The Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation concentrates its giving on local Ferndale organizations that serve older adults, providing substantial operating support to a very small number of grantees. Grants are overwhelmingly focused on senior services and faith-based community programs that deliver food and direct care to seniors. The foundation appears to prioritize sustaining essential local service capacity rather than funding projects at a distance or across many causes.
The Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation’s clearest pattern is long-term support for Ferndale senior services, especially the local senior resource center and the church-based food program that serves older adults. In the recent grants list, Ferndale Senior Resource received repeated operating support at $303,100 and $260,400 in 2025, with additional awards of $242,400 in both 2024 and 2023. Ferndale Com Churchseni also received multiple grants for food and senior programming, including $197,610 and $139,000 in 2025, after $128,000 in 2023 and $106,000 in 2024. That concentration points to a foundation that sustains a small set of community institutions rather than spreading dollars widely. Beyond senior services, the foundation also backs local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, education, and selected civic needs within Humboldt County. Its portfolio includes support for operating expenses, facility repairs, scholarship aid, and public-safety equipment. The overall grant history shows a local funder working through familiar organizations and recurring annual awards, with a strong emphasis on keeping essential services functioning in Ferndale.
Senior services are the center of the foundation’s giving. Ferndale Senior Resource received large operating grants across four consecutive years, and Ferndale Com Churchseni was funded for food and senior programming in multiple years as well, showing a sustained commitment to older-adult support. Education is another visible strand: Cal-Poly University received $45,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for scholarships, and Cal State University received scholarship grants of $40,000 and $37,500 in 2025. The foundation also funds building upkeep and repairs, including $35,000 to Fern Cottage Foundation for building repairs and operations and $30,000 to Our Savior's Lutheran Church for steeple repairs. Public-safety support appears too, with $29,064 to the City of Ferndale for police and fire department equipment.
Typical grants fall in a mid-sized operating-support range: the 25th percentile is $7,500, the median is $16,750, and the 75th percentile is $45,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, especially for senior services and operating expenses, which suggests ongoing relationship-based support rather than one-off project funding. The foundation is a private operating pattern centered on general operating, facility maintenance, scholarships, and some individual-directed support. It also makes grants to individuals, indicating that its giving extends beyond organizations alone.
$754K
$15M
$1.7M
$1M
Most grants fall between $8K and $45K, with a median of $17K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$17K
75th Percentile
$45K
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Highly concentrated: few, large grants all directed locally; repeated multi-grant support to the same organizations with emphasis on unrestricted/operating funding.
Notable grantees: Ferndale Senior Resource, Ferndale Community Church (senior/food program)
Grantmaking is local and overwhelmingly concentrated in California. All listed recipients are in the U.S., and 100% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s home state. Ferndale appears most often, with additional grants landing in Eureka, Fortuna, Petrolia, Chico, San Luis Obisbo, and Eyreka. The geographic footprint is compact and regional, centered in Humboldt County and nearby parts of Northern California.
The strongest pattern is support for senior services and food programs in Ferndale. Recent grants also include faith-based organizations, local nonprofits receiving operating support, scholarship aid to universities, building repair projects, and municipal public-safety equipment.
Yes. Ferndale Senior Resource received multiple awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Ferndale Com Churchseni also received repeated grants across those years. That pattern suggests ongoing support for a small number of local organizations.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the mid-thousands to mid-tens of thousands: the 25th percentile is $7,500, the median is $16,750, and the 75th percentile is $45,000.
The foundation gives locally and all listed grants go to recipients in California. Recent recipient cities include Ferndale, Eureka, Fortuna, Petrolia, Chico, San Luis Obisbo, and Eyreka.
Its recent grants include operating expenses, food and senior programming, scholarships, building repairs, pastor housing, and police and fire equipment. The pattern shows both program-specific support and general operating support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FERNDALE SENIOR RESOURCE | FERNDALE, CA | $303,100 | 2026 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FERNDALE COM CHURCHSENI | FERNDALE, CA | $197,610 | 2026 | FOOD/SENIOR PROGRAM |
| CAL STATE UNIVERSITY | CHICO, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| OUR SAVIOR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH | FERNDALE, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | STEEPLE REPAIRS |
| HOSPICE OF HUMBOLDT | EUREKA, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FERNDALE MUSEUM | FERNDALE, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| CAL-POLY UNIVERSITY | SAN LUIS OBISBO, CA | $22,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FERNDALE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION | FERNDALE, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | CURB AND FENCE WORK |
| CITY OF FERNDALE | FERNDALE, CA | $15,115 | 2026 | FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY |
