The Lucille and Ronald Neeley Foundation concentrates its resources into a very small number of large grants, primarily channeling major gifts into philanthropic vehicles and locally focused arts organizations. Most dollars go toward funding donor-advised/charitable-fund recipients and a smaller portion supports San Diego visual and performing arts groups, suggesting a mix of legacy/financial stewardship and hands-on cultural philanthropy.
Highly concentrated giving: very few grants with two multi-million-dollar transfers accounting for the bulk of assets, plus a handful of mid-to-large awards to local arts organizations; more occasional direct program-level arts funding rather than broad, diversified grantmaking.
National Philanthropic Trust, LA Atalaya Fund, Theater and Arts Foundation of San Diego County, Installation Gallery
The Lucille and Ronald Neeley Foundation’s most distinctive recent pattern is its use of very large general-support grants to donor-advised and charitable-fund vehicles, alongside smaller gifts to San Diego arts organizations. In 2024, National Philanthropic Trust in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania received $4,929,994, and La Atalaya Fund in New York received $3,850,000. Those two grants account for most of the foundation’s recent giving by dollar volume and show that much of its activity moves through philanthropic intermediaries rather than direct operating grants alone. At the same time, the foundation also supports local cultural institutions in Southern California. Recent gifts include general support for Theater and Arts Foundation of San Diego County in La Jolla and Installation Gallery in La Jolla. The grant pattern suggests a foundation that combines legacy or stewardship-oriented giving with targeted arts support, using flexible funding rather than restricted project awards. Its annual grants total $9,074,587, and the typical grant size range is wide, with a median far below the largest awards because a few very large grants dominate the distribution.
One clear theme is support for philanthropic vehicles. The foundation gave $4,929,994 to National Philanthropic Trust for general support, followed by $3,850,000 to La Atalaya Fund for general support. Those awards indicate a strong emphasis on intermediary structures and flexible funding. Arts support is another visible thread. In 2023, Theater and Arts Foundation of San Diego County received $100,000 for general support, and Installation Gallery received $42,500 for general support. Both recipients are in La Jolla, linking the foundation’s arts giving to its Southern California footprint. The foundation also shows continuity in its intermediary giving. La Atalaya Fund appeared in both 2023 and 2024, with $150,000 in 2023 and a much larger 2024 grant, suggesting repeat support rather than one-off giving.
The typical grant size is large, with a 25th percentile of $56,875, a median of $125,000, and a 75th percentile of $2,925,000. That spread shows a highly concentrated pattern in which a small number of outsized grants drive most of the dollars. The recent record also shows repeat support to the same recipient across multiple years, including La Atalaya Fund and National Philanthropic Trust. Grants are reported as general support, and the foundation does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$8.8M
$0
$4K
$15K
Most grants fall between $57K and $2.9M, with a median of $125K.
25th Percentile
$57K
Median
$125K
75th Percentile
$2.9M
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The foundation’s giving is regional and lands entirely in the United States in the recent grants shown. Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, driven by National Philanthropic Trust in Jenkintown. California is also a major destination, with 33% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent California recipients include Theater and Arts Foundation of San Diego County and Installation Gallery, both in La Jolla. New York appears as another recipient location through La Atalaya Fund in New York.
Recent grants show two main patterns: large general-support grants to philanthropic vehicles such as National Philanthropic Trust and La Atalaya Fund, and general-support gifts to San Diego arts organizations such as Theater and Arts Foundation of San Diego County and Installation Gallery.
Yes. La Atalaya Fund appears in both 2023 and 2024, with $150,000 in 2023 and $3,850,000 in 2024. National Philanthropic Trust also appears more than once in the recent grants list.
The foundation’s grant sizes are skewed upward. The 25th percentile is $56,875, the median is $125,000, and the 75th percentile is $2,925,000, reflecting a few very large awards alongside smaller grants.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count. California also receives a substantial share, with 33% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state, and recent New York giving appears through La Atalaya Fund in New York.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $4,929,994 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LA ATALAYA FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $3,850,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $2,093 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LA ATALAYA FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THEATER AND ARTS FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY | LA JOLLA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTALLATION GALLERY | LA JOLLA, CA | $42,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST
$4,929,994GENERAL SUPPORT
LA ATALAYA FUND
$3,850,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST
$2,093GENERAL SUPPORT
LA ATALAYA FUND
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THEATER AND ARTS FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INSTALLATION GALLERY
$42,500GENERAL SUPPORT