Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation
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.
Key facts about Steve and Sharron Macdonald Family Foundation
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.
- EIN
- 37-6622565
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020
- 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)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2020 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$8.0M
Grant Count
24
Avg Grant Size
$333K
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.
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
How to Apply
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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
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 24 grants totaling $8.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
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
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 24 (33%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scripps Health Foundation San Diego, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $3,100,000 |
| Helen Woodward Animal Shelter Rancho Santa Fe, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $2,561,674 |
| Judicial Watch Washington, DC | General Charitable Purposes | $700,000 |
| Feeding San Diego Sand Diego, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $402,000 |
| San Diego Food Bank San Diego, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $400,000 |
| American Red Cross San Diego, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $100,000 |
| Children's Hope Chest Purchase, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $100,000 |
| Standup for Kids - Oceanside Chapter Oceanside, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $100,000 |
| PROMSIES2KIDS San Diego, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $75,000 |
| Kathy's Legacy Foundation Carlsbad, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $70,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $21,491 | $8,024,590 | $7,996,174 | 24 |
| Metric | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Revenue | $21,491 |
| Expenses | $8,024,590 |
| Net Investment Income | $179,933 |
| Distributable Amount | $208,380 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 4225 Executive Square Suite 1150, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 558-9200
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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