The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation names Los Angeles as a priority and says it also supports organisations whose work reaches beyond the city, so a Los Angeles-based charity working in healthcare, education, social services, animal welfare, arts and culture or environmental protection should find its interests close to the foundation's.
- Most of its grants are modest: half of its grants to organisations were $15,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fell between $5,000 and $100,000, so a request in that range is typical, though its largest grant was $250,000.
- Requests go by email before the annual deadline of February 15, and the board weighs fit with its funding priorities, the measurable impact of the proposed contribution, and the organisation's history of success, impact and growth, so your request should address each of these.
- In its latest filing, 55% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the two filings before, so building a relationship over time may matter.
Overview
The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Beverly Hills, 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 Foundation primarily supports healthcare and education, alongside social services, animal welfare, arts and culture, and the environment. It makes grants to public charities. It supports organisations vital to the Los Angeles community whose work extends beyond the city, and describes its grantees as extremely effective and having a pronounced impact on the communities they serve. In assessing requests, the Board considers fit with its funding priorities, the effectiveness and measurable impact of the proposed contribution, and the organisation’s history of success, impact and growth. The Foundation is committed to evolving alongside its grantee-partners, listening carefully and staying attuned to the realities faced by those it seeks to serve.
Themes
- Healthcare
- Education
- Social services
- Animal welfare
- Arts and culture
- Environmental protection
Geographic Focus
Priority: Los Angeles.
How to apply
Organisations submit grant requests by email.
Deadlines: Grant requests have an annual deadline of February 15.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 55% 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 69 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Board considers how the organisation and specific proposal relate to its funding priorities and areas of giving.
- The Board considers how effectively and measurably the contribution will affect the research or community served.
- The Board considers the organisation’s history of success, impact and growth.
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 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 55% of grant dollars went to organisations The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 29 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Santa Barbara Humane · Charitable-unrestricted$250,0002024 tax year
- Casa del Herrero · Charitable-unrestricted$200,0002024 tax year
- Catalina Island Conservancy · Charitable-unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- Saint John's Cancer Institute · Charitable-unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- Cottage Health · Charitable-unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara · Charitable-unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- University of Southern California · Charitable-unrestricted$50,0002024 tax year
- Beverly Hills Education Foundation · Charitable-unrestricted$35,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Christian J Vanderwall — Trustee
- Sean Mcalister — Trustee
- Michael Mcalister — Trustee
- Megan Mcalister — Trustee
- Mari Mcalister — Trustee
- Lauren Mcalister — Trustee
- James Patrick Mcalister — President / Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $997,367 | $509,900 | $20,866,997 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,164,110 | $646,000 | $22,934,600 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,777,744 | $1,237,000 | $23,200,928 | 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 Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- mcalisterfoundation@gmail.com
- Beverly Hills, CA
- mcalisterfoundation.org
Applying to The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- mcalisterfoundation@gmail.com
- Beverly Hills, CA
- mcalisterfoundation.org