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Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.6M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $646,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 1 month (decisions in March)
  • Grant Range: Average $34,000 per grant
  • Geographic Focus: California (organizations working entirely in California or running programs in California)
  • Assets: $21.6 million

Contact Details

Website: www.mcalisterfoundation.org
Phone: 310-288-4391
Email: McAlisterFoundation@gmail.com
Address: 499 North Canon Drive Suite 211, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Overview

The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation was established in 1959 by Harold McAlister to support organizations vital to the Los Angeles community with impact extending beyond the city. As a private family foundation with over $21.6 million in assets, it distributed $646,000 through 19 grants in 2024. The foundation emphasizes "extreme effectiveness" and "pronounced impact on the communities they serve" as core selection criteria. Guided by James Baldwin's quote, "We are responsible for the world in which we find ourselves," the foundation is managed by the McAlister family and maintains long-standing relationships with grantee partners while constantly evolving and creating new connections. The foundation's first donations in 1959 went to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, The Assistance League of Southern California, and St. Anne's Maternity Hospital—demonstrating an enduring commitment to healthcare and social services that continues today.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program focused on supporting public charities across six key areas. With an average grant size of $34,000, the foundation made 19 awards in 2024, 21 in 2023, and 22 in 2022. Applications are accepted through a rolling basis but must be submitted by February 15 for consideration in that fiscal year.

Priority Areas

Healthcare: Medical research, clinical services, children's hospitals, burn foundations, cancer institutes, and health systems

Education: Universities, scholarship programs, educational foundations, and institutions providing access to learning opportunities

Social Services: Organizations serving children and families, child welfare institutes, and community-focused nonprofits providing direct services

Animal Welfare: Animal rescue organizations, humane societies, therapeutic equestrian programs, and search dog foundations

Arts & Culture: Cultural institutions, theatres, and organizations preserving and promoting the arts

Environment: Conservation, preservation efforts, and environmental protection initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The foundation currently only accepts requests from organizations that either work entirely in California or run programs in California. Specific exclusions beyond geographic restrictions are not publicly listed.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a family board of trustees:

Patrick McAlister - President (20 hours per week, compensated at $24,800 annually)
Michael McAlister - Trustee
Mari McAlister - Trustee
Megan Vanderwall - Trustee
Christian Vanderwall - Trustee
Lauren McAlister - Trustee
Sean McAlister - Trustee
Casey McAlister - Trustee

The foundation has maintained family leadership since its founding, with Hobart S. McAlister serving as President in 1974, followed by Patrick McAlister assuming the presidency in 1998. The foundation's leadership philosophy emphasizes being "committed to constantly evolving and creating new connections" while maintaining long-standing relationships established in its early years. According to their website, the foundation is "committed to growing and evolving along with its grantee-partners, listening carefully and staying attuned to the realities faced by those it seeks to serve."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications through a formal written grant request process. Organizations interested in applying should prepare a comprehensive proposal that includes:

  • Organization's mission
  • Description of programs and services
  • Numbers served by the organization
  • Specific funding amount requested
  • Intended use of funds
  • Financial information
  • Current funding sources

Grant guidelines are available in PDF format on the foundation's website. Organizations are encouraged to contact the foundation directly for additional information before submitting a proposal.

Decision Timeline

Application Deadline: February 15 (all grant submissions must be received by this date for consideration in that fiscal year)
Board Review: Monthly reviews of submitted requests
Final Decisions: March
Grant Distribution: April (for approved grants)

The timeline from submission (by February 15) to funding (in April) is approximately 6-10 weeks.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose the number of applications received versus grants awarded. In recent years, the foundation has made:

  • 19 awards in 2024
  • 21 awards in 2023
  • 22 awards in 2022
  • 23 awards in 2021
  • 29 awards in 2020

Note: Some sources indicate the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations," though they maintain an active application process on their website, suggesting they may favor organizations with which they have existing relationships or awareness.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Organizations should inquire directly with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Extreme Effectiveness: The foundation explicitly seeks organizations with "extreme effectiveness" and "pronounced impact on the communities they serve." Applications should provide measurable outcomes and concrete evidence of impact.

Show Long-Term Community Impact: The foundation values lasting, transformative change. Present how your organization creates meaningful, sustained improvements rather than short-term interventions.

Align with Established Relationships: Recent grant recipients include organizations with which the foundation has maintained long-standing partnerships, such as Children's Hospital Los Angeles (dating back to their first grant in 1969). Demonstrating connections to the Los Angeles community and the foundation's network may strengthen applications.

Serve California Communities: Currently, the foundation only accepts requests from organizations working entirely in California or running programs in California. Emphasize the California-specific impact of your work.

Provide Direct Services: The foundation's grantee list shows a preference for organizations providing direct services to vulnerable populations, including children, families, animals, and communities in need.

Recent Grant Examples: Organizations funded by the foundation include Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Stanford University, University of Southern California, Santa Barbara Humane, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, Children's Institute Inc., Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Westside German Shepherd Rescue, Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, and Lobero Theatre Foundation.

Contact Before Applying: The foundation encourages potential applicants to reach out to learn more about whether their organization would be "a great fit," suggesting pre-application contact is welcomed and may improve chances of success.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Submit by February 15: This is a hard deadline for consideration in that fiscal year, with decisions made in March and funding distributed in April
  • Average grant size is $34,000: While specific ranges aren't published, understanding the typical award amount can help calibrate funding requests appropriately
  • Emphasize measurable impact: The foundation explicitly seeks "extreme effectiveness" and "pronounced impact"—quantify outcomes and demonstrate concrete results
  • California focus is essential: Only organizations working entirely in California or running programs in California are currently eligible
  • Relationships may matter: The foundation notes it makes contributions to "preselected charitable organizations," suggesting relationship-building and prior awareness could be beneficial
  • Consider pre-application contact: The foundation welcomes inquiries from organizations that feel they may be "a great fit"—reaching out before the deadline may be strategic
  • Long-term partnerships are valued: The foundation maintains decades-long relationships with grantees like Children's Hospital Los Angeles, suggesting they value sustained impact and ongoing relationships

References

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