The Fishlinger Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Riverside, CA EIN: 87-2535462

The Fishlinger Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Riverside, California. Its 2025 filing states that it makes charitable distributions to other qualifying charitable organizations; its listed 2025 grants were for veterinary expenses.

The Fishlinger Family Foundation at a glance

In short: The Fishlinger Family Foundation gave $135K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$134,800
+36.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
17
-15.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$7,929
+60.2% vs 2024
Median grant
$7,300
Total assets
$560,902
-9.8% vs 2024
Primary geography
California (58% 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 The Fishlinger Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 5142 Myrtle Ave, Riverside, CA 92506
Phone: (909) 518-1261

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Fishlinger Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Lost Ball Cannie Recue: $17KLost Ball Cannie Recue$17KLeague of Extraordinary Mutts: $15KLeague of Extraordinary Mutts$15KGerman Shepherd Rescue and Holistic: $15KGerman Shepherd Rescue andHolistic$15KThe Little Red Dog: $15KThe Little Red Dog$15KSo Calif Golden Retreiver Rescue: $15KSo Calif Golden RetreiverRescue$15KShar PEI Nation Rescue: $15KShar PEI Nation Rescue$15KAnimal Assistance League of Oc: $10KAnimal Assistance League of Oc$10KGolden Years Dog Sanctuary: $9KGolden Years Dog Sanctuary$9KLuna Siberian Husky Rescue: $7KLuna Siberian Husky Rescue$7KShadows Sanctuary: $6KShadows Sanctuary$6K

The largest 2025 recipient was Lost Ball Cannie Recue ($17K). Together the top 10 received $124K.

Grant Size Distribution

47 grants across all recorded years

46<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 47 (98%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as 58% to California, 12% to Louisiana, 11% to Texas, 11% to Florida, and 5% to Virginia.

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.

Cities

Los AngelesEastsoundLake ForestMenifeeAustinLurayMidway CityMount MorrisPembroke PinesRiversideSacramentoTallulahTwentynine PalmsYucca ValleyDerryNapervilleSanfordSanta AnaSanta BarbaraSwansea

How The Fishlinger Family Foundation gives

  • 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 93% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 488% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

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

$0$50K$100K$150K0 grants2021 1 grant2022 9 grants2023 20 grants2024 17 grants2025

From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $69K (2023) to $135K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $135K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Lost Ball Cannie Recue Tallulah Rd, LAVet Expenses$16,500
League of Extraordinary Mutts Los Angeles, CAVet Expenses$15,100
German Shepherd Rescue and Holistic Austin, TXVet Expenses$15,000
The Little Red Dog Lake Forest, CAVet Expenses$15,000
So Calif Golden Retreiver Rescue Los Angeles, CAVet Expenses$15,000
Shar PEI Nation Rescue Pembroke Pines, FLVet Expenses$14,800
Animal Assistance League of Oc Midway City, CAVet Expenses$10,000
Golden Years Dog Sanctuary Sylmar, CAVet Expenses$9,090
Luna Siberian Husky Rescue Yucca Valley, CAVet Expenses$7,300
Shadows Sanctuary Luray, VAVet Expenses$6,300
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$560,902$15,220$139,799$134,80017$136,895$15,220$28,066
2024$621,892$21,660$103,726$99,01420$100,789$18,976$31,870
2023$647,240$22,893$73,963$69,2409$71,110$20,256$31,250
2022$636,219$629,760$73,306$69,9251$72,288$7,182$18,812
2021$75,000$81,185$6,185——$6,185—$42

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fishlinger Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K 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

The foundation’s filing describes its activity as making charitable distributions to qualifying charitable organizations. Its 2025 grants show support for animal-related organizations, with listed grant purposes described as veterinary expenses.

Among its 2025 grantees, Foster Army Animal Rescue says its mission is to rescue vulnerable at-risk companion animals from animal control facilities and place them in foster homes until they can find permanent homes. Sweet Angel Dog Rescue Corporation says it rescues at-risk dogs from local shelters, focusing on dogs facing euthanasia because of medical, behavioral, or overcrowding issues, and seeks to prevent cruelty and find permanent homes.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation gave $134,800 through 17 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $16,500, with a median grant of $7,300. Listed grants included $16,500 to Lost Ball Cannie Recue, $15,100 to League of Extraordinary Mutts, $15,000 each to German Shepherd Rescue and Holistic, The Little Red Dog, and So Calif Golden Retreiver Rescue, and $14,800 to Shar Pei Nation Rescue. These grants were listed for veterinary expenses.

Other 2025 grantees included Foster Army Animal Rescue, which received $1,600, and Sweet Angel Dog Rescue Corporation, which received $1,000.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Elmer Fishlinger as president and Ruth Fishlinger as CFO/secretary/treasurer.

The Fishlinger Family Foundation is led by Elmer Fishlinger, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Elmer Fishlinger

    President

    On filings since 2021

    20 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ruth Fishlinger

    CFO, Secretary & Treasurer

    Secretary & Treasurer → CFO, Secretary & Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    20 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 The Fishlinger Family Foundation

How much does The Fishlinger Family Foundation give each year?

The Fishlinger Family Foundation gave $135K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $99K across 20 grants.

What is The Fishlinger Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The Fishlinger Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,300, and its average grant was $7,929, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Fishlinger Family Foundation give grants?

The Fishlinger Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Louisiana (12%) and Texas (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).

Does The Fishlinger Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on The Fishlinger Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Vet Expenses" (17 grants).

Who are The Fishlinger Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The Fishlinger Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lost Ball Cannie Recue ($16,500), League of Extraordinary Mutts ($15,100) and German Shepherd Rescue and Holistic ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Fishlinger Family Foundation?

The Fishlinger Family Foundation reported $561K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $137K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Fishlinger Family Foundation fund?

The foundation’s filing describes its activity as making charitable distributions to qualifying charitable organizations. Its 2025 grants show support for animal-related organizations, with listed grant purposes described as veterinary expenses. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Fishlinger Family Foundation?

The foundation states that it 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 The Fishlinger Family Foundation's EIN?

The Fishlinger Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2535462. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Does The Fishlinger Family 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

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 11, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 18, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
  5. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Fishlinger Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-fishlinger-family-foundation-morg_8923e3e1d1d746ff8c4dd6eb330ef0ac

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_872535462_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Fishlinger Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-fishlinger-family-foundation-morg_8923e3e1d1d746ff8c4dd6eb330ef0ac},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Fishlinger Family 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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