Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker La Jolla, CA EIN: 37-6622565

STEVE AND SHARRON MACDONALD FAMILY was a private foundation based in La Jolla, California. Its 2020 filing is marked as a final return and states that the organization ceased all activity and was dissolved on December 31, 2020; it therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.

Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation at a glance

In short: Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation gave $8.0M across 24 grants in 2020 (avg $333K), mostly in California. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2020)
$7,996,174
Grants made (2020)
24
Average grant
$333,174
Median grant
$50,000
Primary geography
California (87% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
Contact

Mailing address: 4225 Executive Square Suite 1150, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 558-9200

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

Who Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2020

Scripps Health Foundation: $3.1MScripps Health Foundation$3.1MHelen Woodward Animal Shelter: $2.6MHelen Woodward Animal Shelter$2.6MJudicial Watch: $700KJudicial Watch$700KFeeding San Diego: $402KFeeding San Diego$402KSan Diego Food Bank: $400KSan Diego Food Bank$400KAmerican Red Cross: $100KAmerican Red Cross$100KChildren's Hope Chest: $100KChildren's Hope Chest$100KStandup for Kids - Oceanside Chapter: $100KStandup for Kids - OceansideChapter$100KPROMSIES2KIDS: $75KPROMSIES2KIDS$75KKathy's Legacy Foundation: $70KKathy's Legacy Foundation$70K

The largest 2020 recipient was Scripps Health Foundation ($3.1M). Together the top 10 received $7.6M.

Grant Size Distribution

24 grants across all recorded years

8<$50K8$50–100K3$100–250K2$250–500K1$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 24 (33%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2020 filing lists grant dollars by recipient state as California 87%, the District of Columbia 9%, New York 3%, New Jersey 1%, and Texas 1%.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.

Cities

San DiegoWashingtonAtlantaCarlsbadEast NorthportFreeholdMemphisMidlandOceansidePasadenaPurchaseQueensRancho Santa FeRye BrookSand DiegoStaten Island

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M24 grants2020

In 2020 it made 24 grants totaling $8.0M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Scripps Health Foundation San Diego, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$3,100,000
Helen Woodward Animal Shelter Rancho Santa Fe, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$2,561,674
Judicial Watch Washington, DCGeneral Charitable Purposes$700,000
Feeding San Diego Sand Diego, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$402,000
San Diego Food Bank San Diego, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$400,000
American Red Cross San Diego, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$100,000
Children's Hope Chest Purchase, NYGeneral Charitable Purposes$100,000
Standup for Kids - Oceanside Chapter Oceanside, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$100,000
PROMSIES2KIDS San Diego, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$75,000
Kathy's Legacy Foundation Carlsbad, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$70,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2020$21,491$8,024,590$7,996,17424$179,933$208,380

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $208K for 2020 — 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 2020 grants included support for health and medical organizations, an animal shelter, food assistance organizations, children’s and youth organizations, and other charitable groups.

The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate this range. Feeding San Diego says it connects people facing hunger with nutritious meals through food rescue, direct service, and community partnerships. Judicial Watch says it promotes government integrity, transparency, and accountability through public advocacy, litigation, and monitoring and investigation. The CMT Research Foundation says it funds research aimed at treatments and cures for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Grantmaking

In 2020, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $7,996,174. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $3,100,000, with a median grant of $50,000.

The largest listed grants were $3,100,000 to Scripps Health Foundation and $2,561,674 to Helen Woodward Animal Shelter, both for general charitable purposes. Other large grants included $700,000 to Judicial Watch, $402,000 to Feeding San Diego, and $400,000 to San Diego Food Bank, also for general charitable purposes.

The filing states that the foundation made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Because the filing identifies this as the organization’s final return and states that it was dissolved in 2020, this policy should not be treated as a current application process.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2020 filing lists Sharron MacDonald as trustee and Todd MacDonald as CFO.

Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation's 2020 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2020 report compensation.

Officers on the 2020 filing

  • Sharron Macdonald

    Trustee

    New on the 2020 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Todd Macdonald

    CFO

    New on the 2020 filing

    35 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "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 Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation

How much does Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation give each year?

Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation gave $8.0M across 24 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.

What is Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $50,000, and its average grant was $333,174, across 24 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation give grants?

Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (8 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation's 2020 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include Scripps Health Foundation ($3,100,000), Helen Woodward Animal Shelter ($2,561,674) and Judicial Watch ($700,000), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.

What does Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2020 grants included support for health and medical organizations, an animal shelter, food assistance organizations, children’s and youth organizations, and other charitable groups. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation?

Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.

How much is Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $208K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation's EIN?

Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6622565. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.

Does Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation 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 year 2020

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

Figures come from Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family 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.

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