The Parker Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Foundation's stated geographic focus is San Diego County, and it does not fund organisations still in the process of obtaining tax-exempt status, so a county-based group that already holds that status is the kind of applicant it describes.
- Typical grants fall between $10,000 and $50,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 207 grants to organisations in that band and a median of $25,000, though the largest grant in the filings was $300,000, so a request in the typical range fits its usual practice.
- Applications go in as one PDF in the listed order, submitted by noon on the deadline dates the Foundation posts, and the proposal should explain the benefit to San Diego County, how many county residents are directly affected, and how results will be measured.
- Repeat support is significant, as 33% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so a first request should be framed with that in mind.
- A successful applicant must agree to report outcomes within six months of payment, and a Board Member's interest at the initial review leads to further consideration and a volunteer site visit.
Overview
The Parker Foundation is a US private foundation based in Carlsbad, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Parker Foundation says it was established to improve quality of life throughout San Diego County and supports a broad range of charitable organisations serving the region. It describes its grantmaking as focused on organisations serving San Diego County and invites nonprofit organisations to propose work that reflects their most important needs. Its recorded grants reach a varied local nonprofit community, including housing and homelessness services, health and social support, education and youth programmes, arts and culture, environmental work, food assistance and community services. Applicants are asked to explain how their project benefits San Diego County and how outcomes will be measured; the Foundation does not prescribe a single project type.
Geographic Focus
San Diego County.
What They Don't Fund
- Organizations that are still in the process of obtaining tax-exempt status
How to apply
Applicants submit all required application materials together as one PDF, in the listed order.
Deadlines: Applications must be submitted by noon on the deadline dates posted by the Foundation.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 33% 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 207 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants are encouraged to review the Foundation’s historical summaries to understand the scope and types of projects previously funded.
- Proposals are expected to reflect the organisation’s most important needs.
- Requests should explain the benefit to San Diego County and how many county residents are directly affected.
- Applicants must describe how project results will be measured and agree to report outcomes and results within six months of payment.
- A Board Member’s interest at the initial review leads to further consideration and a volunteer Board Member site visit.
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 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 33% of grant dollars went to organisations The Parker Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 11% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 65 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties · To support the san diego resilient response pooled fund ($100k), the sustained support pooled fund ($100k), prepayment of the 2026 funders together to end homelessness pooled fund ($50k), arts & intersections for thegrantmakers in the arts2027 conf. in sd ($50k).$300,0002024 tax year
- Forever Balboa Park · To support the botanical building.$200,0002024 tax year
- California Center for Cooperative Development · To support the suncoast market co-op startup project.$125,0002024 tax year
- Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties · To support capacity building for yigby 2.0.$100,0002024 tax year
- NTC Foundation · To support the judy mcdonald garden.$100,0002024 tax year
- Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties · To support capacity building $30,000, 2025 membership dues $7,500, 2025 annual conference $5,000, funders together to end homelessness san diego pooled fund $40,000, arts & intersections collaborative $15,000.$97,5002024 tax year
- Mission Edge · To support a comprehensive study on artists living and working in san diego county.$75,0002024 tax year
- Home Start · To support behavioral health services.$75,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Barbara Mandel — Director
- Katy Mcdonald — Director
- Dori Kaufman — Treasurer
- Victoria Reed — Secretary
- William G Beamer — Vice President
- Raymond G Ellis — President
- Lexy Harshman — Chief Administrative Officer
- Brad Lupien — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,382,978 | $2,056,625 | $41,655,574 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,402,779 | $1,838,000 | $48,077,437 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,979,791 | $2,572,500 | $50,383,798 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Parker Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (760) 720-0630
- mail@theparkerfoundation.org
- Carlsbad, CA
- theparkerfoundation.org
Applying to The Parker Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (760) 720-0630
- mail@theparkerfoundation.org
- Carlsbad, CA
- theparkerfoundation.org