Foundations that fund organizations in Arcata, California

Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.

Funding landscape for Arcata nonprofits

79 private foundations gave $5.5M to Arcata organizations in their latest filings; 22 of the 79 that say either way accept applications.

107 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Arcata around $10K. 34 of these funders are based in California; the rest give here from elsewhere.

Foundations giving here
79
Accept applications
22
of 79 that state a policy
Dollars to Arcata
$5.5M
latest filings
Grants
107
Typical median grant
$10K
Based in CA
43%
of funders listed

Funders, by dollars given to Arcata organizations

FoundationBased inGrants hereDollars hereMedianAccepts applicationsTypical purposes
John D and Catherine T Macarthur FoundationChicago, IL1$1.5M$1.5MPreselected onlyIn support of activities and grants to support local news o…
Sergey Brin Family Foundation C/O Pacific Foundation ServicesSan Francisco, CA2$852K$426KPreselected onlyGeneral operating support
The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA4$640K$146KYesFor enhancing education and awareness of clean energy; For legal capacity building; For general operating support
United Plankton Charitable TrustLos Angeles, CA1$345K$345KPreselected onlyTo further organization's charitable purpose.
The Rockefeller FoundationNew York, NY1$200K$200KPreselected onlyFor use by its schatz energy research center in support of…
Loud Hound FoundationSan Francisco, CA1$200K$200KPreselected onlyGeneral support of listening post collective in arizona, ge…
Dry Creek Foundation C/O Whittier TrustPasadena, CA1$150K$150KPreselected onlyTo support exempt organization.
The California EndowmentLos Angeles, CA1$150K$150KPreselected onlyCalifornia center for rural policy - supporting education a…
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund IncNew York, NY1$150K$150KPreselected onlyThriving women
The California Wellness FoundationLos Angeles, CA1$100K$100KYesCore operating support
The Bower Charitable FoundationHayfork, CA3$93K$30KPreselected onlyTo fund exempt function
Patricia D & William B Smullin FoundationBlue Lake, CA5$90K$10KPreselected onlySupport for general operating costs; Our space program for the houseless; Business internship program
Delta Dental Community Care FoundationSan Francisco, CA1$80K$80KPreselected onlyCommunity giving- dental
Wm Collins Kohler Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI1$75K$75KPreselected onlyGeneral operating
Robert & Shirley Harris Family FoundationSanta Rosa, CA1$50K$50KPreselected onlyGeneral Support
S H Cowell FoundationSan Francisco, CA1$45K$45KYesTo support hands-on learning and community collaboration to…
PatagoniaorgVentura, CA3$45K$15KPreselected onlyTo support environmental projects.
The McConnell FoundationRedding, CA1$42K$42KYes2022 ($20,500), 2023 ($500), & 2024 McConnell Scholars ($20…
Ghidotti Wm Marian T U aEagan, MN1$41K$41KYesGeneral operating
Hidden Leaf FoundationSan Francisco, CA1$40K$40KYesGeneral support grant
Cedar Tree FoundationBoston, MA1$40K$40KPreselected onlyGeneral support
The Charles a Dana Foundation IncorporatedNew York, NY1$37K$37KYesNeuroscience & society
Geofamily FoundationFlagstaff, AZ1$35K$35KPreselected onlyUnrestricted
The Liebau Family FoundationDurham, NC1$27K$27KPreselected onlyScholarship support
Tarbell Family FoundationWilmington, DE1$25K$25KPreselected onlyGeneral & Unrestricted
The James Irvine FoundationSan Francisco, CA1$25K$25KPreselected onlyTo support Better Careers in California
The Fine and Greenwald Foundation C/O Marsha SofferAventura, FL1$25K$25KPreselected onlyIndigenous peoples
Al Mailman Family Foundation IncHarrison, NY1$25K$25KPreselected onlyGeneral support
Healing Hearts Changing Minds IncDerry, NH1$22K$22KPreselected onlyTo further the core mission of hhcm
Fisher Global FoundationPlano, TX1$21K$21KPreselected onlySupport environmental research
Environment NowNewport Beach, CA2$20K$10KPreselected onlyPublic trust and flows; Northwest california forest advocacy
Jcl Anderson Family FoundationNewport Beach, CA1$20K$20KPreselected onlyNon-profit use
The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment IncBethesda, MD4$17K$4,700YesEcological monitoring - acoustics software; Plant id & wetland delineation certification; Ecological monitoring - equipment
Codoni Leslie R TuwSt Louis, MO1$16K$16KPreselected onlyGeneral operating
The Schmidbauer Family FoundationArcata, CA6$16K$2,000Preselected onlyDonation
Op & We Edwards Foundation IncRed Lodge, MT1$15K$15KPreselected onlyPhilanthropic purpose
The Martin Wong FoundationSan Francisco, CA1$15K$15KPreselected onlyArt scholarship
