The California State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 95-4509531

John F Merrell Charitable Foundation

A private foundation in Altadena, CA. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 3 grants and $30,000 paid in grants.

Tax year 2025 (period ending Jan 31, 2026), 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

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Michael Farrell
1835 Meadowbrook Road
Altadena, CA 91001
(606) 590-9425
Form and materials
Obtain grant application by mail from MR. Farrell, state specific reasons for grant application
Deadlines
On or before december 31 of each year
Restrictions
None

Assets and giving by year

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

    $30,000

    Grants listed
    3
    Assets, end of year
    $1,174,930
  • Tax year 2024

    $20,000

    Grants listed
    2
    Assets, end of year
    $1,233,485
  • Tax year 2023

    $60,000

    Grants listed
    6
    Assets, end of year
    $1,189,172
  • Tax year 2022

    $65,000

    Grants listed
    5
    Assets, end of year
    $1,268,217
  • Tax year 2021

    $40,000

    Grants listed
    5
    Assets, end of year
    $1,364,410
  • Tax year 2020

    $50,000

    Grants listed
    4
    Assets, end of year
    $1,312,909
  • Tax year 2019

    $50,000

    Grants listed
    4
    Assets, end of year
    $1,376,194

Grants paid in 2025

3 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Pasadena VillagePasadena, CA

    Community support

    $10,000
  2. Los Angeles Arboretum FoundationArcadia, CA

    Educational & community support

    $10,000
  3. Liberty HouseSalem, OR

    Community support

    $10,000

Where the money goes

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

  1. Environment1 grant $10,00050% of the total
  2. Human services1 grant $10,00050% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. California2 grants $20,000
  2. Oregon1 grant $10,000

Officers, directors and trustees

3 people as filed

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

  • Michael E FarrellCEO Hours 25Pay $50,000
  • Stephen RoseDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $0
  • Scott FarrellTREASURER/CF Hours 5Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (environment), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. The Dimassa Family FoundationAltadena, CA 7 grants Preselected only $13,707 giving
  2. The Dobbs Family Charitable Foundation Trust AgreementWalnut Creek, CA 13 grants Preselected only $30,000 giving
  3. Chapman Forestry FoundationDavis, CA 8 grants Preselected only $29,380 giving
  4. Tran Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA 5 grants Preselected only $29,000 giving
  5. The Alton FoundationThousand Oaks, CA 2 grants Accepts applications $29,000 giving