The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc
The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation established in 2008, based in Tustin, California. The foundation was created to continue the philanthropic legacy of Joe MacPherson, an Orange County automotive dealership pioneer who passed away in 2007. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation is designated for charitable, educational, and philanthropic purposes.
Key facts about The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 38-3779697
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,336,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- Average grant
- $97,333
- Median grant
- $27,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (4 of 24, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not have a formal public application process. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc's 24 itemized 2024 grants were California (97%). The most frequent recipient cities were Orange, CA (5 grants), Irvine, CA (4 grants), Santa Ana, CA (3 grants) and Tustin, CA (2 grants). None of its 24 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (24 grants).
Is The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 24 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $273K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $30K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+34.3% YoY
Grant Count
24
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$97K
+28.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation honors Joe MacPherson's lifelong commitment to supporting children and families. Primary funding areas include:
- Youth development and mentorship
- Education
- Arts
- Family services and domestic violence prevention
- Human services
The foundation's work reflects Joe MacPherson's personal values shaped by his early life experiences, including the loss of his father and his brothers' service in wartime. These experiences led him to recognize the critical importance of mentors in children's lives.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$5,000 to $1,036,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Orange County, California, with occasional grants in California, Hawaii, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 24 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024
- Total assets: $27,103,123
- Total revenues: $4,075,467
- Total expenses: $2,624,356
- Total liabilities: $2
- Number of employees: 0
Tax Status
- EIN: 38-3779697
- Tax-exempt since: August 2008
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Orange County Comm Fdn OCCF ($1,036,000), Boys and Girls Club of Central OC ($390,000), Pacific Symphony ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Orange County Comm Fdn OCCF Irvine, CA | Charitable | $1,036,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Central OC Irvine, CA | Charitable | $390,000 |
| Pacific Symphony Irvine, CA | Charitable | $200,000 |
| Laura's House Ladera Ranch, CA | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC Tustin, CA | Charitable | $100,000 |
| CASA Orange, CA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Hoag Hospital Foundation Newport Beach, CA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Second Harvest of OC Irvine, CA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Anaheim, CA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Hawaii Community Fdn Honolulu, HI | Charitable | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Anne L MacPherson (also known as Anne MacPherson West) – President and Chief Executive Officer
- James MacPherson – Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Director
- Jeffrey MacPherson – Vice President (mentioned in sources)
Anne MacPherson is Joe MacPherson's daughter and heads the foundation, continuing her father's philanthropic vision.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne L MacPherson | Pres/CEO/Dir | 20 | — |
| James MacPherson | CFO/Sec/Dir | 5 | — |
| Jeffrey MacPherson | V.Pres./Dir | 5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation honors Joe MacPherson's lifelong commitment to supporting children and families. Primary funding areas include: • Youth development and mentorship • Education • Arts • Family services and domestic violence prevention • Human services The foundation's work reflects Joe MacPherson's personal values shaped by his early life experiences, including the loss of his father and his brothers' service in wartime. These experiences led him to recognize the critical importance of mentors in …
How do I apply for a grant from The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not have a formal public application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Orange County, California, with occasional grants in California, Hawaii, and Washington.
What size grants does The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc awarded 24 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $97K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3779697. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.