The Errett Fisher Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Santa Barbara, CA EIN: 77-6154082

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.

Key facts about The Errett Fisher Foundation

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.

EIN
77-6154082
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$976,806
Grants made (2025)
12
Average grant
$81,401
Median grant
$62,500
New grantees (estimate)
42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2025)
Total assets
$6,841,365
Primary geography
North Carolina (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$6.8M

-4.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$977K

-3.3% YoY

Grant Count

12

-14.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$81K

+12.8% YoY

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.

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. 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.

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.

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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

3states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

Winston-SalemSanta BarbaraSan Luis ObispoDurhamAshevilleBooneLos AngelesMills RiverWashington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M6 grants2020 6 grants2021 8 grants2022 4 grants2023 14 grants2024 12 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $159K (2023) to $1.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $977K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

The Shalom Project: $200KThe Shalom Project$200KAmerican Red Cross: $150KAmerican Red Cross$150KCalifornia Community Foundation: $150KCalifornia CommunityFoundation$150KUcsb Foundation: $113KUcsb Foundation$113KWake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine: $99KWake Forest Institute ofRegenerative Medicine$99KCity with Dwellings Community First Initiative: $75KCity with Dwellings CommunityFirst Initiative$75KCal Poly City and Regional Planning Dept: $50KCal Poly City and RegionalPlanning Dept$50KIFB Solutions Aka Industries for the Blind: $50KIFB Solutions Aka Industriesfor the Blind$50KNC Congress of Latino Organizations: $30KNC Congress of LatinoOrganizations$30KWake Forest University: $30KWake Forest University$30K

The largest 2025 recipient was The Shalom Project ($200K). Together the top 10 received $947K.

Grant Size Distribution

44 grants across all recorded years

12<$50K19$50–100K12$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 19 grants of 44 (43%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Shalom Project Winston-Salem, NCGeneral Support$200,000
American Red Cross Washington, DCGeneral Support$150,000
California Community Foundation Los Angeles, CALa Wildfire Relief Fund$150,000
Ucsb Foundation Santa Barbara, CAEducational Support$112,500
Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine Winston-Salem, NCGeneral Support$99,306
City with Dwellings Community First Initiative Winston-Salem, NCCommunity Support$75,000
Cal Poly City and Regional Planning Dept San Luis Obispo, CAGeneral Support$50,000
IFB Solutions Aka Industries for the Blind Winston-Salem, NCGeneral Support$50,000
NC Congress of Latino Organizations Durham, NCGeneral Support$30,000
Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NCEducational Support - Discovery Award$30,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant total Grant count
2025 $6,841,365 $763,567 $1,104,499 $976,806 12
2024 $7,182,297 $742,455 $1,160,276 $1,010,000 14
2023 $7,600,118 $633,454 $269,327 $159,262 4
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$6,841,365$7,182,297$7,600,118
Revenue$763,567$742,455$633,454
Expenses$1,104,499$1,160,276$269,327
Qualifying Distributions$976,806$1,010,000$159,262
Net Investment Income$663,971$617,860$537,370
Distributable Amount$498,681$517,100$486,600

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

Nicholas J Schneider — Secretary: $12KNicholas J SchneiderSecretary$12KGregory L Errett — President & CEO: $510Gregory L ErrettPresident & CEO$510Carmen Errett Caruth — Director: $510Carmen Errett CaruthDirector$510Andrew Errett — Director: $263Andrew ErrettDirector$263Alexandra Stewart — Director: $263Alexandra StewartDirector$263Travis Graves — Director: $225Travis GravesDirector$225

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $12K, to Nicholas J Schneider (Secretary). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 3905 State Street 7-358, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 963-0669

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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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