Tr Eriksen Trust Fund

UKIAH, CA EIN: 91-6513400 Website

The TR Eriksen Trust Fund is a charitable foundation established to support 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving inland Mendocino County, California. The trust was created by Theodore R. Eriksen, a self-made businessman who built his success in the local community and chose to reinvest his wealth back into the region that supported him.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.4M

-8.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$337K

+4.0% YoY

Grant Count

-7.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$26K

+12.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tr Eriksen Trust Fund reported a distributable amount of $315K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations that deliver direct services to residents of inland Mendocino County, with emphasis on:

Services for youth
Services for the elderly
Services for the less fortunate

In establishing the trust, Eriksen indicated priority should be given to organizations that demonstrate:

A strong board of directors
Volunteer support
Local financial support

Grantmaking

The foundation has supported programs including cancer patient art therapy services and senior center operations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Inland Mendocino County, California, with a particular emphasis on the Ukiah area.

Grant Distribution by State

California $2.4M (100%)

States

California

Cities

PetalumaUkiahWillits

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$3,440,903	$3,761,146	$3,935,615
Revenue	$104,587	$193,061	$232,446
Expenses	$424,830	$367,530	$382,972
Qualifying Distributions	$392,216	$346,726	$352,795
Net Investment Income	$85,351	$143,141	$218,195
Distributable Amount	$314,740	$277,817	$275,550

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

77 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ukiah Community Food Bank ($50,000), Cancer Resource Center of Mendo Cou ($40,000), Plowshares Peace Justice Center ($40,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CANCER RESOURCE CENTER OF MENDO COU UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$40,000
COURT-APPOINTED SP ADVOCATES UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$10,000
COMMUNITY CARE MANAGEMENT CORP UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$22,000
UKIAH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$50,000
MENDOCINO COUNTY SOCCER ACADEMY UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$9,000
PLOWSHARES PEACE JUSTICE CENTER UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$40,000
SPACE UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$20,000
UKIAH SENIOR CENTER UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$25,000
UKIAH WRESTLING CLUB UKIAH, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$500
WILLITS COMMUNITY SERVICES FOOD BAN WILLITS, CA	PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION	$35,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Trustee:

Joanne LaCasse (sole trustee)

Committee Members:

Sandy Hendrickx (retired teacher)
Larry MacLeitch

Joanne LaCasse met Theodore Eriksen when she and her husband shared office space above Little Brown Bear on Main Street in Ukiah. She has served as the sole trustee responsible for implementing Eriksen's vision and directing the foundation's grantmaking.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
SHELLY A SMITH	TRUSTEE/MANAGER	12	$75,000

Recent Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation continues to fulfill its mission of supporting local organizations providing meaningful services to the Mendocino County community. Recent grants have focused on senior services, hunger relief, and healthcare-related programs serving vulnerable populations.

TR Eriksen Trust Fund supports inland Mendocino County nonprofits \u2013\

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tr Eriksen Trust Fund fund?

The foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations that deliver direct services to residents of inland Mendocino County, with emphasis on: • Services for youth • Services for the elderly • Services for the less fortunate In establishing the trust, Eriksen indicated priority should be given to organizations that demonstrate: • A strong board of directors • Volunteer support • Local financial support

How do I apply for a grant from Tr Eriksen Trust Fund?

**Total Giving Since Inception:** $5.5 million **Recent Grant Activity:** • Ukiah Senior Center: $25,000 (2024, Program Administration) • Plowshares Peace and Justice Center: $40,000 (2023, Program Administration) • Focus on Healing Art Therapy program at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley: Ongoing support since 2015 The foundation has supported programs including cancer patient art therapy services and senior center operations.

Where does Tr Eriksen Trust Fund make grants?

Inland Mendocino County, California, with a particular emphasis on the Ukiah area.

What size grants does Tr Eriksen Trust Fund award?

In 2024, Tr Eriksen Trust Fund awarded 13 grants totaling $337K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Tr Eriksen Trust Fund required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tr Eriksen Trust Fund reported a distributable amount of $315K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.