Ben & Jerry's Foundation IncSouth Burlington, VT1$15K$15KYesGeneral support
Circle of Service FoundationChicago, IL1$13K$13KYesCommunity services
Outride Fka the Specialized FoundationMorgan Hill, CA1$12K$12KPreselected onlyTo improve lives of kids with learning differences.
Christine & Jalmer Berg FoundationEureka, CA1$10K$10KYesAssist veterans and families with basic needs and services
S B Foundation C/O Sarah SiskLamy, NM1$10K$10KPreselected onlyTo support organization
The Bunting Family Foundation C/O Knollwood Investment AdvisoryHunt Valley, MD1$10K$10KPreselected onlyTo further the exempt purpose of the organization
The Reis Foundation IncEllicott City, MD2$10K$5,000Preselected onlyGeneral Support
Woolford Vera K TuwSt Louis, MO1$10K$10KPreselected onlyScholarships
Smart Family Foundation of New YorkNew Rochelle, NY1$10K$10KPreselected onlyGeneral support for earth journalism network
Parks & Paula Sheller Adams Family Foundation IncForest Grove, OR2$8,000$4,000Preselected onlyOperations
Charis FundNewberg, OR1$7,500$7,500YesCommercial kitchen for food program
Van Duzer John H TuwSt Louis, MO1$7,300$7,300Preselected onlyScholarship
Wild Woods FoundationPearl River, NY1$5,500$5,500Preselected onlyGeneraloperations
Gerald L Lennard Foundation IncWilmington, DE1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyFilmAid
Vintage Bmw HouseMcKinleyville, CA4$5,000$1,000Preselected onlyCharitable qualifying distribution
The Summit Charitable Foundation IncWashington, DC1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyStrengthening fisheries reporting in belize
Richard Penjoyan Educational TrustHuntington Beach, CA1$5,000$5,000Yeseudcation
Oro y Plata FoundationKalispell, MT1$4,000$4,000Preselected onlyGeneral operating assistance
Butler Marjorie E TuwSt Louis, MO1$4,000$4,000Preselected onlyScholarship
October Lane FoundationLos Angeles, CA1$3,000$3,000YesAssistance with 501(c)(3) purpose
The Presser FoundationPhiladelphia, PA1$3,000$3,000YesUndergraduate scholar awards
The George E Ewan Family Foundation IncSan Jose, CA1$3,000$3,000YesSupport operations
The J Miles and Rosanne Reiter Family FoundationWatsonville, CA1$2,500$2,500Preselected onlySustainable environmental stewardship
Resnick Family Community FoundationLos Angeles, CA1$2,125$2,125Preselected onlyDonee's tax exempt purpose
Edwards Mother Earth FoundationWilmington, DE1$2,000$2,000Preselected onlythe Y.E.S. program
Knapp George Owen Mem Fund TuaSt Louis, MO1$2,000$2,000Preselected onlyGeneral operating
Gilchrist Charitable FoundationNaples, FL1$2,000$2,000YesStudent scholarship
Shasta Wildlife Conservation FoundationKensington, CA1$2,000$2,000Preselected onlyAn unrestricted contribution
Platoff Family FoundationPrinceton Junction, NJ1$2,000$2,000Preselected onlyGeneral support
Dominick Family Foundation IncBayside, CA1$1,650$1,650YesCharitable contribution
Crowley Cares FoundationWilmington, DE2$1,000$500Preselected onlyGrocery cards for low income families; Grocery cards
Nelson Talbott FoundationWashington, DC1$1,000$1,000Preselected onlyGeneral needs or purpose
The Highfield Foundation Fifth Third BankCincinnati, OH1$1,000$1,000Preselected onlyGeneral operating support
Gerrish H Milliken Foundation 009209-009Wilmington, DE1$1,000$1,000Preselected onlyGeneral support
Pickle Harry E TuwSt Louis, MO1$625$625YesScholarship
Carol Irving FoundationCameron Park, CA1$500$500YesGeneral fund
Tractor Supply Company FoundationBrentwood, TN1$500$500YesHometown heroes donation
Larry and Paula Sebring FoundationFieldbrook, CA2$300$150Preselected onlyGeneral fund
The Maria Altmann Family FoundationCalabasas, CA1$200$200Preselected onlyProgram activities
Luckens-McAdams FoundationAustin, TX1$200$200Preselected onlyGeneral
Morris Graves FoundationLoleta, CA1$150$150Preselected onlySustain the arts
Texas Instruments FoundationDallas, TX1$100$100YesDonations to colleges, universities and other organizations…

Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.

Common questions

Which foundations give to nonprofits in Arcata, California?

John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation, Sergey Brin Family Foundation C/O Pacific Foundation Services, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, United Plankton Charitable Trust, The Rockefeller Foundation and 74 others reported grants to Arcata organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.

How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?

A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.

Is this list complete?

No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Arcata. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.

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