Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation
The Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation is a private foundation based in Ferndale, California. Its 2025 grants went to organizations and causes including senior services, food programs, scholarships, operations, and local facilities.
Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation at a glance
In short: Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation gave $754K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in California. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $754,482
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +11.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $39,710
- -12.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,000
- Total assets
- $14,966,276
- +4.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (6 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2023 filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists the foundation as the contact, with no form or materials required. Listed restrictions are the William Russ Scholarship, the Salvation Army, Clarke Memorial Museum, needy individuals over age sixty—with particular reference to the Ferndale area—and charitable and educational purposes benefiting Humboldt County residents.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 893, Ferndale, CA 95536
Phone: (707) 786-9236
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ferndale Senior Resource ($303K). Together the top 10 received $691K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 98 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in California. The foundation’s 2023 filing identifies charitable and educational purposes benefiting Humboldt County residents and gives particular reference to the Ferndale area in describing support for needy individuals over age sixty.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 19 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $719K (2022) to $790K (2023). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $754K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ferndale Senior Resource Ferndale, CA | Operating Expenses | $303,100 |
| Ferndale Com Churchseni Ferndale, CA | Food/Senior Program | $197,610 |
| Cal State University Chico, CA | Scholarship | $40,000 |
| Our Savior's Lutheran Church Ferndale, CA | Steeple Repairs | $30,000 |
| Hospice of Humboldt Eureka, CA | Operations | $25,000 |
| Ferndale Museum Ferndale, CA | Operations | $25,000 |
| Cal-Poly University San Luis Obisbo, CA | Scholarships | $22,500 |
| Ferndale Cemetery Association Ferndale, CA | Curb and Fence Work | $20,000 |
| City of Ferndale Ferndale, CA | Friends of the Library | $15,115 |
| Lost Coast Camp Petrolia, CA | Operations | $13,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,966,276 | $1,732,167 | $1,041,029 | $754,482 | 19 | $809,131 | $1,454,706 | $937,369 |
| 2024 | $14,320,967 | $1,183,193 | $1,072,134 | $768,411 | 17 | $820,550 | $917,561 | $842,877 |
| 2023 | $14,138,860 | $992,586 | $1,041,583 | $790,201 | 20 | $843,781 | $779,999 | $765,106 |
| 2022 | $14,173,955 | $1,755,489 | $988,642 | $719,255 | 21 | $1,491,606 | $1,476,386 | $817,795 |
| 2021 | $13,479,329 | $1,897,848 | $832,696 | $725,599 | 21 | — | $1,845,689 | $832,583 |
| 2020 | $12,386,136 | $673,410 | $991,995 | $780,251 | 20 | — | $527,333 | $735,087 |
| 2019 | $12,695,472 | $723,939 | $924,904 | $724,913 | 23 | — | $578,172 | $676,319 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $937K 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 foundation’s 2023 filing lists support for the William Russ Scholarship, the Salvation Army, Clarke Memorial Museum, needy individuals over age sixty—with particular reference to the Ferndale area—and charitable and educational purposes benefiting Humboldt County residents.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations serving different needs. Hospice of Humboldt describes its mission as offering comfortable, peaceful, dignified end-of-life care centered on patients’ goals and wishes. Lost Coast Camp says it offers children opportunities in nature, arts, and friendship, including programs for children who cannot afford camp. The Ferndale Cemetery Association describes its work as disposition of human remains and cemetery maintenance.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $754,482. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $303,100, with a median of $13,000. Its annual grant totals were $768,411 across 17 grants in 2024 and $790,201 across 20 grants in 2023.
Notable 2025 grants included $303,100 to Ferndale Senior Resource for operating expenses; $197,610 to Ferndale Community Church Senior for a food/senior program; $40,000 to California State University, Chico, for scholarships; and $30,000 to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church for steeple repairs. Other grants included $25,000 to Hospice of Humboldt for operations, $25,000 to Ferndale Museum for operations, and $22,500 to Cal Poly University for scholarships.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tom Renner as president; Susan McCarthy Diehl as secretary; Donald Hindley as manager; and Alan Jorgensen, Jack Smith, Jay Russ, Dennis Regli, and James Aste as directors.
Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation is led by Tom Renner, President since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tom Renner
President
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Alan Jorgensen
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Dennis Regli
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jack Smith
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
James Aste
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jay Russ
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Donald Hindley
Manager
On filings since 2019
$45K (2020) → $49K (2025)
Susan McCarthy Diehl
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
$4K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Betty Diehl (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Susan Diehl Mc Carthy (2024) — Secretary
- Former: Jack Russ (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: James Morrison (2019–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $49K, to Donald Hindley (Manager). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation
How much does Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation give each year?
Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation gave $754K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $768K across 17 grants.
What is Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation's typical grant size?
Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $13,000, and its average grant was $39,710, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation give grants?
Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ferndale, CA (13 grants) and Eureka, CA (3 grants).
Does Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (5 grants).
Who are Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation's largest grantees?
Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ferndale Senior Resource ($303,100), Ferndale Com Churchseni ($197,610) and Cal State University ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation?
Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation reported $15.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $809K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $937K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2023 filing lists support for the William Russ Scholarship, the Salvation Army, Clarke Memorial Museum, needy individuals over age sixty—with particular reference to the Ferndale area—and charitable and educational purposes benefiting Humboldt County residents. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation?
The 2023 filing says the foundation 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 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 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bertha-russ-lytel-foundation-morg_0c5ff592fb4945399b0900b8bae35879
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942271250_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bertha-russ-lytel-foundation-morg_0c5ff592fb4945399b0900b8bae35879},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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