Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The filing shows education leading its grants, alongside medical, public charity, evangelical, conservation, community services and religious awards, so an education or community-focused request fits most clearly.
- No geographic focus is stated, though the filing shows grants mainly in California and Washington.
- About 8 in 10 grants fall between $2,500 and $15,000, with a median of $5,000, so a request near that middle figure sits within its usual range, although its largest grant was $55,000.
- Applications are made by letter describing the need, financial status and a member of the applying organisation's board; the filing gives no deadlines and says the foundation accepts applications.
- Repeat support is substantial, with 82% of grant dollars going to organisations it had funded in earlier filings, and the application information leaves the extent of awards to the board's discretion.
Overview
Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation is a US private foundation based in Menlo Park, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's recorded grants are led by educational grants, alongside awards classified as public charity, medical and evangelical grants. Its recipients include schools, colleges and universities, environmental and land-conservation organisations, health and humanitarian charities, community services and religious organisations. The portfolio spans education, health, community support, conservation and faith-related work, with awards to a varied range of nonprofit recipients. The filings show grants across many states and substantial repeat support to organisations funded in earlier filings. The application information calls for a letter from an applying organisation describing its need, financial status and board membership; it leaves the extent of awards to the board's discretion.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California and Washington.
How to apply
Organisations apply by sending a letter describing the need, financial status and a member of the applying organisation's board of directors.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 82% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 163 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 13%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 7%
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to organisations Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 55 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Sempervirens Fund · Educational grant$55,0002024 tax year
- Tunnel to Towers Foundation · Public charity$20,0002024 tax year
- Salvation Army - Socal · Evangelical grant$20,0002024 tax year
- Salvation Army · Evangelical grant$20,0002024 tax year
- Map International · Medical grant$15,0002024 tax year
- International Rescue Committee · Public charity$15,0002024 tax year
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation · Medical grant$15,0002024 tax year
- Whidbey Camano Land Trust · Educational grant$10,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kristian Whitsett — Board Member
- Jeff Whitsett — Secretary
- John F Harris — Treasurer
- Robert N Harris — Vice President
- William W Harris — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $525,420 | $445,000 | $6,353,771 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $510,036 | $450,000 | $6,078,531 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $520,919 | $457,000 | $9,834,842 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (206) 550-3838
- MLAFAMILYFOUNDATION@GMAIL.COM
- Menlo Park, CA
Applying to Myrtle L Atkinson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (206) 550-3838
- MLAFAMILYFOUNDATION@GMAIL.COM
- Menlo Park, CA