The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to universities, legal organizations, and education-focused organizations, with the largest awards supporting a religious liberty clinic, an academic chair, and university facilities.
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation at a glance
In short: The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation gave $1.9M across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $55K), mostly in California. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,860,000
- -11.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- +6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $54,706
- -16.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $46,517,297
- +6.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (5 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (97% 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 The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: Richard L Stack
Mailing address: 500 South Grand Avenue Suite 1310, Los Angeles, CA 90071-2600
Phone: (213) 683-5200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Pepperdine University ($625K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($65,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
177 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 117 grants of 177 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 3% to recipients in Washington, D.C., and 1% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 29 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $73K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2024) to $2.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University Malibu, CA | Religious Liberty Clinic | $500,000 |
| Chapman University School of Law Orange, CA | Academic Chair | $250,000 |
| Simpson University Redding, CA | Facilities | $250,000 |
| Life Pacific University San Dimas, CA | Facilities Renovations | $100,000 |
| Pepperdine University Malibu, CA | Religous Liberty Clinic | $100,000 |
| USD School of Law San Diego, CA | Originalism Center | $75,000 |
| Pacific Legal Foundation Sacramento, CA | Program Support | $60,000 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $65,000 |
| The Basic Fund Oakland, CA | Student Scholarships | $50,000 |
| The Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies Washington, DC | California Program Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $46,517,297 | $4,789,408 | $3,055,493 | $1,860,000 | 34 | $2,056,144 | $4,631,174 | $2,225,651 |
| 2023 | $43,827,503 | $3,308,131 | $1,256,332 | $2,100,000 | 32 | $2,263,340 | $3,167,174 | $2,129,888 |
| 2022 | $17,385,474 | $1,520,788 | $1,048,032 | $2,075,000 | 41 | $2,228,585 | $1,350,584 | $2,128,348 |
| 2021 | $18,296,531 | $4,216,083 | $3,043,228 | $2,050,000 | 30 | $2,233,053 | $4,055,762 | $1,992,800 |
| 2020 | $16,440,219 | $1,631,432 | $1,626,703 | $1,950,000 | 40 | — | $1,506,839 | $1,860,616 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants show support for higher education, legal programs, facilities, and student scholarships. Among the supported organizations, Pepperdine University describes itself as a Christian university committed to academic excellence and Christian values; Pacific Legal Foundation says it litigates to secure Americans’ rights; and The BASIC Fund says it helps offset private-school tuition costs for low-income Bay Area families.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 34 grants totaling $1,860,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest award was $500,000 to Pepperdine University for its Religious Liberty Clinic. Other large grants included $250,000 to Chapman University School of Law for an academic chair, $250,000 to Simpson University for facilities, and $100,000 to Life Pacific University for facilities renovations. Additional awards included $75,000 to USD School of Law for its Originalism Center and $60,000 to Pacific Legal Foundation for program support.
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Richard L. Stack as the contact for applications; forms and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions are listed as not applicable.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Richard L. Stack is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation is led by Richard L. Stack, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard L. Stack
Trustee
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$117K (2020) → $143K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $143K, to Richard L Stack (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation
How much does The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation give each year?
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation gave $1.9M across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 32 grants.
What is The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation's typical grant size?
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $54,706, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation give grants?
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation gives mostly in California: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (5 grants), Malibu, CA (3 grants), Orange, CA (2 grants) and Redding, CA (2 grants).
Does The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Student Scholarships" (13 grants) and "Education Program" (5 grants).
Who are The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation's largest grantees?
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Pepperdine University ($625,000 across 3 grants), Chapman University School of Law ($260,000 across 2 grants) and Simpson University ($260,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($65,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation?
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation reported $46.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (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 The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation fund?
The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants show support for higher education, legal programs, facilities, and student scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation?
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-hugh-and-hazel-darling-foundation-morg_afb81d37ea454dc38b9c57c1bb83c7f8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956874901_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-hugh-and-hazel-darling-foundation-morg_afb81d37ea454dc38b9c57c1bb83c7f8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 The Hugh and Hazel Darling 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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