Margaret M Bloomfield Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,747,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Varies widely (estimated average ~$76,000 per grant)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles/Southern California
• Total Assets: $46.2 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 2098, Manhattan Beach, CA 90267-2098

Phone: 310-292-2484

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Margaret M Bloomfield Family Foundation was established in 2004 (received tax-exempt status in April 2004) as a private family foundation honoring Margaret "Peggy" Meyer Bloomfield (1922-2013), a prominent California philanthropist and community activist. Margaret Bloomfield, widow of William E. Bloomfield Sr., founded what became formalized as the Bloomfield Family Foundation in 2006 with emphasis on education, health, and the arts. The foundation is currently managed by trustees William E. Bloomfield Jr. (son) and Susan Bloomfield (daughter-in-law), continuing the family's philanthropic legacy. With assets of $46.2 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $2.4-2.7 million, the foundation maintains a consistent grantmaking pattern supporting primarily Los Angeles-area organizations. The Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High School in Huntington Park, which opened in 2014, stands as a lasting tribute to the founder's commitment to education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking with grants awarded by invitation only. Based on historical patterns:

• Made 36 awards in 2023 totaling $2,747,000
• Made 65 awards in 2022
• Made 62 awards in 2021
• Average grant size approximately $76,000, though individual grants vary significantly

Priority Areas

Education: Support for educational institutions at all levels, with particular emphasis on college access and K-12 education. Major support for Alliance College-Ready Public Schools and UCLA.

Health/Medical: Funding for hospitals and medical research institutions, including stem cell research. Known recipients include UCLA Medical Center and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Arts & Humanities: Support for cultural institutions and arts access. Known recipient includes The Music Center in Los Angeles.

Faith-Based Organizations: Support for religious institutions, including Westwood United Methodist Church.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation:

• Does not accept unsolicited applications
• Focuses primarily on established Southern California institutions
• Makes grants only to preselected organizations identified by trustees

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• William E. Bloomfield Jr. - Son of founders Margaret and William E. Bloomfield Sr. Holds a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Chairman of Baron Real Estate (formerly Web Laundry Services/WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems). Active philanthropist and political activist.
• Susan Bloomfield - Co-Trustee

The foundation operates as an unstaffed private family foundation with decisions made directly by the trustees. No officer compensation is reported.

Foundation History: The foundation honors Margaret "Peggy" Meyer Bloomfield, who was born and raised on a citrus ranch in Escondido, California, attended Occidental College and UCLA, and became deeply involved in Los Angeles philanthropy. She served as Chair of the UCLA Chancellors Cabinet, board member of UCLA's Women and Philanthropy, honoree of the Concern Foundation, and member of the Westwood Village Rotary Club and Brentwood Bel-Air Women's Club. She passed away in May 2013 after nearly 58 years of marriage to William E. Bloomfield Sr., leaving two children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the family's philanthropic interests and established relationships with organizations in education, health, and the arts.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on its own internal timeline with grants determined by trustees.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation awards grants by invitation only to organizations selected by trustees.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received support share these characteristics:

Established Southern California Presence: The foundation demonstrates strong geographic preference for Los Angeles-area organizations, particularly those in West Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, and surrounding communities.

Alignment with Founder's Values: Organizations supported reflect Margaret Bloomfield's documented interests in:

• Educational access and college readiness, particularly for underserved students
• Medical institutions and healthcare research (especially stem cell research)
• Cultural institutions providing arts access
• Institutions where the Bloomfield family had personal connections (UCLA, Children's Hospital LA, The Music Center)

Institutional Credibility: Recipients tend to be well-established institutions (major universities, hospitals, cultural centers) or carefully vetted education-focused nonprofits like Alliance College-Ready Public Schools.

Examples of Funded Organizations:

• UCLA (University and Hospital) - reflecting Margaret Bloomfield's deep involvement with UCLA through the Chancellors Cabinet and Women and Philanthropy
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles
• The Music Center
• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (including the Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High School)
• Westwood United Methodist Church
• School on Wheels (educational support for children experiencing homelessness)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-Only Grantmaking: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. Do not submit unsolicited proposals.

• Family Foundation Legacy: Grantmaking reflects the personal philanthropic interests of Margaret Bloomfield and is now continued by her son William E. Bloomfield Jr. and daughter-in-law Susan Bloomfield.

• Geographic Focus: Strong preference for Southern California organizations, particularly in the Los Angeles area.

• Three Core Areas: Education, health/medical, and arts remain the foundation's primary focus areas as established by the founder in 2006.

• Relationship-Based: The foundation works with organizations where family members have established relationships or personal connections.

• Substantial Support Capability: With nearly $50 million in assets and annual giving approaching $3 million, the foundation has capacity for significant grants to selected organizations.

• Consistent Grantmaking: Despite being invitation-only, the foundation maintains active grantmaking with 36-65 grants awarded annually, demonstrating ongoing commitment to philanthropy.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Margaret M Bloomfield Family Foundation (EIN 20-6156014). Accessed January 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/206156014

• Palisadian Post: "Margaret Bloomfield, 90; Active Citizen, Generous Philanthropist." Obituary. Accessed January 2026. https://www.palipost.com/margaret-bloomfield-90-active-citizen-generous-philanthropist/

• Daily Breeze: Margaret Bloomfield Obituary. 2013. https://www.dailybreeze.com/obituaries/margaret-meyer-bloomfield-md/

• Instrumentl: Margaret M Bloomfield Family Foundation 990 Report. Accessed January 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/margaret-m-bloomfield-family-foundation

• Grantmakers.io: Margaret M Bloomfield Family Foundation Profile. Accessed January 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/206156014-margaret-m-bloomfield-family-foundation/

• California Department of Education: Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High School Profile. Accessed January 2026. https://www.cde.ca.gov/sdprofile/details.aspx?cds=19647330124941

• Find a Grave: Margaret "Peggy" Meyer Bloomfield Memorial. Accessed January 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109835984/margaret-bloomfield