Tarbell Family Foundation

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

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3), Private Foundation
Ideological Alignment: Left of Center
Formation:

1993

Trustees:

Harry Tarbell III, James Tarbell, Patricia Leiser

Location: Wilmington, DE View on map
Tax ID: 93-1104762
Most Recent Filing: 2023
Budget (2023): Assets: $16,356,556 Revenue: $875,899 Expenses: $892,698

Contents

    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, his sons, Harry III and James, and daughter, Patricia, took over the Foundation as trustees.  5

    Leadership

    As of March 2012, the three trustees of the Tarbell Family Foundation are siblings Harry III, James, and Patricia Tarbell.  5

    James Tarbell resides in Caspar, California and is the owner of Ridge Times Press. He was previously identified as a “colleague” of the Alliance for Democracy from 1998 to 2013.  6  7  8

    Patricia Leiser resides in Vacaville, California. 4 In 2024, she reported working an average of two hours a week for the organization.  5

    Harry Tarbell III resides in Orinda, California. 4  In 2024, he reported working an average of zero hours a week for the organization.  5

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2023 $16,356,556 $875,899 $892,698 View
    2022 $15,089,788 $633,818 $1,105,809 View
    2021 $19,473,667 $2,841,897 $1,042,634 View
    2020 $17,984,546 $854,901 $890,219 View
    2019 $16,373,088 $235,792 $722,566 View

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

    Expenses Detail

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $6,730,542
    • Number of Grants: 1,082
    • Number of Recipients: 312

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

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $90,0002020 Stoneleigh-Burnham SchoolGeneral & Unrestricted
    $80,0002022 Stoneleigh-Burnham SchoolGeneral & Unrestricted
    $70,0002021 Stoneleigh-Burnham SchoolTrustee Fund and Speak Up for Stoneleigh Burnham Campaign
    $59,0002023 East Bay German International SchoolGeneral & Unrestricted
    $53,0002023 Stoneleigh-Burnham SchoolCharitable Event
    $40,0002023 Stoneleigh-Burnham SchoolCharitable Event
    $35,0002023 MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCEGeneral & Unrestricted
    $35,0002020 MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCEGeneral & Unrestricted
    $30,5002021 Caspar CommunityGeneral & Unrestricted
    $30,0002022 MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCEGeneral & Unrestricted
    $30,0002021 MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCEGeneral & Unrestricted
    $30,0002020 Emeryville Citizens Assistance ProgramGeneral & Unrestricted
    $30,0002020 PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONthe Gary and Patricia Leiser Scholarship fund in Middle Eastern Languages
    $27,0002023 Stoneleigh-Burnham SchoolGeneral & Unrestricted
    $25,0002023 Caspar CommunityGeneral & Unrestricted
    $25,0002023 Robert D Wilson & Margaret A Wilson Charitable Remainder Unitrustfor the endowment for the support of Islamic art at the Hallie Form Museum of Art fund
    $25,0002022 Caspar CommunityGeneral & Unrestricted
    $25,0002022 Deschutes Land Trustsupports the new Paulina Creek Preserve restoration in the effort to increase carbon sequestration in wetlands as a remediation of climate change
    $25,0002022 Mid Klamath Watershed CouncilFires & Forestry Program, Preventative Burns
    $25,0002022 PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONAddition to the endowment fund for the GARY AND PATRICIA LEISER SCHOLARSHIP IN MIDDLE EASTERN LANGUAGES Scholarship fund
    $25,0002022 The Watershed Research & Training CenterCoaching and mentoring with live fire; support continued growth and development of WRTC's fire program; continued training of WRTC's Fire Staff to include but not limited to Wilderness First Responder certification
    $25,0002022 Think WildGeneral & Unrestricted
    $25,0002022 Willamette UniversityFor the Tarbell Family Foundation Endowment for the support of Islamic Art at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art
    $25,0002021 PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONAnthropology Department Fund
    $25,0002021 Stoneleigh-Burnham SchoolGeneral & Unrestricted

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

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “Tarbell Family Foundation 990s.” Guidestar.org. Accessed July 24, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/93-1104762.
    2. “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/.
    3. -. “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.
    4. “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
    5. “Tarbell Family Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2024. Page 6 Part VII. 
    6. “Judy & Jim Tarbell.” n.d. https://casparcommons.org/Treasures/JudyJimTarbell.php 
    7. “Jim Tarbell | LinkedIn.” n.d. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-tarbell-9611b112/. 
    8. The Oregonian. “Harry Tarbell Obituary.” Legacy.com, February 28, 2010. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/oregon/name/harry-tarbell-obituary?id=2569147.