The Lisa & Steve Altman Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on biomedical research and health-related institutions with a clear local tilt toward La Jolla/San Diego. Major gifts support university infrastructure and translational medical research (including diabetes and neurological conditions), alongside event-based cancer fundraising and a smaller stream to civic/community initiatives. The foundation favors a small number of substantive, repeat investments rather than many one-off gifts.
Concentrated, relatively large gifts with multiple repeat grants to a handful of core grantees; funding emphasizes research/medical causes and local institutional support rather than many small or geographically diffuse grants.
A defining feature of The Lisa & Steve Altman Family Foundation is its repeated support for University of California San Diego Foundation building funds, including grants of $260,000 in 2023, $250,000 in 2024, and $251,018 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder willing to make large, multi-year capital commitments rather than scattering smaller checks across many causes. The foundation’s giving also centers on health and medical research, with significant support for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Neurolab 360. Those grants sit alongside philanthropy tied to cancer fundraising and patient services through Curebound and Pedal the Cause, showing an emphasis on biomedical research and related community health infrastructure. Their portfolio also includes civic and cultural organizations in the San Diego area, such as Civica Foundation, Old Globe Theatre, and La Jolla Playhouse, but the core of the foundation’s work remains health-related institutions and university-based research support. The recipient mix suggests a local, relationship-oriented style of philanthropy with a clear preference for substantial general or building-fund support.
University infrastructure is a major theme in the foundation’s giving. The largest recent grants to University of California San Diego Foundation were designated for a building fund, including a $251,018 gift in 2025. Biomedical research is another sustained focus: they gave $181,460 to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in 2025 for general fund support. Neurological research appears as well, with a $75,000 grant to Neurolab 360 in 2025 and a $127,357 grant in 2023 for general fund support. Cancer-related giving also shows up through patient-focused fundraising and services, including $52,500 to Curebound in 2025 and $50,105 to Pedal the Cause in 2023.
Typical awards are modest relative to the largest gifts, with a p25 of $518, a median grant of $1,024, and a p75 of $5,000. At the same time, the foundation makes a small number of much larger commitments, especially for building funds and core program support. The recent record shows repeat grants to the same organizations across multiple years, including university, diabetes, neurology, and cancer-related recipients. That pattern suggests recurring relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a family foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$606K
$936K
$572K
$611K
Most grants fall between $518 and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$518
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Lisa & Steve Altman Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 82 | $1.8M | 96.5% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Notable grantees: University of California San Diego Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Neurolab 360, Curebound, Pedal the Cause
Giving is heavily concentrated in California, which accounts for 68% of grants. San Diego and nearby coastal cities appear repeatedly, including La Jolla, San Diego, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar. Outside California, grants also land in places such as Lehi, UT; Oklahoma City, OK; Boca Raton, FL; Northbrook, IL; and Tampa, FL. The recipient-country distribution is overwhelmingly domestic, with 82 grants to U.S. organizations and 3 to Canadian recipients.
The foundation’s recent grants center on biomedical research and health-related institutions, especially university-based infrastructure, diabetes research, neurological research, and cancer-related fundraising or patient services. It also supports a smaller stream of civic and cultural organizations in the San Diego area.
It shows a recurring pattern. Several organizations received grants in multiple years, including University of California San Diego Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Neurolab 360, Curebound, and Pedal the Cause. That points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
The distribution is small at the center and much larger at the high end: p25 is $518, the median is $1,024, and p75 is $5,000. Even so, the foundation also makes larger strategic gifts, particularly for building funds and general operating support.
