Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation
The Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation is a private non-operating foundation established in 1974 and based in Ferndale, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status since January 1976.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.3M
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$768K
-2.8% YoY
Grant Count
17
-15.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
+14.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $843K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides grants primarily to:
- Social service agencies serving the aged and handicapped
- Civic and cultural programs, including libraries and museums
- Elementary and higher education
- Health associations, including hospitals and hospices
- Agricultural funds
- Scholarship program for Ferndale High School seniors planning to attend four-year universities or colleges in California with majors in agriculture (with eligibility extended to Fortuna High School students if no eligible Ferndale students participate)
Grantmaking
Recent grants documented include:
Grant Range
s vary from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on Ferndale, California and the surrounding Humboldt County region. The scholarship program specifically targets Ferndale High School seniors, with secondary consideration for Fortuna High School students.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending September 2024:
- Total Assets: $14,255,794
- Total Revenue: $1,183,193
- Total Expenses: $1,072,134
- Net Income: $111,059
- Total Liabilities: $65,200
Historical Asset Range (2014): $10,000,000 to $49,999,999
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,320,967 | $14,138,860 | $14,173,955 |
| Revenue | $1,183,193 | $992,586 | $1,755,489 |
| Expenses | $1,072,134 | $1,041,583 | $988,642 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $820,550 | $843,781 | $1,491,606 |
| Net Investment Income | $917,561 | $779,999 | $1,476,386 |
| Distributable Amount | $842,877 | $765,106 | $817,795 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ferndale Senior Resource ($260,400), Ferndale Com Churchseni ($139,000), Hospice of Humboldt ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CAL STATE UNIVERSITY CHICO, CA | SCHOLARSHIP | $37,500 |
| CAL STATE UNIVERSITY FRESNO FRESNO, CA | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| CAL-POLY UNIVERSITY SAN LUIS OBISBO, CA | SCHOLARSHIPS | $25,000 |
| CLARKE HISTORICAL MUSEUM EUREKA, CA | BLDG REPAIRS | $2,000 |
| FERN COTTAGE FOUNDATION FERNDALE, CA | BUILDING REPAIRS/OPERATIONS | $35,000 |
| FERNDALE COM CHURCHSENI FERNDALE, CA | FOOD/SENIOR PROGRAM | $139,000 |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHEST FERNDALE, CA | OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH FERNDALE, CA | PASTOR STIPEND | $16,500 |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH FERNDALE, CA | PASTOR HOUSING | $29,930 |
| FERNDALE SENIOR RESOURCE FERNDALE, CA | OPERATING EXPENSES | $260,400 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETTY DIEHL | SECRETARY | 2 | $1,500 |
| ALAN JORGENSEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACK SMITH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DONALD HINDLEY | MANAGER | 10 | $46,088 |
| TOM RENNER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JAY RUSS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DENNIS REGLI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES ASTE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUSAN DIEHL MC CARTHY | SECRETARY | 2 | $2,100 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 893, Ferndale, CA 95536-0893
- Telephone: 707-786-9946
- EIN: 94-2271250
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation fund?
The foundation provides grants primarily to: • Social service agencies serving the aged and handicapped • Civic and cultural programs, including libraries and museums • Elementary and higher education • Health associations, including hospitals and hospices • Agricultural funds • Scholarship program for Ferndale High School seniors planning to attend four-year universities or colleges in California with majors in agriculture (with eligibility extended to Fortuna High School students if no eligib…
How do I apply for a grant from Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation?
Recent grants documented include: • **Ferndale Senior Resource Agency**: $260,400 (2024-09) for operating expenses • **Humboldt County Fair Association**: $17,500 (2024-09) for operations • **Ferndale Museum**: $27,000 (2023-09) for operating expenses • **Humboldt County Historical Society**: Grant amount not specified in available data The foundation appears to provide operational support and general operating grants to local organizations. Grant sizes vary from thousands to hundreds of thousa…
Where does Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses on Ferndale, California and the surrounding Humboldt County region. The scholarship program specifically targets Ferndale High School seniors, with secondary consideration for Fortuna High School students.
What size grants does Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation award?
In 2024, Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $768K — an average of about $45K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $843K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation's EIN?
Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2271250. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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