The Russell Foundation
The Russell Foundation is a private foundation, based in Pasadena, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $204K in total assets. In 2025, it made $5K in qualifying distributions. Net investment income was $10K.
The Russell Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $204,092
- +2.5% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $9,608
- +160033.3% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $4,505
- -98.5% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $4,605
- -98.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who The Russell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 5 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How The Russell Foundation gives
- Giving grew 402% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 4% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2019) to $301K (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $301K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Institute for State Effectiveness Washington, DC | (1) description: 718 shares of bershire hathaway class b securities (2) book value: $32,837 (3) method used to determine book value: average of the high/low on the date the securities were received by the foundation. (4) method used to determine fair market value: average of the high/low on the date the securities were donated. (5) date of the gift: 04/04/2024 (6) purpose: general operating support | $301,226 |
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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 | $204,092 | $9,608 | $4,605 | — | — | $4,505 | $9,608 | $106,929 |
| 2024 | $199,089 | $6 | $304,996 | $301,226 | 1 | $303,961 | $6 | $96,426 |
| 2023 | $235,690 | $74,412 | $86,532 | $83,000 | 1 | $84,344 | $84,289 | $87,390 |
| 2022 | $247,810 | $52,339 | $77,255 | $75,000 | 1 | $75,000 | $50,084 | $82,939 |
| 2021 | $280,498 | $78,018 | $63,131 | $60,000 | 2 | $60,000 | $74,887 | $75,234 |
| 2020 | $279,786 | $17,910 | $65,166 | $62,050 | 2 | — | $14,794 | $59,603 |
| 2019 | $331,614 | $65,831 | $10,046 | $8,000 | 1 | — | $63,785 | $62,670 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Russell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $107K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Russell Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William H. Borthwick
Officer
As Needed → Officer, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Philip R. Munger
Officer
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Russell Foundation
How large is The Russell Foundation?
The Russell Foundation reported $204K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $107K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does The Russell Foundation operate?
The Russell Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts.
What is The Russell Foundation's EIN?
The Russell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4720083. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 28, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Russell Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Russell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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