The Tarbell Family Foundation is a private foundation that supports various left-of-center, educational, and general-aid organizations. Most of its grants are $5,000 and below, but occasionally, it will disperse up to $60,000. These large grants are given primarily to educational institutions, particularly in the American northwest, such as the University of Oregon, the University of the Puget Sound, and Portland State University. 1
The Tarbell Family Foundation is managed by two companies: the Atlantic Trust Company and Foundation Source, a Connecticut-based management firm that is a frequent choice for Delaware-based private foundations. 2
History
The Tarbell Family Foundation was created in 1993 by the Tarbell Family of Gold River, California, who moved there after the late Harry Tarbell completed his telecommunications career in the Pacific Northwest. 3 Tarbell had amassed a fortune due to his pioneering work on cellular telephones and used the Family Foundation to disperse some of it to favored charities; as an alumni of the University of Oregon, giving back to his alma mater and other regional schools was a priority. 4
After Tarbell passed away in 2012, his sons, Harry III and James, and daughter, Patricia, took over the Family Foundation as trustees.
Leadership
The three trustees of the Tarbell Family Foundation are siblings Harry III, James, and Patricia. Though there is no titular indication that one sibling holds more responsibility than the others, the Foundation donates disproportionately to causes that are closely related to James.
James Tarbell resides in Caspar, a city in Mendocino County, California. He is the principle editor of Justice Rising, the flagship publication of the left-of-center Alliance for Democracy. He is also an author, having published a book critical of President George W. Bush’s foreign policy, Imperial Overstretch: George W. Bush and the Hubris of Empire. As of July 2019, James is a candidate for a position on the Mendocino County Charter Commission. 5
Patricia Leiser resides in Vacaville, California. 4
Harry Tarbell III resides in Orinda, California. 4
Funding
The Tarbell Family Foundation’s most recent publicly available tax filings show total revenues of $423,314 and total expenses of $671,081. 1
Of the $581,771 given as disbursements for charitable purposes, the majority went to educational institutions: $100,000 went to Willamette University to fund the “Tarbell Family Foundation Visiting Mentorship Fund.” 1
The only other non-educational causes to receive grants over $5,000 — aside from the Middle East Children’s Alliance — were those that are closely linked to James Tarbell. The City of Caspar, Mendocino County, and, to a lesser extent, the Alliance for Democracy all received sizable disbursements. 1
References
- “Tarbell Family Foundation 990s.” Guidestar.org. Accessed July 24, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/93-1104762.
- “Tarbell Family Foundation 990s.” Guidestar.org. Accessed July 24, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/93-1104762. ; Chalmers, Mike. “Charities Find Delaware Is Good Company.” USA Today. March 10, 2013. Accessed July 24, 2019. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/10/charities-find-delaware-good-company/1973817/.
- -. “Harry Tarbell’s Obituary.” Harry Tarbell Obituary – Portland, OR | The Oregonian. March 27, 2012. Accessed July 24, 2019. https://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?n=harry-tarbell&pid=156726363.
- “Harry Tarbell’s Obituary.” Harry Tarbell Obituary – Portland, OR | The Oregonian. March 27, 2012. Accessed July 24, 2019. https://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?n=harry-tarbell&pid=156726363
- “James Tarbell.” Voter’s Edge California. Accessed July 24, 2019. https://votersedge.org/ca/en/ballot/election/area/39/contests/contest/11314/candidate/126991?election_authority_id=23.