The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation is an independent private foundation established in 1988 and based in Los Angeles, California. The foundation is structured as a 501(c)(3) organization with a single employee and focuses its philanthropic efforts on education, with particular emphasis on legal education in California.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$46.5M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-11.4% YoY
Grant Count
34
+6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$55K
-16.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is giving for support of education in California, with emphasis on legal education. The foundation also distributes funds from the Toyota securities settlement and supports student scholarships, education program support, facilities construction, and technology initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 41 grants in the last year, with recent notable grants including:
Ready to take the next step with The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in California, with a particular concentration on educational institutions throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $43,827,503
- Total Revenues: $3,308,131
- Total Expenses: $1,256,332
- Annual Giving: Approximately $2,100,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $46,517,297 | $43,827,503 | $17,385,474 |
| Revenue | $4,789,408 | $3,308,131 | $1,520,788 |
| Expenses | $3,055,493 | $1,256,332 | $1,048,032 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,056,144 | $2,263,340 | $2,228,585 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,631,174 | $3,167,174 | $1,350,584 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,225,651 | $2,129,888 | $2,128,348 |
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
177 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pepperdine University ($500,000), Chapman University School of Law ($250,000), Simpson University ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY AZUSA, CA | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS | $15,000 |
| BIOLA LA MIRADA, CA | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| BLIND CHILDREN'S CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | EDUCATION PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF VISTA VISTA, CA | EDUCATION PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW ORANGE, CA | ACADEMIC CHAIR | $250,000 |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW ORANGE, CA | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| CHRISTIAN LEGAL AID OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CA | INTERNSHIP PROGRAM | $49,000 |
| CLAREMONT INSTITUTE UPLAND, CA | FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| DON BOSCO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ROSEMEAD, CA | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS | $15,000 |
| EXCEPTIONAL CHILDRENS FOUNDATION CULVER CITY, CA | EDUCATION PROGRAM | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD L STACK | TRUSTEE | 25 | $143,400 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting legal education and religious liberty initiatives. The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation Religious Liberty Clinic at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law has been involved in significant legal work, including a cert petition authored by the clinic's director that was granted by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Hanger Foundation Awards Over $150,000 in Final Round of Grants to completeFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is giving for support of education in California, with emphasis on legal education. The foundation also distributes funds from the Toyota securities settlement and supports student scholarships, education program support, facilities construction, and technology initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation?
The foundation made 41 grants in the last year, with recent notable grants including: • **Westmont College** — $750,000 for facilities purchase and renovation (2023) • **Thriving Churches International** — $125,000 for program support and scholarships (2023) • **Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy** — $100,000 for Brown/Kolkey Visiting Professors (2023) The foundation has demonstrated significant support for legal education institutions, including a $5 million gift to Chapman Universit…
Where does The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in California, with a particular concentration on educational institutions throughout the state.
What size grants does The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $55K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation's EIN?
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6874901. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hugh and Hazel Darling 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 The Hugh and Hazel Darling 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 The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation to a real strategy.