Marisla Foundation

Getty Oil heiress Anne Earhart created the Marisla Foundation (formerly known as the Homeland Foundation) in 1986.1 The foundation, based in Laguna Beach, California, aims to support human and health service organizations, but dedicates the largest majority of its grants towards environmentalist issues, namely influencing ocean conservancy and clean energy regulation that will increase government oversight.

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3), Private Foundation
Website: online.foundationsource.com/public/home/marisla
Formation:

1986

Location:

Laguna Beach, California

Founder and President:

Anne Earhart

Location: Laguna Beach, CA View on map
Tax ID: 33-0200133
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $21,082,605 Revenue: $51,974,750 Expenses: $37,500,939

Contents

    In addition, the Marisla Foundation contributes to progressive and Democratic-aligned activist groups like the Center for American Progress and Media Matters for America while Earhart personally funnels millions of dollars to support Democratic political candidates who will support environmental regulations.2

    In 2015, the foundation’s assets totaled over $54 million.3

    Founding

    Anne Earhart, daughter of George Getty and granddaughter of oilman Jean Paul Getty, is a philanthropist and Democratic political donor based in Laguna Beach, California. She inherited $400 million when Texaco bought Getty Oil in 1986 and, in the same year, established the Marisla Foundation.1 Earhart continues to serve as President and the main source of funding for the foundation, funneling over $49 million in asset contributions in 2015.3

    Overview

    The Marisla Foundation’s website lists three key program areas – human services, environment, and special interests.4

    The foundation invests heavily in environmental issues, especially relating to marine conservation, energy and climate, and toxic chemicals. Grantees include Nature Conservancy, Ocean Legacy Fund, and the Resources Legacy Fund. The foundation also supports international environment issues in Northern Mexico, South America, and in the Pacific Ocean.2

    The foundation has given funds to the liberal think tank Center for American Progress which recently came under scrutiny for its lack of donor transparency from left-wing activists, corporations, and foundations, including the Marisla Foundation.5 In addition, through personal giving, Earhart supports liberal political organizations like Organizing for Action and super PAC Priorities USA Action, which were created to campaign in support of the agenda of former President Barack Obama.2

    Board and Key Staff

    Anne Earhart serves as President of the Marisla Foundation.3 In 2019, she was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. 6

    Herbert Bedolfe is the Executive Director of the Marisla Foundation.  Prior to this, he served as a founder of ocean sustainability group Oceana founders and had served as Chairman of the Board for the organization from 2002 to 2008. 7

    Sara Lowell is director of he Marisla Foundation. 8

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $21,082,605 $51,974,750 $37,500,939 View
    2023 $20,587,646 $36,528,013 $41,256,782 View
    2022 $21,005,333 $35,592,677 $37,015,027 View
    2021 $26,534,095 $36,043,209 $41,834,027 View
    2020 $22,082,654 $34,472,768 $39,166,559 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Herbert M Bedolfe IIIDIR./EXEC DIRECTOR$369,260
    Margaret LauerADMINISTRATOR$256,465
    Sara M LowellSECRETARY/PROGRAM DIRECTOR$151,986

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $786,946,212
    • Number of Grants: 5,622
    • Number of Recipients: 921

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $9,890,0002024 Orange County Community FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $7,525,0002023 Orange County Community FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $7,455,0002021 Orange County Community FoundationMARISLA FUND
    $7,250,0002020 Orange County Community FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $5,330,7502022 Orange County Community FoundationMARISLA FUND
    $3,250,0002024 GLOBAL GREENGRANTS FUND INCGENERAL SUPPORT
    $3,135,0002020 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.GENERAL SUPPORT FOR OCEANS 5
    $2,520,0002022 GLOBAL GREENGRANTS FUND INCMARISLA FUND
    $2,300,0002023 Oceana, Inc.GENERAL SUPPORT
    $2,300,0002024 Oceana, Inc.GENERAL SUPPORT
    $2,295,0002020 GLOBAL GREENGRANTS FUND INCGENERAL SUPPORT
    $2,135,0002024 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.GENERAL SUPPORT
    $2,135,0002023 Just Transition FundGENERAL SUPPORT
    $2,000,0002022 Oceana, Inc.GENERAL SUPPORT
    $2,000,0002022 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.PLASTICS SOLUTIONS FUND
    $2,000,0002021 Oceana, Inc.GENERAL SUPPORT
    $2,000,0002020 Oceana, Inc.GENERAL SUPPORT
    $1,350,0002022 RESOURCES LEGACY FUNDCALIFORNIA COASTAL PROGRAM
    $1,280,0002021 GLOBAL GREENGRANTS FUND INCMARISLA FUND
    $1,250,0002023 Hawai‘i Community FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $1,245,0002023 GLOBAL GREENGRANTS FUND INCGENERAL SUPPORT
    $1,208,7002024 Hawai‘i Community FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $1,200,0002024 The Nature ConservancyGENERAL SUPPORT
    $1,166,5002022 The Nature ConservancyMARINE RESOURCES & COASTAL RESILIENCE, CA & INDO-PACIFIC
    $1,155,0002024 International Community FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “California Rainmakers #42: Anne G. Earhart.” California Watch. Accessed April 8, 2017. http://rainmaker.apps.cironline.org/donors/anne-g-earhart/.
    2. “The Oil Company Heiress Devoting Her Wealth To Oceans.” Inside Philanthropy. Accessed April 8, 2017. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2014/5/23/the-oil-company-heiress-devoting-her-wealth-to-oceans.html.
    3. “The Marisla Foundation – 990 Form.” GuideStar. Accessed April 8, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/330/200/2015-330200133-0d231a90-F.pdf.
    4. The Marisla Foundation. Accessed April 8, 2017. https://online.foundationsource.com/public/home/marisla.
    5. Cohen, Rick. “Has CAP Been Compromised by Corporate Concerns?” Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly. June 14, 2013. Accessed May 26, 2017. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2013/05/24/has-cap-been-compromised-by-corporate-concerns/.
    6. “Earhart, Anne G.” Carnegie Corporation of New York. Accessed October 25, 2022. https://www.medalofphilanthropy.org/anne-g-earhart/ 
    7. Herbert M. Bedolfe, III.” Oceana. Accessed October 25, 2022. https://usa.oceana.org/people-partners/herbert-m-bedolfe-iii/
    8. note]”The Marisla Foundation – 990 Form.” GuideStar. Accessed April 8, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/330/200/2015-330200133-0d231a90-F.pdf.