The California State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 06-1657417

The River Foundation

A private foundation in Sherman Oaks, CA. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 27 grants and $61,900 paid in grants.

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2025

    $61,900

    Grants listed
    27
    Assets, end of year
    $1,194,477
  • Tax year 2024

    $64,610

    Grants listed
    19
    Assets, end of year
    $1,228,869
  • Tax year 2023

    $62,800

    Grants listed
    20
    Assets, end of year
    $1,266,071
  • Tax year 2022

    $54,984

    Grants listed
    14
    Assets, end of year
    $1,318,089
  • Tax year 2021

    $67,000

    Grants listed
    17
    Assets, end of year
    $1,389,014
  • Tax year 2020

    $110,460

    Grants listed
    33
    Assets, end of year
    $1,427,265
  • Tax year 2019

    $90,402

    Grants listed
    27
    Assets, end of year
    $1,535,489
  • Tax year 2018

    $99,260

    Grants listed
    20
    Assets, end of year
    $1,599,851

Grants paid in 2025

27 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Doctors Without Borders USANew York, NY

    To support work of providing quality medical care and deliving emergency medical aid to people in crisis.

    $5,000
  2. Freedom of the Press FoundationBrooklyn, NY

    To protect and defend adversarial journalism in the 21st century

    $5,000
  3. The Bail ProjectPasadena, CA

    To support mission of ending cash bail and creating a more just, equitable and humane pretrial system

    $5,000
  4. Civil Liberties Defense CenterEugene, OR

    To support movements that seek to dismantle political and economic structures at the root of social inequality and environmental destruction

    $3,000
  5. Heal PalestineKent, OH

    To support humanitarian relief work in gaza

    $3,000
  6. Palestine Children's Relief FundBurbank, CA

    To support work of providing vital medical and humanitarian relief efforts for children in the middle east

    $3,000
  7. Survival International USAWashington, DC

    To support tribal peoples' rights around the world

    $3,000
  8. The Electronic IntifadaChicago, IL

    To support powerful, independent reporting and to help inspire, educate and mobilize people to work for justice in palestine

    $3,000
  9. World Central KitchenWashington, DC

    To help support work of providing meals to the people who need them most

    $3,000
  10. Drop Site NewsWashington, DC

    To support mission of providing independent investigative journalism

    $2,500
  11. Brennan Center for JusticeNew York, NY

    To support work to reform and defend democracy and justice

    $2,000
  12. EarthjusticeSan Francisco, CA

    To support mission of protecting people's health, to preserve wildlife, advance clean energy and combat climate change

    $2,000
  13. Rainforest Action NetworkSan Francisco, CA

    To support mission to preserve forests, protect the climate and uphold human rights

    $2,000
  14. Unrwa USAWashington, DC

    To carry out mission in partnership with the united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees

    $2,000
  15. 805 UndocufundOxnard, CA

    To support work of providing relief to immigrant families affected by natural disasters and those with loved ones detained by immigration

    $2,000
  16. American Friends of Combatants for PeaceNew York, NY

    To support work for peace and justice in israel and palestine

    $2,000
  17. Middle East Children's AllianceBerkeley, CA

    To support work of delivering food, water, hygiene supplies, and other urgent needs to people in gaza

    $2,000
  18. United Palestinian AppealWashington, DC

    To support marginalized palestinians living in the west bank, gaza strip, and refugee camps

    $2,000
  19. The Zaynab ProjectHenrico, VA

    To support work of providing gaza's families with aid, opportunity and a vision for a brighter future

    $2,000
  20. MondoweissDetroit, MI

    To support independent news organization that informs readers about developments in israel and palestine

    $2,000
  21. Doctors Without Walls - Santa Barbara Street MedicineSanta Barbara, CA

    To support mission of providing free, volunteer medical care for the most vulnerable of santa barbara county

    $1,000
  22. Pesticide Action NetworkBerkeley, CA

    To support work to tackle the pesticide problem and create a just, thriving food system

    $1,000
  23. Prison RadioSan Francisco, CA

    To support work of bringing voices into the public debate challenging unjust police and prosecutorial practices which result in mass incarceration

    $1,000
  24. Social and Environmental EntrepreneursCalabasas, CA

    To support mission of empowering, encouraging, and catalyzing projects to facilitate positive change

    $1,000
  25. Legal Aid Foundation of Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA

    To support work of providing fee civil legal services to low-income individuals and families

    $1,000
  26. New BeginningsSanta Barbara, CA

    To support mission of providing quality, affordable counseling services, education and outreach programs that match the needs of the community

    $1,000
  27. Southern Plains Land TrustLamar, CO

    To support work preserving and restoring the biological diversity of prairie ecosystems of the southern great plains

    $400

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. International aid7 grants $21,00049% of the total
  2. Human services2 grants $7,00016% of the total
  3. Environment4 grants $5,40013% of the total
  4. Civil rights1 grant $3,0007% of the total
  5. Arts and culture1 grant $2,5006% of the total
  6. Education1 grant $2,0005% of the total
  7. 2 other causes2 grants $2,0005% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. California15 grants $32,000
  2. District of Columbia4 grants $9,500
  3. New York3 grants $9,000
  4. Illinois1 grant $3,000
  5. Ohio1 grant $3,000
  6. Oregon1 grant $3,000
  7. Michigan1 grant $2,000
  8. Colorado1 grant $400

Officers, directors and trustees

1 person as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Neal MarlensPRESIDENT, SECRETARY & TREASURER Hours 5Pay $0

The return

More foundations

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