Arata Brothers Trust
Arata Brothers Trust is a private foundation based in Carmichael, California, that supports educational programs and local initiatives, with an emphasis on children and the Sacramento area. The trust says it was established in 1979 to honor brothers Andrew, Charles, and Frank Arata, whose grocery business served the Sacramento community.
Arata Brothers Trust at a glance
In short: Arata Brothers Trust gave $336K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $335,500
- -3.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,938
- -3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $7,021,819
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Arata Brothers Trust
- How to Apply
-
The trust does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing directs applicants to contact Matson Sewell and says submission information is available on the trust’s website. Awards are restricted to the Sacramento Region.
- Contact
Application contact: Matson Sewell
Mailing address: 5151 Arden Way 6, Carmichael, CA 95608
Phone: (650) 815-5573
Email: info@aratabrotherstrust.org
Website: https://aratabrotherstrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Arata Brothers Trust
Who Arata Brothers Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was 916 Ink ($119K across 2 grants). Together the top 7 received $336K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 48 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust says it prioritizes beneficiaries in the Sacramento area. In 2025, 85% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 15% to recipients in Nevada; the filing states a Sacramento Region restriction on awards.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Arata Brothers Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $336K (2025) to $350K (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $336K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Improve Your Tomorrow Sacramento, CA | IYT Scholars building redevelopment | $100,000 |
| 916 Ink Sacramento, CA | Read On! Reading tutor program support | $59,250 |
| 916 Ink Sacramento, CA | Read On! Reading tutor program support | $59,250 |
| Sierra Nevada Journeys Reno, NV | Grizzly Creek Ranch | $50,000 |
| Womens Empowerment Sacramento, CA | Workforce prep for homeless women | $25,000 |
| SPLASH Sacramento Sacramento, CA | Agriculture, Water, Energy, and the Environment (Project AWE) | $20,000 |
| Society for the Blind Sacramento, CA | Support for blind students CAREERS program | $12,000 |
| Yolo Basin Foundation Davis, CA | Discover the Flyaway school program | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The trust files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,021,819 | $607,632 | $493,009 | $335,500 | 8 | $399,484 | $568,187 | $345,836 |
| 2024 | $6,984,188 | $3,812,662 | $481,775 | $347,525 | 8 | $441,097 | $3,774,653 | $166,429 |
| 2023 | $3,578,586 | $389,149 | $672,308 | $350,000 | 12 | $443,511 | $333,749 | $374,209 |
| 2022 | $3,858,923 | $1,190,581 | $516,003 | $350,000 | 11 | $432,814 | $657,615 | $299,118 |
| 2021 | $3,190,522 | $360,901 | $513,332 | $349,533 | 9 | $467,721 | $197,102 | $306,333 |
| 2020 | $3,268,817 | $344,086 | $525,157 | $342,615 | 13 | — | $161,544 | $308,344 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arata Brothers Trust reported a distributable amount of $346K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust’s stated mission is “to enhance the quality of life in the Sacramento area through innovative and effective educational youth programs.” Its website also describes a focus on enriching children’s lives through education.
Its 2025 grants included educational and youth programs, literacy, outdoor science education, workforce preparation, services for blind students, and wetlands education. Among its grantees, Improve Your Tomorrow says its mission is to increase the number of young men of color who attend and graduate from four-year colleges and universities. 916 Ink describes its work as empowering Sacramento youth through creative writing, literacy workshops, and tutoring. Sierra Nevada Journeys says it delivers outdoor, science-based education for youth, while Yolo Basin Foundation describes its work as promoting appreciation and stewardship of wetlands and wildlife through education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust awarded $335,500 across eight grants. The median grant was $37,500, with awards ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Notable awards included $100,000 to Improve Your Tomorrow for IYT Scholars building redevelopment; two grants of $59,250 each to 916 Ink for Read On! reading tutor program support; $50,000 to Sierra Nevada Journeys for Grizzly Creek Ranch; and $25,000 to Women’s Empowerment for workforce preparation for homeless women.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dorothy Matson Sewell, August Sewell, and Lisa Malvini as trustees.
Arata Brothers Trust's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dorothy Matson Sewell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$32K (2020) → $20K (2025)
Lisa Malvini
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $20K (2025)
August Sewell
Trustee
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
$15K (2023) → $20K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mark Sewell (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $20K, to Dorothy Matson Sewell (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Arata Brothers Trust
How much does Arata Brothers Trust give each year?
Arata Brothers Trust gave $336K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $348K across 8 grants.
What is Arata Brothers Trust's typical grant size?
Arata Brothers Trust's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $41,938, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Arata Brothers Trust give grants?
Arata Brothers Trust gives mostly in California: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Nevada (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sacramento, CA (6 grants).
Does Arata Brothers Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Arata Brothers Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Arata Brothers Trust's largest grantees?
Arata Brothers Trust's largest 2025 grantees include 916 Ink ($118,500 across 2 grants), Improve Your Tomorrow ($100,000) and Sierra Nevada Journeys ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Arata Brothers Trust?
Arata Brothers Trust reported $7.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $399K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $346K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Arata Brothers Trust fund?
The trust’s stated mission is “to enhance the quality of life in the Sacramento area through innovative and effective educational youth programs.” Its website also describes a focus on enriching children’s lives through education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arata Brothers Trust?
The trust does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Arata Brothers Trust's EIN?
Arata Brothers Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7204615. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
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