Food Bank: $5KCapital Area Food Bank$5KCenter for Land Based Learning: $5KCenter for Land Based Learning$5KReading Is Fundamental: $5KReading Is Fundamental$5KRealding Is Fundamental Nova: $5KRealding Is Fundamental Nova$5KSouthern Poverty Law Center: $5KSouthern Poverty Law Center$5KThe Carter Center: $5KThe Carter Center$5KUnhcr: $5KUnhcr$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Doctors Without Borders ($6K). Together the top 10 received $51K.

Grant Size Distribution

152 grants across all recorded years

152<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, the largest share of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC (49%), followed by California (11%), Virginia (10%), New York (9%), and Alabama (5%).

Grant Distribution by State

14states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonNew YorkArlingtonAtlantaLos AngelesToluca LakeMontgomeryRestonWintersAnnapolisBostonOlneySan FranciscoSilver SpringWaterburyAmericusAshevilleBerkeleyCharlottesvilleColumbia

Is Robert & Margaret McNamara open to new grantees?

19%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 6 of 31 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 45% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K27 grants2020 27 grants2021 30 grants2022 37 grants2023 31 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $59K (2020) to $114K (2022). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $96K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Doctors Without Borders New York, NYGeneral Donation$6,010
Martha's Table Washington, DCGeneral Donation$5,164
Amnesty International Washington, DCGeneral Donation$5,000
Capital Area Food Bank Washington, DCGeneral Donation$5,000
Center for Land Based Learning Woodland, CAGeneral Donation Big Day of Giving$5,000
Reading Is Fundamental Washington, DCGeneral Donation$5,000
Realding Is Fundamental Nova Arlington, VAGeneral Donation$5,000
Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, ALGeneral Donation$5,000
The Carter Center Atlanta, GAGeneral Donation$5,000
Unhcr Washington, DCGeneral Donation$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,055,406$27,573$109,335$96,28731$96,287$6,889$101,313
2023$1,137,168$23,273$74,420$71,15937$71,159$20,874$94,984
2022$1,188,315$19,050$127,531$113,58430$113,584—$68,733
2021$1,296,796$32,323$82,769$66,41527$66,415$14,037$115,482
2020$1,347,242$20,502$70,699$58,60027—$19,192$101,758

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert & Margaret McNamara reported a distributable amount of $101K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Martha’s Table says it works to support stronger children, families, and communities through education, healthy food, and family supports. Reading Is Fundamental says it works to inspire children’s joy of reading and address the U.S. literacy crisis. The Capital Area Food Bank describes its mission as helping neighbors thrive through more equitable access to food and opportunity.

Other 2024 recipients include organizations focused on humanitarian response, racial justice, housing, environmental protection, and support for children affected by HIV/AIDS. These descriptions reflect the grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $96,287. Grants ranged from $510 to $6,010, with a median of $3,000. Among the largest were Doctors Without Borders ($6,010), Martha’s Table ($5,164), and grants of $5,000 each to Amnesty International, Capital Area Food Bank, Reading Is Fundamental, Reading Is Fundamental NOVA, Southern Poverty Law Center, the Carter Center, UNHCR, and Center for Land Based Learning.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Margaret Pastor, Tiffin Pastor Eisenberg, and Robert Kiplin Pastor as directors.

Robert & Margaret McNamara's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Margaret Pastor

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    30 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Kiplin Pastor

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Tiffin Pastor Eisenberg

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Robert & Margaret McNamara

How much does Robert & Margaret McNamara give each year?

Robert & Margaret McNamara gave $96K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $71K across 37 grants.

What is Robert & Margaret McNamara's typical grant size?

Robert & Margaret McNamara's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,106, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert & Margaret McNamara that year got $2K on average.

Where does Robert & Margaret McNamara give grants?

Robert & Margaret McNamara's top state is District of Columbia, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (11%) and Virginia (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (15 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).

Does Robert & Margaret McNamara give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Robert & Margaret McNamara's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Robert & Margaret McNamara's largest grantees?

Robert & Margaret McNamara's largest 2024 grantees include Doctors Without Borders ($6,010), Martha's Table ($5,164) and Amnesty International ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Robert & Margaret McNamara?

Robert & Margaret McNamara reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $96K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $101K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Robert & Margaret McNamara fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Martha’s Table says it works to support stronger children, families, and communities through education, healthy food, and family supports. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Robert & Margaret McNamara?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Robert & Margaret McNamara's EIN?

Robert & Margaret McNamara's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2141567. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Robert & Margaret McNamara accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Robert & Margaret McNamara funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-margaret-mcnamara-morg_3a19ca543a1b45108e2c8636668926f6

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_272141567_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Robert \& Margaret McNamara funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-margaret-mcnamara-morg_3a19ca543a1b45108e2c8636668926f6},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-24. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Robert & Margaret McNamara'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.

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