Retzer Foundation
Retzer Foundation is a private foundation based in Gualala, California. Its 2025 filing reports 15 grants totaling $11,815 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in humanitarian relief, health, arts, and community services.
Retzer Foundation at a glance
In short: Retzer Foundation gave $12K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $787.667), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $11,815
- -55.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $788
- -55.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $83,999
- +10.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Retzer Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. No application process or required materials are stated.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1470, Gualala, CA 95445
Phone: (707) 785-3618
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Retzer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Partners in Health ($2K). Together the top 10 received $11K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 53 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in California (51%), New York (25%), Massachusetts (17%), New Mexico (2%), and Illinois (2%). The listed grants show support for organizations in those states; they do not establish a broader geographic focus.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How Retzer Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $1K (2022) to $27K (2024). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $12K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Partners in Health Boston, MA | pursue charitable work. | $2,000 |
| Starcross Annapolis, CA | pursue charitable work. | $1,500 |
| International Rescue Committee New York, NY | pursue charitable work. | $1,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | pursue charitable work. | $1,000 |
| Gualala Art Center Gualala, CA | pursue charitable work. | $1,000 |
| Fistual Foundation San Jose, CA | pursue charitable work. | $1,000 |
| North Sonoma Coast Voluntee Firefig The Sea Ranch, CA | pursue charitable work. | $1,000 |
| UNICEF New York, NY | pursue charitable work. | $1,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Ukiah, CA | Pursue charitable work | $750 |
| Destiny Art Center Oakland, CA | pursue charitable work. | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,999 | $20,961 | $13,040 | $11,815 | 15 | $11,815 | $19,736 | — |
| 2024 | $76,078 | $53,655 | $27,826 | $26,530 | 15 | $26,530 | $52,359 | — |
| 2023 | $50,249 | $4,748 | $5,835 | $4,810 | 11 | $4,810 | $3,723 | — |
| 2022 | $51,336 | $-12,610 | $2,025 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | — | — |
| 2021 | $65,971 | $16,245 | $9,475 | $7,500 | 11 | $7,500 | $14,270 | — |
| 2020 | $48,311 | $-132 | $7,506 | $5,300 | 15 | — | — | $2,837 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, which says it responds to humanitarian crises and helps people affected by conflict and disaster; Feeding America, which says it works to advance equitable access to nutritious food; and KQED, which describes its work in public media and education. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $11,815. Grants ranged from $65 to $2,000, with a median grant of $1,000. Notable awards included $2,000 to Partners in Health, $1,500 to Starcross, and $1,000 each to the International Rescue Committee, Doctors Without Borders, Gualala Art Center, Fistual Foundation, North Sonoma Coast Voluntee Firefig, and UNICEF. The filing lists “pursue charitable work” as the purpose for these grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William Retzer, Mary Retzer, and Katherine Schwass as directors.
Retzer Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Katherine Schwass
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary J. Retzer
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William K. Retzer
Director
On filings since 2020
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 Retzer Foundation
How much does Retzer Foundation give each year?
Retzer Foundation gave $12K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 15 grants.
What is Retzer Foundation's typical grant size?
Retzer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $788, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Retzer Foundation give grants?
Retzer Foundation gives mostly in California: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (25%) and Massachusetts (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Retzer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Retzer Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Pursue Charitable Work." (15 grants).
Who are Retzer Foundation's largest grantees?
Retzer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Partners in Health ($2,000), Starcross ($1,500) and International Rescue Committee ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Retzer Foundation?
Retzer Foundation reported $84K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $21K.
What does Retzer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Retzer Foundation?
The foundation 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 Retzer Foundation's EIN?
Retzer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0213714. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Retzer Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Retzer 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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