Gary and Mary West Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation focuses solely on vulnerable seniors and awards grants for their potential to advance successful aging in America, so work on senior health and wellness, independence and dignity is the clearest fit, and organisations working outside senior wellbeing should not approach it.
- It states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold proposal is unlikely to be considered; build a connection first and wait for an invitation.
- Typical grants fall between $10,000 and $520,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $27,500 or less, so a modest, well-costed request sits near the middle of its giving, though its largest grant was $36,000,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- In the filings, 99% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, which suggests it is relationship-led and rewards continuity more than new applicants.
- The filings show most grants in California and District of Columbia, but no geographic focus is stated, so a location outside those areas should not on its own rule you out.
Overview
Gary and Mary West Foundation is a US private foundation based in La Jolla, 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 Gary and Mary West Foundation focuses solely on addressing the needs of vulnerable seniors and awards grants for their potential to advance successful aging in America. Its stated concern is changing and saving the lives of seniors struggling to meet their basic needs. Its direct charitable activity supports seniors through health and wellness initiatives that enable them to age with independence and dignity. This describes a concentrated focus on senior wellbeing and successful aging, rather than a wider set of unrelated fields.
Themes
- Successful aging
- Senior health and wellness
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% 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 54 grants to organisations were $27,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Grants are awarded based on their potential to advance successful aging in America.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 73% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Gary and Mary West Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 24% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 23 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $36,400 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Gary and Mary West Health Institute · To support operations and applied medical research initiatives$36,000,0002024 tax year
- Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center · See statement for expenditure responsibility grant$12,000,0002024 tax year
- Omaha Community Foundation · To support the trust's continued efforts in funding charitable organizations$520,0002024 tax year
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego · To support the health advocacy project$192,5002024 tax year
- Serving Seniors · To support integrated care coordination$130,5002024 tax year
- Serving Seniors · To support operations at the gary and mary west senior wellness center$105,0002024 tax year
- Serving Seniors · To support integrated care coordination$87,0002024 tax year
- San Diego Seniors Community Foundation · To support the general operations$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
- Kimberly G Mckinnon — Administrative Trustee
- Gary L West — Trustee
- Mary E West — Trustee
- Marc Harper — Trustee
- Timothy Lash — President
- Sally Hallak — CFO & Treasurer
- Shelley M Lyford — CEO And Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,301,036 | $342,300 | $328,719,511 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $33,596,598 | $29,944,404 | $333,413,300 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $63,613,371 | $49,511,228 | $411,230,787 | 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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Applying to Gary and Mary West Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required