The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation is a private foundation based in Downey, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including educational, cultural, community, and service organizations.
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation gave $46K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in California. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $45,500
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,068
- +6.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $1,203,399
- -3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (7 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (70% 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 The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 8112 Florence Ave, Downey, CA 90240
Phone: (562) 301-3827
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was California Baptist University ($7K). Together the top 10 received $33K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 97 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 14% to Wyoming, 11% to Ohio, and 4% to Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 22 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 809% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2023) to $46K (2025). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California Baptist University Riverside, CA | Operating Funds | $7,000 |
| Delta Zeta Foundation Oxford, OH | Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Heart Mountain WY Foundation Powell, WY | Operating Funds | $4,500 |
| Orange Coast Optimist Club of G G Santa Ana, CA | Operating Funds | $4,000 |
| Cultural Heritage Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Operating Funds | $2,000 |
| Downey Unified School District Downey, CA | Operating Funds | $2,000 |
| Japanese American Cultural CC Los Angeles, CA | Operating Funds | $2,000 |
| City of Hope Defuniak Springs, WY | Operating Funds | $2,000 |
| Sanctuary of Universal Love Burlington, CT | Operating Funds | $2,000 |
| La Sierra University Riverside, CA | Operating Funds | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,203,399 | $38,789 | $79,870 | $45,500 | 22 | $60,988 | $19,907 | $7,535 |
| 2024 | $1,244,480 | $49,924 | $72,604 | $39,000 | 20 | $55,025 | $32,379 | $58,810 |
| 2023 | $1,267,160 | $31,357 | $65,396 | $37,500 | 18 | $50,196 | $16,181 | $59,778 |
| 2022 | $1,301,199 | $19,683 | $79,177 | $40,000 | 21 | $56,979 | $1,737 | $64,218 |
| 2021 | $1,360,693 | $366,675 | $74,725 | $40,000 | 16 | — | $348,275 | $62,845 |
| 2019 | $1,109,876 | $-77,534 | $90,893 | $40,000 | 22 | — | $1,145 | $51,933 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions span higher education, philanthropy, cultural heritage, youth and family services, and the arts. For example, California Baptist University describes itself as a private institution offering undergraduate and graduate courses; Cultural Heritage Foundation says Heritage Square Museum explores Southern California’s settlement and development; and Olive Crest says it provides safe homes, counseling, and education for children and families in crisis. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work, not stated foundation priorities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $45,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $7,000, with a median of $1,500.
The largest reported grants included $7,000 to California Baptist University, $5,000 to Delta Zeta Foundation, $4,500 to Heart Mountain WY Foundation, and $4,000 to Orange Coast Optimist Club of G G. Each was reported for operating funds. Other listed grants included $2,000 each to Cultural Heritage Foundation, Downey Unified School District, Japanese American Cultural CC, City of Hope, Sanctuary of Universal Love, La Sierra University, and South Gator Basketball Club, and $1,000 to Riverside Art Museum; these were also reported for operating funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rick J Murata as president, Gary L Castagnola as treasurer, and Wendel W Tucker as trustee.
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation is led by Rick J. Murata, President since 2021 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rick J. Murata
President
Trustee → President, 2021
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Wendel W. Tucker
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Gary L. Castagnola
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Joann A. Dennis (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Steve De Graaf (2019–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $5K, to Rick J Murata (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation
How much does The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation give each year?
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation gave $46K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $39K across 20 grants.
What is The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $2,068, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation give grants?
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation gives mostly in California: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Wyoming (14%) and Ohio (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Riverside, CA (5 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Arcadia, CA (3 grants) and Santa Ana, CA (2 grants).
Does The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include California Baptist University ($7,000), Delta Zeta Foundation ($5,000) and Heart Mountain WY Foundation ($4,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation?
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $61K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions span higher education, philanthropy, cultural heritage, youth and family services, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation's EIN?
The Ellen & Clarence Peterson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4081969. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Ellen & Clarence Peterson 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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