The River Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SHERMAN OAKS, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 19 grants totaling $65K. Net investment income was $31K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2M
-2.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$65K
+2.9% YoY
Grant Count
19
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+8.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The River Foundation reported a distributable amount of $60K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The River Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The River Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SHERMAN OAKS, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 19 grants totaling $65K. Net investment income was $31K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,228,869 | $1,266,071 | $1,318,089 |
| Revenue | $34,836 | $25,135 | $-6,717 |
| Expenses | $72,038 | $77,153 | $64,208 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $64,610 | $62,800 | $54,984 |
| Net Investment Income | $30,500 | $18,585 | $24,364 |
| Distributable Amount | $59,521 | $61,148 | $64,634 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Innocence Project ($15,000), Doctors Without Borders Usa ($5,000), Freedom of the Press Foundation ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT WORK TO REFORM AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE | $4,000 |
| CIVIL LIBERTIES DEFENSE CENTER EUGENE, OR | TO SUPPORT MOVEMENTS THAT SEEK TO DISMANTLE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES AT THE ROOT OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION | $2,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT WORK OF PROVIDING QUALITY MEDICAL CARE AND DELIVING EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS. | $5,000 |
| EARTHJUSTICE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT MISSION OF PROTECTING PEOPLE'S HEALTH, TO PRESERVE WILDLIFE, ADVANCE CLEAN ENERGY AND COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE | $2,000 |
| ELEVATED ACCESS CHAMPAIGN, IL | TO SUPPORT MISSION OF MAKING HEALTHCARE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE | $1,000 |
| FREEDOM OF THE PRESS FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO PROTECT AND DEFEND ADVERSARIAL JOURNALISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY | $5,000 |
| HEAL PALESTINE KENT, OH | TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN RELIEF WORK IN GAZA | $3,000 |
| INNOCENCE PROJECT NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT MISSION TO FREE THE WRONGLY CONVICTED AND REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM | $15,000 |
| PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND LOS ANGELES, CA | TO SUPPORT WORK OF PROVIDING VITAL MEDICAL AND HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORTS FOR CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE EAST | $5,000 |
| PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK BERKELYE, CA | TO SUPPORT WORK TO TACKLE THE PESTICIDE PROBLEM AND CREATE A JUST, THRIVING FOOD SYSTEM | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEAL MARLENS | PRESIDENT, SECRETARY & TREASURER | 5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The River Foundation?
The River Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SHERMAN OAKS, CA. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The River Foundation?
As of 2024, The River Foundation holds $1.2M in total assets with $35K in annual revenue. It awarded 19 grants totaling $65K in 2024.
Where does The River Foundation operate?
The River Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, North Dakota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon.
What size grants does The River Foundation award?
In 2024, The River Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $65K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The River Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The River Foundation reported a distributable amount of $60K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The River Foundation's EIN?
The River Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1657417. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The River Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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