Chambers Family Foundation
The Chambers Family Foundation is a private, non-profit grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Eugene, Oregon. The foundation awards grants to residents and organizations, with a focus on building stronger communities through strategic philanthropic support.
Key facts about Chambers Family Foundation
- EIN
- 77-0443168
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,399,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- Average grant
- $109,661
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (11 of 24, 2024)
- Total assets
- $9,613,671
- Primary geography
- California (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Chambers Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Chambers Family Foundation's 31 itemized 2024 grants were California (36%), Massachusetts (32%) and West Virginia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wellesley Hills, MA (4 grants), Stanford, CA (3 grants), Palo Alto, CA (3 grants) and Morgantown, WV (2 grants). 77% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Chambers Family Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 24 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $111K; repeat grants $167K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 538% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Chambers Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Chambers Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.6M
-18.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
+71.7% YoY
Grant Count
31
+63.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$110K
+5.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chambers Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $632K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations and initiatives in the following areas:
- Arts
- Education
- Medical
- Health
- Community
Grantmaking
Recent grants include:
Review Cycle
of March 31st. Applications may be submitted by regular mail or electronically to admin@chambersfamilyfoundation.com.
Ready to take the next step with Chambers Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Chambers Family Foundation awards grants to residents and organizations throughout Oregon's Lane and Benton counties.
Important Note: As of 2026, the foundation announced it will no longer provide financial support to organizations within Deschutes County, reflecting a strategic realignment of funding allocations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 31 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $9,613,671
- Total Giving: $3,399,500
- Revenue: $1,229,188
- Expenses: $3,459,970
Tax-Exempt Status: The foundation has been tax-exempt since February 1997 and is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,613,671 | $11,844,453 | $13,940,175 |
| Revenue | $1,229,188 | $-70,642 | $-1,784,679 |
| Expenses | $3,459,970 | $2,025,080 | $2,807,050 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,399,500 | $1,979,500 | $2,760,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,228,818 | $273,448 | $25,091 |
| Distributable Amount | $631,782 | $742,945 | $931,291 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
127 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Givinga Foundation ($1,000,000 across 4 grants), West Virginia University Foundation ($632,500 across 2 grants), Leland Stanford Junior University ($625,000 across 3 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Morgantown, WV | WVU COLLEGE - MOUNTAINEERS ATHLETIC CLUB | $532,500 |
| LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY Stanford, CA | GIFT TO HOOVER INSTITUTION ON WAR, REVOLUTION, AND PEACE. GIFT WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THE TECH POLICY ACCELERATOR. | $500,000 |
| GIVINGA FOUNDATION Wellesley Hills, MA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $400,000 |
| CDC FOUNDATION Atlanta, GA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| GIVINGA FOUNDATION Wellesley Hills, MA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| GIVINGA FOUNDATION Wellesley Hills, MA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH Palo Alto, CA | THE CHAMBERS PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY CLINICAL TRIAL FUND | $250,000 |
| SECOND HARVEST OF SILICON VALLEY San Jose, CA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $150,000 |
| GIVINGA FOUNDATION Wellesley Hills, MA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Morgantown, WV | WVU COLLEGE - ROCKEFELLER NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was established by Carolyn Silva Chambers (1931-2011), who learned the importance of giving back to the community from her parents.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John T Chambers | President/ CEO | 1 | — |
| Constance E Chambers | Treasurer/CFO/ Secretary | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 61239, Palo Alto, CA 94306-6239
- Telephone: 650-313-2003
- Email: admin@chambersfamilyfoundation.com
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chambers Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations and initiatives in the following areas: • Arts • Education • Medical • Health • Community
How do I apply for a grant from Chambers Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $600,000. **Recent Activity:** The foundation is actively accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Funding Cycle, with a deadline of March 31st. Applications may be submitted by regular mail or electronically to admin@chambersfamilyfoundation.com. Recent grants include: • $250,000 to Anne Arundel County Food Bank's Mobile Pantry • $2,500 to Family Access Network
Where does Chambers Family Foundation make grants?
The Chambers Family Foundation awards grants to residents and organizations throughout Oregon's Lane and Benton counties. **Important Note:** As of 2026, the foundation announced it will no longer provide financial support to organizations within Deschutes County, reflecting a strategic realignment of funding allocations.
What size grants does Chambers Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Chambers Family Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $110K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Chambers Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Chambers Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $632K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Chambers Family Foundation's EIN?
Chambers Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0443168. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.