Tarbell Family Foundation
The Tarbell Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1993 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation operates as a trust with limited staffing, relying on uncompensated trustees to manage its philanthropic activities.
Key facts about Tarbell Family Foundation
- EIN
- 93-1104762
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $731,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 139
- Average grant
- $5,263
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $12,524,139
- Primary geography
- California (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation indicates "preselected only" status, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tarbell Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Tarbell Family Foundation's 139 itemized 2024 grants were California (60%), Oregon (15%) and Massachusetts (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Bragg, CA (14 grants), Berkeley, CA (11 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants) and San Francisco, CA (8 grants). 65% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.5M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$732K
+5.7% YoY
Grant Count
139
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+5.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tarbell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $870K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its public filings. However, grant activity indicates support across diverse areas including education, charitable events, and cultural collections. The foundation has funded general and unrestricted grants, educational programs, and charitable events. Notable support includes funding for the Arabic, Turkish, and Persian collections at Van Pelt-Dietrich.
Grantmaking
The foundation indicates "preselected only" status, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Grant Range
$1,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Tarbell Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across numerous U.S. cities and states, including major urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities. Support extends to states including California, New York, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $12,589,790
- Total Revenue: $875,899
- Total Expenses: $892,698
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $692,000
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with assets in the top 10% of U.S. foundations by size.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,524,139 | $12,589,790 | $12,606,589 |
| Revenue | $869,251 | $875,899 | $633,818 |
| Expenses | $934,902 | $892,698 | $1,105,809 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $804,106 | $759,121 | $973,777 |
| Net Investment Income | $737,974 | $746,278 | $501,496 |
| Distributable Amount | $870,084 | $762,224 | $807,834 |
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
714 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Stoneleigh-burnham School ($85,000 across 2 grants), Middle East Childrens Alliance ($45,000 across 2 grants), Shawl-anderson Modern Dance Center ($38,000 across 4 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| STONELEIGH-BURNHAM SCHOOL GREENFIELD, MA | Fulfillment of Spring 2024 | $50,000 |
| MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCE BERKELEY, CA | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| WATERSHED RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTER HAYFORK, CA | Coaching and mentoring with live fire; support continued growth and development of WRTC's fire program; continued training of WRTC's fire staff including Wilderness First Responder certification | $37,000 |
| STONELEIGH-BURNHAM SCHOOL GREENFIELD, MA | General & Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| SHAWL-ANDERSON MODERN DANCE CENTER OAKLAND, CA | General & Unrestricted | $29,000 |
| EAST BAY GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL EMERYVILLE, CA | General & Unrestricted | $27,000 |
| CASPAR COMMUNITY CASPAR, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| HISTORICAL SITES SOCIETY OF ARCATA INCORPORATED ARCATA, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION PORTLAND, OR | support of the Middle East Studies center | $25,000 |
| PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF CALI BERKELEY, CA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by three trustees:
- Patricia T Leiser (Trustee)
- James Tarbell (Trustee)
- Harry Tarbell III (Trustee)
All trustees serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia T Leiser | Trustee | 2 | — |
| James Tarbell | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Harry Tarbell III | Trustee | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tarbell Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its public filings. However, grant activity indicates support across diverse areas including education, charitable events, and cultural collections. The foundation has funded general and unrestricted grants, educational programs, and charitable events. Notable support includes funding for the Arabic, Turkish, and Persian collections at Van Pelt-Dietrich.
How do I apply for a grant from Tarbell Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 104 grants in 2023 totaling approximately $692,000 • Median grant size: $1,000 • Grant range: $250 to $59,000 • Recent notable grants include $59,000 to East Bay German International School and $53,000 and $40,000 to Stoneleigh-Burnham School **Application Process:** The foundation indicates "preselected only" status, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Where does Tarbell Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across numerous U.S. cities and states, including major urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities. Support extends to states including California, New York, and Texas.
What size grants does Tarbell Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Tarbell Family Foundation awarded 139 grants totaling $732K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Tarbell Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tarbell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $870K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Tarbell Family Foundation's EIN?
Tarbell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1104762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Tarbell Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. The foundation indicates "preselected only" status, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tarbell Family Foundation'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.