Charis Fund
Charis Fund is a small, benevolent family trust established in 1938 and based in Newberg, Oregon. It operates as a 501(c)(3) private nonoperating foundation dedicated to supporting nonprofit social service organizations. The fund is non-denominational but frequently utilizes religious organizations for program service distribution.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
+3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$419K
+5.5% YoY
Grant Count
73
-3.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+9.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charis Fund reported a distributable amount of $276K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Charis Fund supports projects focused on social welfare with the following priority areas:
- Housing and homelessness — including shelter expansions and facility improvements
- Food insecurity and feeding programs — food purchase and location expansion
- At-risk youth and education — after-school programs, mentoring support
- Mental health and health care — wrap-around programs for families and children, counseling programs
- Domestic violence — safe house furnishings, violence prevention programs
- Substance abuse — treatment center and program expansion, substance-free housing
The fund prioritizes supporting novel programs aimed at addressing root causes rather than treating symptoms. The trustees prefer to fund projects that initiate or expand programs which, once established, will develop ongoing and sustainable community support, rather than providing ongoing support to established programs. Lower priority is given to requests for operating funds and general support.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to the fund's mission and values.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Grants typically range from $2,500 to $7,500, with a median grant of $5,000.
Review Cycle
** March 31 and September 30
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Charis Fund provides grants to organizations located in:
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- Nevada
These states correspond to areas where the trustees reside. Approximately 97% of all grants support organizations in Washington, California, and Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $3.06 million to $5.5 million (figures vary by source and reporting year)
Annual Revenue: Approximately $343,000 (2023)
Annual Expenses: Approximately $465,000 (2023)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
Annual Giving: $397,000–$419,000 (2023)
The fund has maintained tax-exempt status since April 1940 (EIN: 94-6077619).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,156,412 | $3,063,308 | $3,192,265 |
| Revenue | $593,519 | $342,892 | $371,834 |
| Expenses | $497,566 | $464,595 | $514,974 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $426,657 | $401,748 | $440,263 |
| Net Investment Income | $526,130 | $282,044 | $316,502 |
| Distributable Amount | $276,459 | $256,020 | $208,057 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Charis Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ahat Homecare ($7,500), Family Promise of Metro East ($7,500), Fish Food Bank ($7,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER WAY INC BERKELEY, CA | FOSTER YOUTH WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY | $5,000 |
| ACRES OF DIAMONDS DUVALL, WA | SUPPORT SERVICES - HOMELESS FAMILIES | $5,000 |
| AGAPE VILLAGE PORTLAND, OR | MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT STAFF | $5,000 |
| AHAT HOMECARE TACOMA, WA | ADULT CARE HOME PURCHASES | $7,500 |
| AMANI CENTER ST HELENS, OR | CHILD ABUSE ADVOCACY CENTER | $5,000 |
| ARLINGTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION ARLINGTON, WA | LIBRARY BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BAINBRIDGE YOUTH SERVICES BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA | YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BELONG PARTNERS SEATTLE, WA | ROOTED BEGINNINGS PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF SLO CO SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | MENTORING FOR AT RISK YOUTH | $5,000 |
| BORLAND FREE CLINIC TUALATIN, OR | SUPPORT FOR FREE CLINIC SERVICES | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The fund is governed by 11 officers and trustees who serve without compensation:
- Diana Seder — President
- Peter Dobbins — Vice President
- Michael Chappelle — Secretary
- Deborah Dobbins Warner — Treasurer
- David Chappelle — Trustee
- Andrea D'Anneo Ardzrooni — Trustee
- John D'Anneo — Trustee
- Galen Dobbins — Trustee
- Lewis Dobbins — Trustee
- Tim Knuth — Trustee
- Janet Simmonds Pollak — Trustee
Trustees meet twice per year, typically in early May and November.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANA SEDER | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| PETER DOBBINS | VICE PRESIDE | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL CHAPPELLE | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| DEBORAH DOBBINS WARNER | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| DAVID CHAPPELLE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| ANDREA D'ANNEO ARDZROONI | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JOHN D'ANNEO | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| GALEN DOBBINS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| LEWIS DOBBINS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JANET SIMMONDS POLLAK | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
As of 2026, Charis Fund announced updated funding guidelines in response to a significant increase in requests. The fund now prioritizes organizations with annual operating budgets under $10 million, with organizations exceeding this threshold no longer eligible for consideration.
Applications for the Fall 2026 funding cycle will be accepted beginning in mid-July, with exact dates to be announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charis Fund fund?
Charis Fund supports projects focused on social welfare with the following priority areas: • **Housing and homelessness** — including shelter expansions and facility improvements • **Food insecurity and feeding programs** — food purchase and location expansion • **At-risk youth and education** — after-school programs, mentoring support • **Mental health and health care** — wrap-around programs for families and children, counseling programs • **Domestic violence** — safe house furnishings, viole…
How do I apply for a grant from Charis Fund?
**Grant Size:** Grants typically range from $2,500 to $7,500, with a median grant of $5,000. **Eligibility:** Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with annual operating budgets of $10 million or less. As of 2026, organizations with budgets exceeding $10 million are no longer eligible for grant consideration. **Application Deadlines:** March 31 and September 30 **Recent Activity:** According to the most recent available data, the fund distributed approximately $398,000–$419,000 in annual g…
Where does Charis Fund make grants?
Charis Fund provides grants to organizations located in: • California • Oregon • Washington • Nevada These states correspond to areas where the trustees reside. Approximately 97% of all grants support organizations in Washington, California, and Oregon.
What size grants does Charis Fund award?
In 2024, Charis Fund awarded 73 grants totaling $419K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Charis Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Charis Fund reported a distributable amount of $276K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Charis Fund's EIN?
Charis Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6077619. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charis Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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