The Parker Foundation
The Parker Foundation is an independent, private foundation and California nonprofit corporation based in Carlsbad, California. Founded on October 5, 1971, by Gerald T. and Inez Grant Parker, the Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life throughout San Diego County. As one of San Diego's most generous grantmakers, the Foundation has established itself as a philanthropic leader in the region over more than 50 years of giving.
Key facts about The Parker Foundation
- EIN
- 51-0141231
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,838,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 75
- Average grant
- $24,507
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $48,077,437
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who The Parker Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Parker Foundation's 75 itemized 2024 grants were California (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (48 grants), Oceanside, CA (5 grants), Vista, CA (3 grants) and San Marcos, CA (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48.1M
+15.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-10.6% YoY
Grant Count
75
+11.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-20.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Parker 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 mission emphasizes equal attention to cultural programs, health and welfare (including medical support and research), adult services, and youth agencies. Grant support also extends to education and community activities.
The Foundation is particularly recognized for its leadership in addressing homelessness in San Diego County. It has led the Homelessness Working Group and helped found Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, taking a systems-level approach to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
The Foundation has also been a significant supporter of science education, having supported the Elementary Institute of Science since 1998.
Grantmaking
Grants are generally provided in the form of partial seed money and matching or challenge grants. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals and generally does not support conferences or symposia. While occasional support is provided to religious organizations, such grants are limited to direct support of nonsectarian educational or service projects. Loans may be considered under special circumstances.
Grant Range
s and Frequency:**
Average Grant
amount: approximately $28,000
Grant Types
Ready to take the next step with The Parker Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is limited by its governing instruments to funding charitable organizations operating within San Diego County, California. This geographic restriction is a defining characteristic of the Foundation's grantmaking.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 75 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $48.1 million (as of 2024)
- Assets have grown from $4 million at founding in 1971 to $34 million in 2010 to $48.1 million in 2024
Annual Giving and Revenue:
- Total grants awarded since inception: over $66 million
- Total giving (2024): $1,838,000
- Total revenues (FYE 09/2024): $1,246,229
- Total expenses (FYE 09/2024): $2,402,779
- Annual income: $11.2 million
Grant Distribution: According to available records, the Foundation has made 191 grants totaling $5.4 million, with support extended to 122 unique organizations. Annual giving decreased from $3.3 million in 2022 to $2.1 million in 2023.
Tax Status: The Foundation received its IRS ruling in 1975 and is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,077,437 | $41,655,574 | $39,964,042 |
| Revenue | $1,246,229 | $3,686,155 | $3,461,493 |
| Expenses | $2,402,779 | $2,382,978 | $2,062,482 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,973,847 | $2,172,883 | $1,868,252 |
| Net Investment Income | $578,653 | $3,544,206 | $3,674,835 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,233,703 | $2,202,365 | $2,243,730 |
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
268 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Parker Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 ($90,000), Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties ($50,000), Junior Achievement of San Diego County ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAN DIEGO TIJUANA WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL 2024 SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $90,000 |
| CATALYST OF SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| NORTH COUNTY HEALTH PROJECT INC SAN MARCOS, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| SERVING SENIORS SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| VIETNAM VETERANS OF SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ANGELS FOSTER FAMILY NETWORK SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| SUPPORT THE ENLISTED PROJECT SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| THE MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ray Ellis – Principal Officer
- Lexy Harshman – Chief Administrative Officer (as of September 2023)
The Foundation is governed by 11 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEXY HARSHMAN | CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER | 25 | $128,287 |
| RAYMOND G ELLIS | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| WILLIAM G BEAMER | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.25 | — |
| DORI KAUFMAN | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| ERNEST BORUNDA | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| VICKI REED | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ROBBIN C POWELL | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| BARBARA MANDEL | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| KATY MCDONALD | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ANN DAVIES | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | 0.25 | — |
| PAUL MOSHER | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation continues to be active in its grantmaking and community leadership. Recent grant announcements include support for San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024, Serving Seniors, and Ocean Discovery Institute. The Foundation maintains its commitment to strategic charitable giving and systems-level change, particularly in addressing homelessness and supporting education and community development throughout San Diego County.
Parker University Awarded $32,356 Grant from AHIMA Foundation to SupportFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Parker Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission emphasizes equal attention to cultural programs, health and welfare (including medical support and research), adult services, and youth agencies. Grant support also extends to education and community activities. The Foundation is particularly recognized for its leadership in addressing homelessness in San Diego County. It has led the Homelessness Working Group and helped found Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, taking a systems-level approach to making home…
How do I apply for a grant from The Parker Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Frequency:** • Typical awards range from $1,000 to $150,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $28,000 • Median grant: $25,000 • The Foundation makes six board meetings annually with specific dates available on its website **Grant Types:** Grants are generally provided in the form of partial seed money and matching or challenge grants. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals and generally does not support conferences or symposia. While occasional support is provi…
Where does The Parker Foundation make grants?
The Foundation is limited by its governing instruments to funding charitable organizations operating within San Diego County, California. This geographic restriction is a defining characteristic of the Foundation's grantmaking.
What size grants does The Parker Foundation award?
In 2024, The Parker Foundation awarded 75 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Parker Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Parker 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 Parker Foundation's EIN?
The Parker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0141231. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Parker Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.