Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation
The Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation is a private foundation based in San Diego, California, established in 1997 to continue the founders’ philanthropic legacy. It is a general funder that supports programs benefiting youth, underprivileged individuals, active and retired military personnel, and sports-related activities, with an emphasis on science and athletics.
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation at a glance
In short: Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation gave $5.7M across 76 grants in 2025 (avg $75K), mostly in California. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,735,000
- +16.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 76
- -25.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $75,461
- +56.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $93,210,582
- +3.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (6 of 76, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts requests throughout the year and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its website requires applications through its online process and says applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations. Applications sent by mail or delivered in person are returned with a request to apply online. Requests should be submitted no more than once every twelve months. The website says the board may request additional information or schedule a site visit, and applicants are generally notified within two weeks after a board meeting. The 2024 filing describes the application materials as written, with John Thomas as the contact, and lists no deadlines.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 as application deadlines, with board review at the next meeting. The board normally meets on the first Wednesday of March, June, September, and December. As of October 2, 2026, the next listed deadline is November 1, 2026.
- Deadline
- The website lists February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 as application deadlines, with board review at the next…
- Contact
Application contact: John Thomas
Mailing address: 10731 Treena Street Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92131
Phone: (858) 564-9500
Website: https://zablefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation
Who Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Support the Enlisted Project (Step) ($3.1M). Together the top 10 received $4.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
479 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 372 grants of 479 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says grants are generally restricted to San Diego County organizations. In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to California recipients; the largest listed grants were primarily to San Diego County organizations. The foundation also awarded a $60,000 grant to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Inc. in Irving, Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 76 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 76 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $79K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 120% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.8M (2020) to $5.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 76 grants totaling $5.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Support the Enlisted Project (Step) San Diego, CA | General Assistance | $3,100,000 |
| Armed Services YMCA at Camp Pendleton Camp Pendleton, CA | General Assistance | $250,000 |
| Free to Thrive San Diego, CA | General Assistance | $150,000 |
| Outdoor Outreach San Diego, CA | General Assistance | $150,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of SD San Diego, CA | General Assistance | $125,000 |
| CASA De Amparo San Marcos, CA | General Assistance | $100,000 |
| Center for Community Solutions San Diego, CA | General Assistance | $100,000 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of SD San Diego, CA | General Assistance | $75,000 |
| National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Inc Irving, TX | General Assistance | $60,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of SD County Inc San Diego, CA | General Assistance | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Walter J & Betty C Zable 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $93,210,582 | $9,670,812 | $6,872,821 | $5,735,000 | 76 | $6,278,792 | $9,194,281 | $5,215,664 |
| 2024 | $90,411,404 | $4,974,875 | $5,836,556 | $4,931,500 | 102 | $5,269,797 | $4,422,113 | $5,111,260 |
| 2023 | $91,275,609 | $5,312,663 | $6,103,223 | $5,040,017 | 108 | $5,429,543 | $4,698,985 | $4,836,526 |
| 2022 | $92,065,004 | $8,237,402 | $6,093,367 | $4,891,331 | 92 | $5,210,492 | $7,499,265 | $5,336,684 |
| 2021 | $89,922,595 | $8,940,204 | $5,125,942 | $3,967,491 | 101 | — | $8,207,982 | $5,107,384 |
| 2020 | $86,108,146 | $2,610,450 | $4,720,772 | $3,810,428 | 100 | — | $2,233,388 | $4,580,799 |
| 2019 | $88,269,490 | $3,783,752 | $5,478,627 | $4,579,500 | 105 | — | $3,207,713 | $4,652,928 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.2M for 2025 — 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 foundation’s mission is to continue the founders’ legacy by encouraging and promoting health and science research, and assisting programs that benefit youth, underprivileged individuals, and sports-related activities, primarily in San Diego County.
Its 2025 grants illustrate support for varied organizations. Outdoor Outreach, which received $150,000, describes its mission as connecting youth to the transformative power of the outdoors. Casa de Amparo, which received $100,000, says it works with the community on child abuse prevention and services for children and families. Center for Community Solutions, also awarded $100,000, describes its mission as ending relationship and sexual violence. Pro Kids Golf Academy, which received $50,000, says it uses golf and classroom learning to help children develop character.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 76 grants totaling $5,735,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $3,100,000, with a median of $25,000; the foundation reports an average grant of $20,000 in recent years.
