The Joe MacPherson Foundation focuses on large, place-based charitable investments primarily benefiting Orange County and a few select regional partners. Its giving centers on youth development, community philanthropy, arts and culture, support for survivors of domestic violence, and occasional higher-education gifts, often delivered as substantial, repeat grants to established organizations.
A $1,036,000 grant to Orange County Community Foundation in 2025 stands out in The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc’s recent giving and points to a pattern of large, place-based commitments rather than many small awards. The foundation’s work is centered on Orange County and nearby regional partners, with repeated support for local community institutions that serve youth, families, and cultural life. That includes multi-year grants to Boys and Girls Club of Central OC, which received $390,000 in 2025, $375,000 in 2024, and $280,000 in 2023, showing a consistent relationship over time. Arts funding is another visible thread: Pacific Symphony in Irvine received $200,000 in 2025, $175,000 in 2024, and $125,000 in 2023. The foundation also backs domestic violence survivor services, with Laura’s House receiving $175,000 in 2023, $175,000 in 2024, and $100,000 in 2025. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is clear: substantial awards to established organizations operating in Southern California and a few selected partners beyond it.
Community philanthropy and endowment support appears through major grants to community foundations. In 2025, The Joe MacPherson Foundation Inc gave $1,036,000 to Orange County Community Foundation in Irvine, and in 2024 it gave $200,000 to Hawaii Community Fdn in Honolulu. Youth development is another core area: Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC in Tustin received $100,000 in 2023, $100,000 in 2024, and $100,000 in 2025, while Boys and Girls Club of Central OC received recurring seven-figure-scale support across three years. The foundation also funds family stabilization and domestic violence services. Laura’s House in Ladera Ranch received $175,000 in 2023, $175,000 in 2024, and $100,000 in 2025. In the food-access and basic-needs space, Meals on Wheels in Anaheim received $50,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025.
The recent grants show a typical size profile of $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, with many awards above that level. The foundation also makes especially large anchor gifts, including seven-figure support to Orange County Community Foundation and repeated six-figure awards to established local nonprofits. Recurring relationships are common: Boys and Girls Club of Central OC, Pacific Symphony, Laura’s House, Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC, Meals on Wheels, Second Harvest of OC, Hoag Hospital Foundation, and Casa all appear in multiple years. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$3.1M
$29.6M
$6M
$3.5M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving with repeat multi-year or multi-grant relationships; relatively few grants overall but large amounts to established local institutions rather than many small, one-off awards.
Notable grantees: Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), Boys and Girls Club of Central Orange County, Pacific Symphony, Laura's House, University of Puget Sound
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in California, which accounts for 84% of grants and is the top giving state. Within the recent list, Irvine, Santa Ana, Tustin, Anaheim, Orange, Newport Beach, and Ladera Ranch appear repeatedly, showing a strong Orange County footprint. Outside California, the foundation gives selectively in Washington and Hawaii, including Tacoma, Seattle, and Honolulu. The overall recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports established local organizations in youth development, community philanthropy, performing arts, domestic violence survivor services, and higher education. Recent grants include recurring support for Boys and Girls Club of Central OC, Orange County Community Foundation, Pacific Symphony, and Laura’s House.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years. Boys and Girls Club of Central OC received $280,000 in 2023, $375,000 in 2024, and $390,000 in 2025. Laura’s House, Pacific Symphony, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC also received grants in more than one year.
California is the main geography for this foundation’s grantmaking, with 84% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent recipients are concentrated in Orange County cities such as Irvine, Santa Ana, Tustin, Anaheim, Orange, Newport Beach, and Ladera Ranch.
The grant-size distribution is centered on relatively large awards: the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. The recent grants list also shows much larger anchor gifts, including a $1,036,000 grant in 2025.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Club of Central OC | Irvine, CA | $800,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC | Tustin, CA | $250,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Laura's House | Ladera Ranch, CA | $250,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Pacific Symphony | Irvine, CA | $250,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Meals on Wheels | Anaheim, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Second Harvest of OC | Irvine, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Orangewood Childrens Fdn | Santa Ana, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Community Action Partnership OC | Garden Grove, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Brackens Kitchen | Garden Grove, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| CASA | Orange, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Hoag Hospital Foundation | Newport Beach, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Homeboy Industries | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| The Friendly Center | Orange, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| ST Joseph Hospital FDN | Orange, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| OC Rescue Mission | Tustin, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Share Our Selves | Costa Mesa, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Pathways of Hope | Fullerton, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Maui County Food Bank | Wailuku, HI | $50,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| CHOC Childrens Fdn | Orange, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Grandma's House of Hope | Orange, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Families Forward | Des Moines, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Gallatin Valley Food Bank | Bozeman, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Laguna Food Pantry | Laguna Beach, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Colettes Children's Home | Huntington Beach, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Amigos De Los Ninos | La Habra, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Delhi Center | Santa Ana, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Rooster Foundation | Tustin, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Orange Unitied Public Schools Fdn | Orange, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame | Placerville, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Orange County Comm Fdn OCCF | Irvine, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| CASA Teresa | Orange, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Project Kinship | Santa Ana, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| SPIN Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | Charitable |
| Orange County Comm Fdn OCCF | Irvine, CA | $1,036,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Boys and Girls Club of Central OC | Irvine, CA | $390,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Pacific Symphony | Irvine, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC | Tustin, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Laura's House | Ladera Ranch, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Hawaii Community Fdn | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Second Harvest of OC | Irvine, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Meals on Wheels | Anaheim, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| CASA | Orange, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Hoag Hospital Foundation | Newport Beach, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| ST Joseph Hospital FDN | Orange, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Brackens Kitchen | Garden Grove, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame | Placerville, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Orangewood Childrens Fdn | Santa Ana, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| CHOC Childrens Fdn | Orange, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| Homeboy Industries | Los Angeles, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
| The Priority Center | Santa Ana, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Charitable |
Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC
$250,000Charitable
Laura's House
$250,000Charitable
Meals on Wheels
$200,000Charitable
Second Harvest of OC
$200,000Charitable
Orangewood Childrens Fdn
$100,000Charitable
Community Action Partnership OC
$100,000Charitable
CASA
$75,000Charitable
The Friendly Center
$50,000Charitable
ST Joseph Hospital FDN
$50,000Charitable
Share Our Selves
$50,000Charitable
CHOC Childrens Fdn
$30,000Charitable
Gallatin Valley Food Bank
$25,000Charitable
Colettes Children's Home
$25,000Charitable
Amigos De Los Ninos
$25,000Charitable
Delhi Center
$25,000Charitable
Rooster Foundation
$25,000Charitable
Orange Unitied Public Schools Fdn
$25,000Charitable
Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame
$25,000Charitable
Project Kinship
$20,000Charitable
SPIN Inc
$10,000Charitable
Boys and Girls Club of Central OC
$390,000Charitable
Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC
$100,000Charitable
Laura's House
$100,000Charitable
Second Harvest of OC
$50,000Charitable
Meals on Wheels
$50,000Charitable
CASA
$50,000Charitable
ST Joseph Hospital FDN
$30,000Charitable
Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame
$25,000Charitable
Orangewood Childrens Fdn
$25,000Charitable
CHOC Childrens Fdn
$20,000Charitable