Geomar Foundation Inc
Geomar Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California. Its 2025 filing says it provides grants to registered 501(c)(3) organizations operating in the United States and internationally, across areas including education, social welfare, refugees, health, animal welfare, and the arts.
Geomar Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Geomar Foundation Inc gave $419K across 40 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state California. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $418,500
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 40
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,463
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,519,519
- -17.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (11 of 40, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Geomar Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2805 Parker St, Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 473-5530
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Geomar Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was World Food Program USA ($110K). Together the top 10 received $258K.
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 194 grants of 200 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that California accounted for 41% of grant dollars, the District of Columbia 29%, New York 14%, Minnesota 4%, and Maryland 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Geomar Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 40 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 441% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $339K (2023) to $439K (2022). In 2025 it made 40 grants totaling $419K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| World Food Program USA Washington, DC | General Support | $110,000 |
| Bar Harbor Music Festival New York, NY | General Support | $25,000 |
| Alameda County Food Bank Oakland, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Regents of the University of California Udar Berkeley, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Peninsula Committee Childrens Hospital Palos Verdes Estates, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
| International Rescue Committee Albert Lea, MN | General Support | $15,000 |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation Torrance, CA | General Support | $15,000 |
| South Coast Botanic Garden Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | General Support | $12,500 |
| Anderson Valley Education Foundation Boonville, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Anderson Valley Food Bank Boonville, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Geomar Foundation Inc?
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 | $1,519,519 | $116,030 | $441,537 | $418,500 | 40 | $422,073 | $96,566 | $95,704 |
| 2024 | $1,848,416 | $131,203 | $378,504 | $357,000 | 40 | $359,263 | $111,860 | $108,933 |
| 2023 | $2,068,642 | $93,186 | $356,326 | $339,000 | 38 | $342,237 | $78,722 | $106,305 |
| 2022 | $2,342,522 | $114,136 | $456,352 | $438,500 | 44 | $440,875 | $96,981 | $129,844 |
| 2021 | $2,689,036 | $156,677 | $408,526 | $386,500 | 38 | $405,172 | $151,942 | $163,050 |
| 2020 | $2,945,919 | $39,656 | $408,053 | $386,782 | 33 | — | $118,958 | $155,681 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Geomar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $96K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its activity as providing grants to eligible organizations working in diverse fields, including education, social welfare, refugees, health, animal welfare, and the arts.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate some of the organizations it supports. Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital says it raises funds for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, while Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation describes its work as serving all, especially people who are poor and vulnerable. Brooke USA says it supports sustainable equine welfare programs across several regions. Other grantees include Manes for Movement, which says it uses equine-assisted therapies and activities to support people with special needs; Career Girls, which describes a video-based career exploration and skills development platform for girls; and the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation, which says it provides support and resources to cancer and transplant patients and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 40 grants totaling $418,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $110,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest award was $110,000 to World Food Program USA for general support. Other large grants included $25,000 to Bar Harbor Music Festival and $20,000 each to Alameda County Food Bank, Regents of the University of California UDAR, and Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital, all for general support. The foundation also gave $15,000 to the International Rescue Committee and $10,000 each to Anderson Valley Education Foundation, Anderson Valley Food Bank, the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation, and Brooke USA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists George T Scharffenberger Jr. as president, Ann Scharffenberger as secretary, Joan Scharffenberger as treasurer, and John Scharffenberger, Thomas Scharffenberger, and James Scharffenberger as board members.
Geomar Foundation Inc is led by George T. Scharffenberger Jr., President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George T. Scharffenberger Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Scharffenberger
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Scharffenberger
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Scharffenberger
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Scharffenberger
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Scharffenberger
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Geomar Foundation Inc
How much does Geomar Foundation Inc give each year?
Geomar Foundation Inc gave $419K across 40 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $357K across 40 grants.
What is Geomar Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Geomar Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $10,463, across 40 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Geomar Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does Geomar Foundation Inc give grants?
Geomar Foundation Inc's top state is California, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (29%) and New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (12 grants), San Francisco, CA (4 grants), Boonville, CA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Geomar Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Geomar Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 40) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Geomar Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Geomar Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include World Food Program USA ($110,000), Bar Harbor Music Festival ($25,000) and Alameda County Food Bank ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Geomar Foundation Inc?
Geomar Foundation Inc reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $422K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $96K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Geomar Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation describes its activity as providing grants to eligible organizations working in diverse fields, including education, social welfare, refugees, health, animal welfare, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Geomar Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Geomar Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Geomar Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/geomar-foundation-inc-morg_6c1575b919b744c096684626cde8c5fd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_350677888_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Geomar Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/geomar-foundation-inc-morg_6c1575b919b744c096684626cde8c5fd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Geomar Foundation Inc'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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