| LOST COAST CAMP | PETROLIA, CA | $13,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| ROTARY CLUB OF FERNDALE | FERNDALE, CA | $13,000 | 2026 | NOEL FOR NEIGHBORS |
| NOEL FOR NEIGHBORS | FERNDALE, CA | $13,000 | 2026 | HOLIDAY BASKETS |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY FAIR | FERNDALE, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHEST | FERNDALE, CA | $7,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| VFW | FERNDALE, CA | $7,157 | 2026 | HONOR WALL |
| FERNDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT | FERNDALE, CA | $4,500 | 2026 | CHRISTMAS TREE MAINTENANCE |
| LD O'ROURKE | FERNDALE, CA | $4,000 | 2026 | HOUSING OPERATIONS |
| CLARKE HISTORICAL MUSEUM | EUREKA, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL GRANT FOR OPERATIONS |
| SALVATION ARMY | EUREKA, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FERNDALE SENIOR RESOURCE | FERNDALE, CA | $260,400 | 2025 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FERNDALE COM CHURCHSENI | FERNDALE, CA | $139,000 | 2025 | FOOD/SENIOR PROGRAM |
| HOSPICE OF HUMBOLDT | EUREKA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| PROVIDENCE REDWOOD MEM FOUNDATION | FORTUNA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CAL STATE UNIVERSITY | CHICO, CA | $37,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| FERN COTTAGE FOUNDATION | FERNDALE, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | BUILDING REPAIRS/OPERATIONS |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH | FERNDALE, CA | $29,930 | 2025 | PASTOR HOUSING |
| CAL-POLY UNIVERSITY | SAN LUIS OBISBO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LUTHERN HOME FOR AGING | FORTUNA, CA | $18,000 | 2025 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY FAIR | FERNDALE, CA | $17,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH | FERNDALE, CA | $16,500 | 2025 | PASTOR STIPEND |
| LOST COAST CAMP | PETROLIA, CA | $13,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | EUREKA, CA | $10,081 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CAL STATE UNIVERSITY FRESNO | FRESNO, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHEST | FERNDALE, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| SALVATION ARMY | EUREKA, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CLARKE HISTORICAL MUSEUM | EUREKA, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | BLDG REPAIRS |
| FERNDALE SENIOR RESOURCE | FERNDALE, CA | $242,400 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FERNDALE COM CHURCHSENI | FERNDALE, CA | $106,000 | 2024 | FOOD/SENIOR PROGRAM |
| HOSPICE OF HUMBOLDT | EUREKA, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| PROVIDENCE REDWOOD MEM FOUNDATION | FORTUNA, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| FERNDALE CEMETARY ASSOCIATION | FERNDALE, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| LD OROURKE FOUNDATION | FERNDALE, CA | $46,512 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| CAL-POLY UNIVERSITY | SAN LUIS OBISBO, CA | $45,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| PETROLIA FRIE PROTECTION DISTRICT | PETROLIA, CA | $35,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| CITY OF FERNDALE | FERNDALE, CA | $29,064 | 2024 | POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIP. |
| FERNDALE MUSEUM | FERNDALE, CA | $27,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CLARKE HISTORICAL MUSEUM | EUREKA, CA | $17,000 | 2024 | BLDG REPAIRS |
| CAL STATE UNIVERSITY FRESNO | FRESNO, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY FAIR | FERNDALE, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| THE VILLAGE CLUB | FERNDALE, CA | $14,725 | 2024 | BUILDING REPAIRS |
FERNDALE SENIOR RESOURCE
$303,100OPERATING EXPENSES
FERNDALE COM CHURCHSENI
$197,610FOOD/SENIOR PROGRAM
CAL STATE UNIVERSITY
$40,000SCHOLARSHIP
OUR SAVIOR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
$30,000STEEPLE REPAIRS
FERNDALE MUSEUM
$25,000OPERATIONS
CAL-POLY UNIVERSITY
$22,500SCHOLARSHIPS
FERNDALE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
$20,000CURB AND FENCE WORK
CITY OF FERNDALE
$15,115FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
LOST COAST CAMP
$13,000OPERATIONS
ROTARY CLUB OF FERNDALE
$13,000NOEL FOR NEIGHBORS
NOEL FOR NEIGHBORS
$13,000HOLIDAY BASKETS
HUMBOLDT COUNTY FAIR
$10,000OPERATIONS
FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHEST
$7,500OPERATIONS
VFW
$7,157HONOR WALL
FERNDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
$4,500CHRISTMAS TREE MAINTENANCE
LD O'ROURKE
$4,000HOUSING OPERATIONS
CLARKE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
$2,000ANNUAL GRANT FOR OPERATIONS
SALVATION ARMY
$2,000OPERATING EXPENSES
FERNDALE SENIOR RESOURCE
$260,400OPERATING EXPENSES
FERNDALE COM CHURCHSENI
$139,000FOOD/SENIOR PROGRAM
PROVIDENCE REDWOOD MEM FOUNDATION
$75,000OPERATIONS
CAL STATE UNIVERSITY
$37,500SCHOLARSHIP
FERN COTTAGE FOUNDATION
$35,000BUILDING REPAIRS/OPERATIONS
FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH
$29,930PASTOR HOUSING
CAL-POLY UNIVERSITY
$25,000SCHOLARSHIPS
LUTHERN HOME FOR AGING
$18,000OPERATING EXPENSES
HUMBOLDT COUNTY FAIR
$17,500OPERATIONS
FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH
$16,500PASTOR STIPEND
LOST COAST CAMP
$13,000OPERATIONS
HUMBOLDT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$10,081OPERATIONS
FERNDALE COMMUNITY CHEST
$5,000OPERATIONS
SALVATION ARMY
$2,000OPERATING EXPENSES
CLARKE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
$2,000BLDG REPAIRS
FERNDALE SENIOR RESOURCE
$242,400OPERATING EXPENSES
FERNDALE COM CHURCHSENI
$106,000FOOD/SENIOR PROGRAM
PROVIDENCE REDWOOD MEM FOUNDATION
$50,000OPERATIONS
FERNDALE CEMETARY ASSOCIATION
$50,000OPERATIONS
LD OROURKE FOUNDATION
$46,512OPERATIONS
CAL-POLY UNIVERSITY
$45,000SCHOLARSHIPS
PETROLIA FRIE PROTECTION DISTRICT
$35,000OPERATIONS
CITY OF FERNDALE
$29,064POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIP.
FERNDALE MUSEUM
$27,000OPERATING EXPENSES
CLARKE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
$17,000BLDG REPAIRS
HUMBOLDT COUNTY FAIR
$15,000OPERATIONS
THE VILLAGE CLUB
$14,725BUILDING REPAIRS