Geomar Foundation Inc
GEOMAR Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California, established in 1989 in Nevada as a successor to the Geomar Foundation originally established in New York. The foundation supports diverse areas across the United States and internationally, with a focus on education, environment, health, and religious organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8M
-10.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$357K
+5.3% YoY
Grant Count
40
+5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+0.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Geomar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $109K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide grants to registered 501(c)(3) organizations operating in the United States and internationally. Its funding interests include:
- Education (including higher education)
- Environment (natural resources and land resources)
- Health (in-patient medical care, hospital care, diseases and conditions, cancers)
- Religion (Christianity and Catholicism)
- Social welfare
- Animal welfare
- The arts
- Information and communications (libraries)
- Refugees
Grantmaking
The foundation made 44 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and internationally, including:
California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming. It also funds organizations in major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as smaller towns.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2024):
- Total Assets: $1,848,416
- Total Revenues: $131,203
- Total Expenses: $378,504
- Number of Employees: 0
Previous Fiscal Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $2,068,642
- Total Expenses: $356,326
- Total Revenue: $93,186
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,848,416 | $2,068,642 | $2,342,522 |
| Revenue | $131,203 | $93,186 | $114,136 |
| Expenses | $378,504 | $356,326 | $456,352 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $359,263 | $342,237 | $440,875 |
| Net Investment Income | $111,860 | $78,722 | $96,981 |
| Distributable Amount | $108,933 | $106,305 | $129,844 |
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
193 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Just World International ($50,000), Bar Harbor Music Festival ($25,000), Peninsula Committee Childrens Hosp ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JUST WORLD INTERNATIONAL WELLINGTON, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BAR HARBOR MUSIC FESTIVAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| PENINSULA COMMITTEE CHILDRENS HOSP PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA BERKELEY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE ALBERT LEA, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| SOUTH COAST BOTANIC GARDEN FND RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| PARTNERS IN HEALTH FREDERICK, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| ANDERSON VALLEY EDUCATION FND BOONVILLE, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BONE MARROW AND CANCER FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a voluntary board:
- George T. Scharffenberger Jr. – President
- Ann Scharffenberger – Secretary
- Joan Scharffenberger – Treasurer
- John Scharffenberger – Board Member
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE T SCHARFFENBERGER JR | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| ANN SCHARFFENBERGER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| JOAN SCHARFFENBERGER | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| JOHN SCHARFFENBERGER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| THOMAS SCHARFFENBERGER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JAMES SCHARFFENBERGER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 2805 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94704-3117
- Telephone: 510-473-5530
- Tax ID (EIN): 35-0677888
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Geomar Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide grants to registered 501(c)(3) organizations operating in the United States and internationally. Its funding interests include: • **Education** (including higher education) • **Environment** (natural resources and land resources) • **Health** (in-patient medical care, hospital care, diseases and conditions, cancers) • **Religion** (Christianity and Catholicism) • **Social welfare** • **Animal welfare** • **The arts** • **Information and communicati…
How do I apply for a grant from Geomar Foundation Inc?
The foundation made 44 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include: • Peninsula Committee Children's Hospital: $20,000 (General Support) • World Central Kitchen: $20,000 (General Support) • Bone Marrow and Cancer Foundation: $10,000 (General Support) The foundation provides general support grants to its grantees and makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Where does Geomar Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and internationally, including: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming. It also funds organizations in major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as smaller towns.
What size grants does Geomar Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Geomar Foundation Inc awarded 40 grants totaling $357K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Geomar Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Geomar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $109K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Geomar Foundation Inc's EIN?
Geomar Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-0677888. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Geomar Foundation Inc'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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