The largest 2025 award was $3,100,000 to Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) for general assistance. Other large grants included $250,000 to Armed Services YMCA at Camp Pendleton, $150,000 each to Free to Thrive and Outdoor Outreach, and $125,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of SD. Additional awards included $100,000 each to Casa de Amparo and Center for Community Solutions, and $75,000 to Make-A-Wish Foundation of SD.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Jay Thomas as president, Warren Magill as treasurer, and Kathryn Starr as secretary. The 2025 filing lists Warren Magill as president/director, Kathryn M. Starr as secretary/director, and John D. Thomas as treasurer/director.
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation is led by Warren Magill, President & Director on every filing since 2019; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Warren Magill
President & Director
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$265K (2019) → $275K (2025)
John D. Thomas
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1.2 hrs/week
$22K (2019) → $40K (2025)
Kathryn M. Starr
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
1.2 hrs/week
$22K (2019) → $40K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Terri Magill (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: William W. Boyle (2019–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $275K, to Warren Magill (President/Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation
How much does Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation give each year?
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation gave $5.7M across 76 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.9M across 102 grants.
What is Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation's typical grant size?
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $75,461, across 76 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation that year got $38K on average.
Where does Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation give grants?
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (43 grants), Encinitas, CA (4 grants), National City, CA (3 grants) and El Cajon, CA (2 grants).
Does Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (76 of 76) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation's largest grantees?
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Support the Enlisted Project (Step) ($3,100,000), Armed Services YMCA at Camp Pendleton ($250,000) and Free to Thrive ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation?
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation reported $93.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to continue the founders’ legacy by encouraging and promoting health and science research, and assisting programs that benefit youth, underprivileged individuals, and sports-related activities, primarily in San Diego County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation?
The foundation accepts requests throughout the year and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation's EIN?
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1540383. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 12, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Conrad Prebys Foundation
San Diego, CA
The Conrad Prebys Foundation funds visual and performing arts, youth success, healthcare, and medical research, primarily in San Diego County. Its 2024 grants ranged from $200 to $3 million, with a median of $100,000. It offers opportunities throughout the year, including open applications and requests for proposals, but may also use invitation-only or community-led processes.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
392
Total Given
$54.9M
Price Philanthropies Foundation
La Jolla, CA
Price Philanthropies Foundation supports opportunities for underserved youth and families, including early education and childcare, youth mental health, and organizations that strengthen San Diego communities; it offers general operating, program, and capital grants. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $19.1 million, with a median of $22,410, and funding is primarily focused on San Diego—especially City Heights—with additional stated interests in PriceSmart communities in Latin America and the Caribbean and Israel. The foundation says it does not accept unsolicited grant requests at this time.
Assets
$446.8M
Grants
246
Total Given
$33.8M
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation funds a broad range of causes, with strategic priorities in military and veteran support, education, and healthy communities; its giving reaches San Diego County and organizations nationally and internationally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though awards varied widely; donor-advised funds do not accept unsolicited requests, and Community Impact Fund applications are by invitation only.
Assets
$188.7M
Grants
253
Total Given
$14.3M
David C Copley Foundation
San Diego, CA
The David C. Copley Foundation funds nonprofits in human services, veterans’ services, youth development, healthcare and research, education, arts and culture, and animal welfare, with particular emphasis on underserved people in the San Diego area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $2.5 million, with a median of $15,000; most funding went to California recipients. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$104.5M
Grants
125
Total Given
$8.3M
Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego
San Diego, CA
The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego supports charitable, educational, and religious organizations, with grants spanning Jewish community life, research, civil rights, health care, arts, and community services. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; two-thirds of its grants since founding have gone to San Diego organizations, with others mainly elsewhere in the U.S. and Israel. Some listed opportunities accept applications from eligible nonprofits, but the profile does not state whether the Foundation accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$862.3M
Grants
774
Total Given
$148.1M
The Parker Foundation
Carlsbad, CA
The Parker Foundation funds charitable organizations serving San Diego County across social services, arts, community, and education. In 2025, grants ranged from $2,500 to $300,000, with a median of $30,000. It accepts proposals; the next listed deadline is October 2, 2026.
Assets
$50.4M
Grants
65
Total Given
$2.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/walter-j-and-betty-c-zable-foundation-morg_f6a3f5ad538341d59ad3d257a232368b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311540383_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Walter J \& Betty C Zable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/walter-j-and-betty-c-zable-foundation-morg_f6a3f5ad538341d59ad3d257a232368b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Walter J & Betty C Zable 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.
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?