The Jenifer Altman Foundation
The Jenifer Altman Foundation is a private foundation, based in Bolinas, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $260K. Net investment income was $493K.
The Jenifer Altman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Jenifer Altman Foundation gave $260K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $65K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $260,250
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $65,063
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,125
- Total assets
- $4,888,179
- +0.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Jenifer Altman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Commonweal ($252K). Together the top 4 received $260K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 18 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Jenifer Altman Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $252K (2021) to $260K (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $260K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Commonweal Bolinas, CA | General Support | $251,500 |
| Environmental Grantmakers Associati New York, NY | Funder Education | $3,500 |
| Virginia Organizing Inc Charlottesville, VA | General Support | $2,750 |
| Biodiversity Funders Group San Francisco, CA | Funder Education | $2,500 |
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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 | $4,888,179 | $716,080 | $661,728 | $260,250 | 4 | $346,430 | $492,890 | $306,955 |
| 2024 | $4,842,433 | $360,614 | $657,704 | $258,975 | 4 | $319,030 | $149,157 | $311,315 |
| 2023 | $5,105,440 | $339,647 | $571,531 | $254,000 | 3 | $304,676 | $128,246 | $301,960 |
| 2022 | $5,343,674 | $932,304 | $641,493 | $260,328 | 5 | $338,080 | $501,988 | $307,130 |
| 2021 | $5,082,671 | $684,238 | $596,649 | $251,800 | 2 | — | $152,706 | $307,582 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jenifer Altman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $307K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Jenifer Altman Foundation is led by Michael Lerner, President on every filing since 2021; 2 of 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Lerner
President
On filings since 2021
36 hrs/week
$184K (2021) → $194K (2025)
Ann Blake
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
24 hrs/week
$27K (2022) → $83K (2025)
Pete Myers
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elise Miller
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nsedu Obot Witherspoon
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Curwood
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Shorey Myers (2021–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Amy Solomon (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Anita Nager (2021) — Director
- Former: Catherine Porter (2021) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $194K, to Michael Lerner (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Jenifer Altman Foundation
How much does The Jenifer Altman Foundation give each year?
The Jenifer Altman Foundation gave $260K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $259K across 4 grants.
What is The Jenifer Altman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Jenifer Altman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,125, and its average grant was $65,063, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Jenifer Altman Foundation give grants?
The Jenifer Altman Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Jenifer Altman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of The Jenifer Altman Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Jenifer Altman Foundation?
The Jenifer Altman Foundation reported $4.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $346K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $307K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Jenifer Altman Foundation's EIN?
The Jenifer Altman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3146675. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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