The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn
The Roger I. and Ruth B. MacFarlane Foundation is a private charitable family foundation established in 2010 by businessman Roger MacFarlane. Based in Berkeley, California, the foundation operates with a broad mission to support organizations working across multiple sectors and geographies.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.3M
+7.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+21.6% YoY
Grant Count
13
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$129K
+21.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "increase the opportunities and improve the quality of life of individuals and communities" and to act as a "catalyst for organizations and their programs to enhance their impact and expand their reach."
While the foundation does not publicly name specific areas of interest, its grantmaking history demonstrates support across:
- Criminal justice reform
- Health
- Education
- Conservation
- Housing
- Workforce development
- Human services
The foundation does not maintain transparent or detailed information about its specific grantmaking goals and practices on its website.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry through its contact page and reviews inquiries "early in the year." Full proposals are accepted on an invitation-only basis. In a typical annual cycle, the foundation supports approximately 20 nonprofits across various sectors.
Grant Range
$15,000–$250,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
California appears to be a geographic priority for the foundation. However, recent grantmaking demonstrates a broader geographic reach, with support extending to organizations in Tennessee, New York, North Carolina, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $42,287,328
- Total revenues: $1,094,398
- Total expenses: $2,150,871
- Total giving: $1,672,137
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $39,400,000
- Total giving: $1,400,000–$1,800,000
- Number of grants: 13
- Giving rate: approximately 3.5% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,287,328 | $39,435,471 | $34,868,801 |
| Revenue | $1,094,398 | $2,962,314 | $2,896,948 |
| Expenses | $2,150,871 | $1,714,237 | $1,458,686 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,170,509 | $1,844,951 | $1,178,396 |
| Net Investment Income | $775,287 | $591,709 | $345,248 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,216,807 | $1,863,529 | $1,744,211 |
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
75 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Join Freeworld Inc ($250,000), North Carolina Justice Center ($250,000), Better Block Foundation ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FISTULA FOUNDATION SAN JOSE, CA | CHARITABLE PURPOSES - FISPRO PROJECT | $50,000 |
| MAKE GOOD INC LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| EASTERN SIERRA ARTS ALLIANCE MAMMOTH LAKES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| NEW NORTH CAROLINA PROJECT CONCORD, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| OUR STORIES OUR FUTURE INC SOUTH BEND, IN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| WATCH DUTY SANTA ROSA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ST MARGARETS HOUSE SOUTH BEND, IN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ANGEL FLIGHT SOUTH CENTRAL ADDISON, TX | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| JOIN FREEWORLD INC SAN JOSE, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| CENTER FOR NATURAL LANDS MANAGEMENT TEMECULA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $222,137 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Trustees:
- Roger I. MacFarlane (Trustee, Principal Officer)
- Ruth B. MacFarlane (Trustee)
- Taryn MacFarlane (Board Chair, Trustee)
- Alex MacFarlane (Vice Chair, Trustee)
- Katherine Meyer (Trustee)
- Jessica MacFarlane (Trustee)
- Nicole MacFarlane (Trustee)
All board members serve with minimal time commitment (1 hour per week) and receive no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMY DOMINGUEZ-ARMS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (AS OF 06/24) | 40 | $45,458 |
| ROGER I MACFARLANE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RUTH B MACFARLANE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TARYN MACFARLANE | BOARD CHAIR, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ALEX MACFARLANE | VICE CHAIR, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE MEYER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JESSICA MACFARLANE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Ruth and Roger MacFarlane were recognized as recipients of the Eastern Sierra Land Trust's 2025 Legacy Award, honoring their philanthropic contributions.
Roger I And Ruth B Macfarlane Foundation - Full Filing - News AppsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn fund?
The foundation's mission is to "increase the opportunities and improve the quality of life of individuals and communities" and to act as a "catalyst for organizations and their programs to enhance their impact and expand their reach." While the foundation does not publicly name specific areas of interest, its grantmaking history demonstrates support across: • Criminal justice reform • Health • Education • Conservation • Housing • Workforce development • Human services The foundation does not ma…
How do I apply for a grant from The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $15,000–$250,000 • Median grant size: $50,000 • Recent grants include awards of $250,000 for general operating support **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Building Skills Partnership ($250,000) • Better Block Foundation ($250,000) • North Carolina Justice Center ($250,000) • Roseland Christian Ministries • Dismas House (Nashville) • Teachers Unite (New York) **Application Process:** The foundation accepts letters of inquiry through its contact page an…
Where does The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn make grants?
California appears to be a geographic priority for the foundation. However, recent grantmaking demonstrates a broader geographic reach, with support extending to organizations in Tennessee, New York, North Carolina, and Texas.
What size grants does The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn award?
In 2024, The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn awarded 13 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $129K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn's EIN?
The Roger I & Ruth B Macfarlane Fndn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-6157610. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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