The Martin Family Foundation
The Martin Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Paso Robles, California. It makes grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, support for women and children, and environmental and animal conservation.
Key facts about The Martin Family Foundation
In short: The Martin Family Foundation gave $167K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in California. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 77-0299925
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $166,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- Average grant
- $11,893
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (2 of 14, 2025)
- Total assets
- $2,291,507
- Primary geography
- California (61% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- 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. 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
$2.3M
-2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$167K
-21.3% YoY
Grant Count
14
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-15.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Martin Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $126K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Martin Family Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 14 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 132% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says its mission is to remember loved ones through work guided by values including empathy, making peace between individuals, positive impact, continuous learning, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a spiritual and prayerful existence. It also says its mission now includes supporting environmental and animal conservation.
Its grants illustrate support for a range of charitable work. For example, Room to Read describes its mission as working toward a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. Peruvian Hearts says it works to address poverty and gender inequality by educating girls and developing women leaders in Peru. True Friends says it provides experiences intended to enhance independence and self-esteem for people with disabilities. Mission Wolf describes its work as providing sanctuary for wolves and horses and educating the public about wildlife and habitat conservation. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $166,500. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest were $30,000 to Room to Read, $25,000 to Lumina for support for mothers and children affected by domestic and child abuse, and $19,500 to Peruvian Hearts to support underserved female students in Peru. Other reported grants included $15,000 each to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance for animal conservation and True Friends, and $10,000 each to Child Advocates of Placer County, Hogar Infantile La Gloria, Mission Wolf, and The Gathering Place.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in California (61%), Colorado (27%), Minnesota (9%), and New Jersey (3%). The foundation also describes its support for environmental and animal conservation as part of its mission.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $117K (2020) to $282K (2021). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $167K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Room to Read ($30K). Together the top 10 received $138K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($19,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 81 grants of 85 (95%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Room to Read San Francisco, CA | Establish Libraries and Reading Support Worldwide | $30,000 |
| Lumina San Luis Obispo, CA | Support for mothers and children from domestic and child abuse | $25,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $19,500 |
| San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance San Diego, CA | Support of Animal Conservation | $15,000 |
| True Friends Annandale, MN | Enhance Independence & Self-Esteem for Those with Disabilities. | $15,000 |
| Child Advocates of Placer County Roseville, CA | Support for Children in Foster Care. | $10,000 |
| Hogar Infantile La Gloria San Diego, CA | Support of an Orphanage | $10,000 |
| Mission Wolf Westcliffe, CO | Wolf Sanctuary. | $10,000 |
| The Gathering Place Denver, CO | Support for Battered Women and Children | $10,000 |
| CASA De Amistad Solana Beach, CA | Support Children in the Foster System. | $7,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,291,507 | $123,427 | $200,623 | $166,500 (14 grants) |
| 2024 | $2,347,744 | $176,104 | $255,223 | $211,500 (15 grants) |
| 2023 | $2,457,396 | $329,737 | $234,900 | $204,000 (15 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,291,507 | $2,347,744 | $2,457,396 |
| Revenue | $123,427 | $176,104 | $329,737 |
| Expenses | $200,623 | $255,223 | $234,900 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $166,500 | $211,500 | $204,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $70,696 | $117,732 | $229,500 |
| Distributable Amount | $125,982 | $124,329 | $116,865 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ann Martin Bowler as president, Meghan Martin as vice president, Laura Sherlock as treasurer, and Julie Martin as secretary. It lists Riley Sherlock, Devin Corea-Timm, Wyatt Westfall, Charlie Westfall, Annie Guerrero, and Jenna Westfall as members.
The Martin Family Foundation is led by Ann Martin Bowler, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ann Martin Bowler
President
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Westfall
Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Martin
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Sherlock
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meghan Martin
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Riley Sherlock
Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wyatt Westfall
Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annie Guerrero
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Devin Corea-Timm
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Westfall
Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Devin Corea (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Nicole Bowler (2020–2021) — Member
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 1870 Cumbre Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446
Phone: (805) 227-4744
Website: https://martinfamilyfound.com
Frequently asked questions about The Martin Family Foundation
How much does The Martin Family Foundation give each year?
The Martin Family Foundation gave $167K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $212K across 15 grants.
What is The Martin Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Martin Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,893, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Martin Family Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does The Martin Family Foundation give grants?
The Martin Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (27%) and Minnesota (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does The Martin Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on The Martin Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Martin Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Martin Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Room to Read ($30,000), Lumina ($25,000) and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($19,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Martin Family Foundation?
The Martin Family Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $167K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $126K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Martin Family Foundation fund?
The foundation says its mission is to remember loved ones through work guided by values including empathy, making peace between individuals, positive impact, continuous learning, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a spiritual and prayerful existence. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Martin 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 Martin Family Foundation's EIN?
The Martin Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0299925. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Martin Family 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.
Here's the math on researching The Martin Family Foundation by hand.
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