M & I Pfister Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The filing shows general support grants to a mix of arts and cultural bodies, libraries, historical societies, community foundations, parks, animal welfare and reproductive health groups, mostly in California, so a small nonprofit whose work sits in one of these areas has a reasonable fit.
- Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $10,000 and $190,000, and half are $35,000 or less, so a request around $35,000 is a sensible starting point, though the largest grant was $400,000 and the typical band is not a ceiling.
- Apply with a general application and a determination letter; no deadline is given and the foundation accepts applications, so timing is open.
- Repeat giving is heavy, with 77% of grant dollars to organisations going to recipients funded in earlier filings, so a first-time applicant should expect a harder route and may find an existing connection helps.
Overview
M & I Pfister Foundation is a US private foundation based in La Jolla, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's recorded grants have provided general support to organisations in California and elsewhere. Recipients include arts and cultural institutions such as museums, a theatre, a symphony orchestra and an athenaeum, alongside a library association, a historical society and a community foundation. Its grants have also supported organisations concerned with reproductive health, animal welfare, parks and international relief and development. All 29 recorded grants in the grant-purpose summary were for general support. These are the kinds of recipients shown in the filings, rather than named funding fields or a stated project-specific programme.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California.
How to apply
Submit a general application with a determination letter.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 29 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 25% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations M & I Pfister Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 11 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $38,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- New Children's Museum · General support$225,0002024 tax year
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego · General support$170,2502024 tax year
- Library Association of La Jolla · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- La Jolla Playhouse · General support$50,0002024 tax year
- San Diego Symphony Orchestra · General support$50,0002024 tax year
- Athenaeum · General support$38,0002024 tax year
- La Jolla Historical Society · General support$35,0002024 tax year
- Planned Parenthood · General support$30,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Irwin Pfister — Treasurer / Secretary
- Maryanne Pfister — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $677,750 | $613,835 | $20,591,228 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $782,862 | $547,800 | $22,199,367 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $929,948 | $748,250 | $23,780,291 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to M & I Pfister Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (858) 551-8785
- La Jolla, CA
Applying to M & I Pfister Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (858) 551-8785
- La Jolla, CA