Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation
The Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation is a private foundation based in Menlo Park, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including conservation, religious and humanitarian services, medicine, education, and community programs.
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation at a glance
In short: Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation gave $457K across 55 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in California. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $457,000
- +1.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 55
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,309
- +1.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $9,420,269
- +55.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (17 of 53, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (51% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants should contact the Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation with a letter describing the need, the organization’s financial status, and a member of its board of directors. The extent of any award is determined at the board’s discretion.
- Review Cycle
- There are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- There are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation
Mailing address: 5 Pembroke Place, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: (206) 550-3838
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Sempervirens Fund ($55K). Together the top 10 received $190K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
276 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 271 grants of 276 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California recipients received 51% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Washington (10%), New York (6%), Colorado (5%), and Massachusetts (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 53 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 138% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $430K (2020) to $457K (2024). In 2024 it made 55 grants totaling $457K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sempervirens Fund Los Altos, CA | Educational Grant | $55,000 |
| Salvation Army San Francisco, CA | Evangelical Grant | $20,000 |
| Salvation Army - Socal Carson, CA | Evangelical Grant | $20,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | Public Charity | $20,000 |
| International Rescue Committee Albert Lea, MN | Public Charity | $15,000 |
| Map International Brunswick, GA | Medical Grant | $15,000 |
| Palo Alto Medical Foundation Palo Alto, CA | Medical Grant | $15,000 |
| Best Friends Animial Foundation Kanab, UT | Public Charity | $10,000 |
| Camp for All Houston, TX | Public Charity | $10,000 |
| Encompass NW Snoqualmie, WA | Public Charity | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,420,269 | $3,413,368 | $520,919 | $457,000 | 55 | $462,199 | $3,357,723 | $334,986 |
| 2023 | $6,078,531 | $234,796 | $510,036 | $450,000 | 55 | $450,000 | $252,435 | $302,637 |
| 2022 | $6,353,771 | $282,710 | $525,420 | $445,000 | 53 | $445,000 | $283,541 | $314,100 |
| 2021 | $6,596,481 | $452,904 | $502,905 | $445,000 | 58 | $445,000 | $455,914 | $318,912 |
| 2020 | $6,646,482 | $235,400 | $473,671 | $430,000 | 55 | — | $241,626 | $329,848 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $335K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Sempervirens Fund says its mission is to help ensure that coast redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains thrive for generations; the International Rescue Committee says it responds to humanitarian crises and helps people affected by conflict and disaster; and MAP International describes itself as a Christian organization providing medicines and health supplies to people in need.
Other 2024 recipients include Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, which says it engages young people in outdoor service and experiential education; Whidbey Camano Land Trust, which says it works to protect and restore habitats; and Willamette University, which says it connects liberal education with professional practice.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 55 grants totaling $457,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $55,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest listed grant was $55,000 to Sempervirens Fund for an educational grant. Other notable grants included $20,000 each to the Salvation Army in San Francisco, the Salvation Army–SoCal, and Tunnel to Towers Foundation; and $15,000 each to the International Rescue Committee, MAP International, and Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William W Harris as president, Robert N Harris as vice president, John F Harris as treasurer, Jeff Whitsett as secretary, and Kristian Whitsett as a board member.
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation is led by William W. Harris, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William W. Harris
President
President, Secretary & Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John F. Harris
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert N. Harris
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeff Whitsett
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Kristian Whitsett
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jeffrey M. Whitsett (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation
How much does Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation give each year?
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation gave $457K across 55 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $450K across 55 grants.
What is Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation's typical grant size?
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,309, across 55 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation give grants?
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation gives mostly in California: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Washington (10%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Palo Alto, CA (4 grants), San Francisco, CA (4 grants), Seattle, WA (3 grants) and Shelburne Falls, MA (3 grants).
Does Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 55 grants with a stated purpose on Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Grant" (24 grants), "Public Charity" (20 grants) and "Medical Grant" (6 grants).
Who are Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation's largest grantees?
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Sempervirens Fund ($55,000), Salvation Army ($20,000) and Salvation Army - Socal ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation?
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation reported $9.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $462K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $335K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation?
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 Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation's EIN?
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6047161. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/myrtle-l-atkinson-foundation-morg_5787ac61d9124fdabf7c1844b1d0035b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956047161_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/myrtle-l-atkinson-foundation-morg_5787ac61d9124fdabf7c1844b1d0035b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Myrtle L Atkinson 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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