The Errett Fisher Foundation
The Errett Fisher Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $976,806 in grants to 12 organizations, with grants supporting charitable organizations in North Carolina, California, and Washington, DC.
The Errett Fisher Foundation at a glance
In short: The Errett Fisher Foundation gave $977K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $81K), mostly in North Carolina. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $976,806
- -3.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $81,401
- +12.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $62,500
- Total assets
- $6,841,365
- -4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (53% 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 Errett Fisher Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3905 State Street 7-358, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 963-0669
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Errett Fisher Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Shalom Project ($200K). Together the top 10 received $947K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 19 grants of 44 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 32% to recipients in California, and 15% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Errett Fisher Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $130K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $150K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 196% 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 $159K (2023) to $1.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $977K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Shalom Project Winston-Salem, NC | General Support | $200,000 |
| American Red Cross Washington, DC | General Support | $150,000 |
| California Community Foundation Los Angeles, CA | La Wildfire Relief Fund | $150,000 |
| Ucsb Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | Educational Support | $112,500 |
| Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine Winston-Salem, NC | General Support | $99,306 |
| City with Dwellings Community First Initiative Winston-Salem, NC | Community Support | $75,000 |
| Cal Poly City and Regional Planning Dept San Luis Obispo, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| IFB Solutions Aka Industries for the Blind Winston-Salem, NC | General Support | $50,000 |
| NC Congress of Latino Organizations Durham, NC | General Support | $30,000 |
| Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | Educational Support - Discovery Award | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Errett Fisher Foundation?
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 | $6,841,365 | $763,567 | $1,104,499 | $976,806 | 12 | $976,806 | $663,971 | $498,681 |
| 2024 | $7,182,297 | $742,455 | $1,160,276 | $1,010,000 | 14 | $1,010,000 | $617,860 | $517,100 |
| 2023 | $7,600,118 | $633,454 | $269,327 | $159,262 | 4 | $159,262 | $537,370 | $486,600 |
| 2022 | $7,235,991 | $600,141 | $951,382 | $799,941 | 8 | $799,941 | $505,816 | $501,699 |
| 2021 | $7,587,232 | $1,440,518 | $544,598 | $463,432 | 6 | $463,432 | $1,377,846 | $532,867 |
| 2020 | $6,691,312 | $602,532 | $515,916 | $433,000 | 6 | — | $545,927 | $420,393 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Errett Fisher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $499K 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 general support, educational support, community support, and support for the LA Wildfire Relief Fund. The grant purposes and recipient descriptions show support for organizations working in areas including food and health assistance, education, immigrant organizational capacity, and housing assistance.
The Shalom Project, which received $200,000, describes its mission as providing food and health assistance to needy individuals in its local community. Greenest, which received $10,000, says it helps families in crisis transition into sustainable housing by providing access to affordable home furnishings. The NC Congress of Latino Organizations, which received $30,000, says it develops immigrant organizations’ capacity and helps their leaders access opportunities and participate in addressing social problems. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $976,806. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $62,500.
Among the 2025 grants, the foundation awarded $200,000 to The Shalom Project for general support; $150,000 to the American Red Cross for general support; and $150,000 to the California Community Foundation for the LA Wildfire Relief Fund. Other grants included $112,500 to the UCSB Foundation for educational support, $99,306 to Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine for general support, and $75,000 to City with Dwellings Community First Initiative for community support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gregory L Errett as president and CEO; Carmen Errett Caruth, Andrew Errett, Mark Brown, Travis Graves, and Alexandra Stewart as directors; Nicholas J Schneider as secretary; and Jeff Harris as CFO.
The Errett Fisher Foundation is led by Gregory L. Errett, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 6 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gregory L. Errett
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$510 (2025)
Andrew Errett
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$263 (2025)
Carmen Errett Caruth
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$510 (2025)
Travis Graves
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
$225 (2025)
Alexandra Stewart
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
$263 (2025)
Mark Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas J. Schneider
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$12K (2025)
Jeff Harris
CFO
On filings since 2020
0.5 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $12K, to Nicholas J Schneider (Secretary). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Errett Fisher Foundation
How much does The Errett Fisher Foundation give each year?
The Errett Fisher Foundation gave $977K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 14 grants.
What is The Errett Fisher Foundation's typical grant size?
The Errett Fisher Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $62,500, and its average grant was $81,401, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Errett Fisher Foundation that year got $130K on average.
Where does The Errett Fisher Foundation give grants?
The Errett Fisher Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (32%) and District of Columbia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winston-Salem, NC (7 grants).
Does The Errett Fisher Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of The Errett Fisher Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Errett Fisher Foundation's largest grantees?
The Errett Fisher Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Shalom Project ($200,000), American Red Cross ($150,000) and California Community Foundation ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Errett Fisher Foundation?
The Errett Fisher Foundation reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $977K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $499K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Errett Fisher Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general support, educational support, community support, and support for the LA Wildfire Relief Fund. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Errett Fisher Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Errett Fisher Foundation's EIN?
The Errett Fisher Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-6154082. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Errett Fisher 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Errett Fisher Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Errett Fisher Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds charitable organizations serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, economic opportunity, civic engagement, arts, health, and human services. Its 2024 median grant was $25,000; specific programs offer grants ranging from small grants of up to $2,000 to capital grants of up to $100,000. The profile describes application-based programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$90.4M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Santa Barbara Foundation
Santa Barbara, CA
The Santa Barbara Foundation supports a wide range of community needs in Santa Barbara County, including behavioral and physical health, food and shelter, education, conservation, and arts programs. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $25,000, though individual awards varied widely. It invites applicants to review program opportunities and eligibility requirements and apply through each program’s stated process; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$503.6M
Grants
447
Total Given
$107.7M
The Lewis Greenwood Foundation
Newbury Park, CA
The Lewis Greenwood Foundation supports a range of charitable work, including nutrition, environmental protection, disaster relief, education, and community services, with 2025 grants distributed mainly in California, Illinois, Florida, and New York. Its grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000; it accepts written requests with supporting documentation and says requests cannot exceed $25,000.
Assets
$6.7M
Grants
64
Total Given
$360K
Reynolds American Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
Assets
$56.0M
Grants
280
Total Given
$3.5M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Errett Fisher Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-errett-fisher-foundation-morg_3848aead2be848ecaf7adaf25477040f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_776154082_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Errett Fisher Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-errett-fisher-foundation-morg_3848aead2be848ecaf7adaf25477040f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 The Errett Fisher 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.
The Errett Fisher Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?