California receives the most grants, with 68% going to recipients in the HQ state. The most common recipient locations include La Jolla, San Diego, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 |
| $703 |
3.5% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $251,018 | 2025 | BUILDING FUND |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $181,460 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NEUROLAB 360 | ENCINITAS, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CUREBOUND | SAN DIEGO, CA | $52,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FARMLINK PROJECT | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MEALS ON WHEELS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| STAND AMONG FRIENDS | BOCA RATON, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHILDRENS HEART FOUNDATION | NORTHBROOK, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| DIABETES RESEARCH CONNECTION | DEL MAR, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MILES FOR MOFFITT | TAMPA, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YOUNGSTOWN JEWISH FEDERATION | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SUSAN G KOMEN | CHICAGO, IL | $1,040 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TEMPLE ADAT SHALOM | POWAY, CA | $1,036 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | LA JOLLA, CA | $1,018 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| LAWRENCE FAMILY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | LA JOLLA, CA | $1,018 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,018 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FREEDOMDOGS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TEMPLE EL EMETH | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $518 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SEACREST FOUNDATION | ENCINITAS, CA | $518 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES | SAN DIEGO, CA | $518 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | SAN DIEGO, CA | $516 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHRIS DUDLEY FOUNDATION | TURNER, OR | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION | DANVERS, MA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION NEW ENGLAND | WELLESLEY, MA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SIGMA DELTA | SAN DIEGO, CA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PROMISES2KIDS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION CANADA | OTTAWA, ON | $184 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | BUILDING FUND |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $147,353 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| CUREBOUND | SAN DIEGO, CA | $44,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| PEDAL THE CAUSE | SOLANA BEACH, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| SYNERGY DOG GIVES BACK | LONGMONT, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL FUND | GLENDALE, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE | LA JOLLA, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| RADY'S CHILDRENS HOSPITAL | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| NEUROLAB 360 | ENCINITAS, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| DIABETES RESEARCH CONNECTION | DEL MAR, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TEMPLE EL EMETH | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,036 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| BEST BUDDIES | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,029 | 2024 | GENERAL FUD |
| LAWRENCE FAMILY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | LA JOLLA, CA | $1,018 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,018 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,018 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| YOUNGSTOWN JEWISH FEDERATION | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| SIGMA DELTA | SAN DIEGO, CA | $865 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| AMERICAN LIVER FOUNDATION | WEST ORANGE, NJ | $773 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| SEACREST FOUNDATION | ENCINITAS, CA | $518 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES | SAN DIEGO, CA | $518 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TEMPLE ADAT SHALOM | POWAY, CA | $518 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$181,460GENERAL FUND
GENERAL FUND
MEALS ON WHEELS
$3,000GENERAL FUND
STAND AMONG FRIENDS
$2,500GENERAL FUND
MILES FOR MOFFITT
$2,500GENERAL FUND
YOUNGSTOWN JEWISH FEDERATION
$1,500GENERAL FUND
SUSAN G KOMEN
$1,040GENERAL FUND
TEMPLE ADAT SHALOM
$1,036GENERAL FUND
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$1,018GENERAL FUND
LAWRENCE FAMILY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
$1,018GENERAL FUND
JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN DIEGO
$1,018GENERAL FUND
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL FUND
FREEDOMDOGS
$1,000GENERAL FUND
TEMPLE EL EMETH
$518GENERAL FUND
CHRIS DUDLEY FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL FUND
SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL FUND
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION NEW ENGLAND
$500GENERAL FUND
SIGMA DELTA
$500GENERAL FUND
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION CANADA
$184GENERAL FUND
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$147,353GENERAL FUND
PEDAL THE CAUSE
$25,000GENERAL FUND
SYNERGY DOG GIVES BACK
$5,000GENERAL FUND
ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL FUND
$5,000GENERAL FUND
TEMPLE EL EMETH
$1,036GENERAL FUND
BEST BUDDIES
$1,029GENERAL FUD
LAWRENCE FAMILY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
$1,018GENERAL FUND
AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS
$1,018GENERAL FUND
YOUNGSTOWN JEWISH FEDERATION
$1,000GENERAL FUND
SIGMA DELTA
$865GENERAL FUND
TEMPLE ADAT SHALOM
$518GENERAL FUND