Charis Fund
Historical FunderNewberg, Oregon · EIN 94-6077619 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2025)$453K
Organizations funded37
Typical grant$7,000
Total assets$5.2M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $7,500.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2025):
| Contact | CHARIS FUND |
|---|---|
| Address | PO BOX 271, SAN CARLOS CA 940700171 |
| CHARISFAMILYFUND@GMAIL.COM | |
| Form and materials | THE CHARIS FUND IS A SMALL PRIVATE FOUNDATION WITH 11 VOLUNTEER TRUSTEES. WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF ANNUAL FUNDING AND IN RECENT YEARS HAVE SEEN REQUESTS FOR GRANTS INCREASE FAR BEYOND OUR FUNDING CAPABILITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DOLLARS GIVEN DO NOT GO AS FAR AS THEY USED TO. BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDS, THE CHARIS FUND LIMITS THE NUMBER OF GRANT REQUESTS CONSIDERED TO 50 IN SPRING AND 50 IN FALL. IN THE HOPES OF A MORE EQUITABLE PROCESS, WE HAVE SET-UP A 2-PART PROCESS. FIRST PHASE IS SUBMISSION OF A SINGLE PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR REQUESTING A GRANT: O ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASKED TO PREPARE A SINGLE PAGE PDF REQUEST WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: O NAME, ADDRESS AND WEBSITE OF ORGANIZATION O AMOUNT OF FUNDING REQUESTED (NOT MORE THAN 7,500) O A SHORT, 2-3 PARAGRAPH EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WITH SOME INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PROJECT OR PROGRAM FOR WHICH FUNDING IS REQUESTED. O YOUR ORGANIZATION'S NAME MUST BE ON THE SUMMARY AND IN THE NAME OF THE P |
| Deadlines | MID-JANUARY, MID-JULY (EXACT DATES AND TIMES TO BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE WWW.CHARISFUND.ORG). |
| Restrictions | THE GOAL OF THE CHARIS FUND IS TO GIVE "SEED MONEY" TO HELP INITIATE OR EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT, ONCE ESTABLISHED, WILL DEVELOP ONGOING AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SUPPORT RATHER THAN PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT TO ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS AND CHARITIES. WE PREFER TO SUPPORT NOVEL PROGRAMS AIMED AT THE CAUSE OF A PROBLEM RATHER THAN "TREATING THE SYMPTOMS." LARGE ORGANIZATIONS ARE WELCOME TO REQUEST A GRANT AND ARE OFTEN FUNDED, BUT WE OFTEN GIVE PREFERENCE TO SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS WHERE OUR MODEST GRANTS MIGHT MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT. CHARIS FUND DOES NOT GIVE TO "THE ARTS," NOR TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHOSE ALUMNI/AE CAN PROVIDE NEEDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT. CHARIS IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING TO POLITICAL OR LOBBYING ORGANIZATIONS OR TO ONLY PRE-SELECTED CHARITIES. IT IS ALSO PROHIBITED FROM PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS OR SPONSORING INDIVIDUALS. CHARIS GRANTS TYPICALLY FALL IN THE 3,000-6,000 RANGE, SELDOM EXCEEDING 10,000. GRANTS ARE SOMETIMES MADE FOR LESSER AMOUNTS THAN REQUESTED. EACH GROUP T |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
70% of grants went outside Oregon.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistance League of Greater Portla | Beaverton, OR | Dv survivor support group | $7,500 |
| Child Abuse Prevention Council | Concord, CA | Speak up be safe program | $7,500 |
| Clatsop Community Action | Astoria, OR | Mobile produce pantry | $7,500 |
| Community Resource Center | Stanwood, WA | Move to stability hub | $7,500 |
| Community Youth Center | Concord, CA | College and career center | $7,500 |
| Food Finders Inc | Los Alamitos, CA | Backyard harvest gleaning program | $7,500 |
| Free Clinic of Southwest Washington | Vancouver, WA | Project access program | $7,500 |
| Friends of Youth | Kirkland, WA | Youth haven emergency shelter | $7,500 |
| Healthy Rural California Inc | Chico, CA | Med ed club program | $7,500 |
| Hood River Valley Adult Center | Hood River, OR | Meals on wheels program | $7,500 |
| Northeast Youth and Family Services | Spokane, WA | Expand food pantry | $7,500 |
| Silverton Area Community Aid | Silverton, OR | Laundry facility | $7,500 |
| Square Peg Foundation | Half Moon Bay, CA | Training for autistic youth intern | $7,500 |
| Triumph Treatment Services | Yakima, WA | Pregnant & parenting woman's program | $7,500 |
| Victor Valley Domestic Violence Inc | Victorville, CA | Meditation/Quiet room for dv shelter | $7,500 |
| Wenatchee Valley YMCA | Wenatchee, WA | Extreme teens day camp | $7,500 |
| Compass House Inc | Medford, OR | Skills development program | $7,000 |
| Interfaith Food Center | Santa Fe Springs, CA | Homeless food program | $7,000 |
| Safe Shelter for Siuslaw Students | Florence, OR | Eviction prevention and diversion | $7,000 |
| St Vincent de Paul Incline Village | Incline Village, NV | Holiday meals food program | $6,750 |
| Yakima Free Clinic | Yakima, WA | Part time rn | $6,500 |
| The Greenhouse Project | Carson City, NV | Hydroponics system for greenhouse | $6,000 |
| Friends of the Children | San Francisco, CA | Mentoring program for at risk youth | $5,500 |
| Jackson Street Youth Services | Corvallis, OR | Transitional housing units | $5,000 |
| Mental Health Advocacy Services | Glendale, CA | Housing justice program | $5,000 |
| New Phoebe House Association | Tacoma, WA | Transitional housing mothers & child | $5,000 |
| Pasadena Humane | Pasadena, CA | Souther ca wildfire relief | $5,000 |
| Pax Learning Center | Vancouver, WA | At youth risk ged program | $5,000 |
| Roots Young Adult Shelter | Seattle, WA | Upgrading bathroom facilities | $5,000 |
| Safe Crossings Foundation | Seattle, WA | Grief counseling pierce county wa | $5,000 |
| Salem Alliance Church Furniture Ban | Salem, OR | Mattresses and bed frames | $5,000 |
| Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry | Newhall, CA | Food pantry | $5,000 |
| Transition Projects Inc | Portland, OR | Bulk protein for shelter meals | $5,000 |
| We Care Services for Children | Concord, CA | Materials children's therapy room | $5,000 |
| The Nancy Devereux Center | Coos Bay, OR | Food program | $4,500 |
| American Conservatory Theatre | San Francisco, CA | Gift in memory of roberta d'anneo | $2,500 |
| Farmer's Market Fund | Portland, OR | Farmer's market nutrition program | $2,500 |
The return also lists 37 grants to individuals ($222,500). We do not publish the names of individual recipients.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $452,750 | 74 |
| 2024 | $419,404 | 73 |
| 2023 | $397,620 | 76 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed May 11, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202631319349103728
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 94-6077619
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.