25TH Century Foundation
The 25th Century Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2025 awards included support for food access, disability services, education, conservation, journalism, and community projects.
25TH Century Foundation at a glance
In short: 25TH Century Foundation gave $819K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $32K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 92% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $819,000
- +17.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +52.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $31,500
- -23.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $15,203,537
- +1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 92% first-time grantees (24 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (65% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to 25TH Century Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co H Sullivan-1735 Market St 51Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (302) 252-4453
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who 25TH Century Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation ($75K). Together the top 10 received $610K.
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 99 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Pennsylvania organizations received 65% of grant dollars. The listed shares for other recipient states were Virginia 9%, Texas 9%, Massachusetts 7%, and California 7%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is 25TH Century Foundation open to new grantees?
92%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 26 grantees (92%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $63K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $63K repeat.
- 0% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $570K (2020) to $819K (2025). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $819K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation Plymouth Meeting, PA | To name the activity pavilion in the family fun zone | $75,000 |
| The Community Grocer Philadelphia, PA | For capital costs in the form of debt reduction | $75,000 |
| Inglis House Philadelphia, PA | For Purchase of an Omnibus | $75,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | For Projects Related to Pade Flagship Preserves/Accessibility | $75,000 |
| Mighty Writers Vinton, TX | To support "mighty mart west philly" client choice food panrty | $75,000 |
| Byerschool Foundation Philadelphia, PA | For the playground capital campaign for russell byers charter school | $50,000 |
| Lenfest Institute for Journalism Philadelphia, PA | To support the matching campaign "every voice, every vote" | $50,000 |
| City Year Inc Boston, MA | To support the soundproof, movable room dividing wall for city year philadelphia | $50,000 |
| Youthbuild Philadelphia Charter School Philadelphia, PA | In support of the discovery phase for the transitional housing and recreation center | $50,000 |
| Greene Street Friends School Philadelphia, PA | To underwrite the sandbox, mud kitchen, nearby plantings and log balance | $35,000 |
Ready to take the next step with 25TH Century Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $15,203,537 | $1,383,070 | $984,312 | $819,000 | 26 | $853,374 | $1,301,839 | $792,573 |
| 2024 | $14,918,040 | $3,143,837 | $807,540 | $697,500 | 17 | $743,421 | $3,082,735 | $693,386 |
| 2023 | $12,572,399 | $156,233 | $823,552 | $681,913 | 16 | $737,106 | $249,812 | $725,887 |
| 2022 | $13,237,201 | $1,209,174 | $860,173 | $715,750 | 14 | $764,005 | $1,121,173 | $844,057 |
| 2021 | $12,888,095 | $637,873 | $937,651 | $787,000 | 26 | — | $562,949 | $776,369 |
| 2020 | $13,308,811 | $214,997 | $690,959 | $570,492 | 16 | — | $308,476 | $748,683 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, 25TH Century Foundation reported a distributable amount of $793K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, The Nature Conservancy describes its mission as conserving the lands and waters on which life depends; Inglis House says it enables people with disabilities and those who care for them to achieve their goals and live life to the fullest. Other 2025 recipients include ByerSchool Foundation, which provides financial support and guidance to Russell Byers Charter School, and Juntos, which describes itself as a community-led Latine immigrant organization advocating for human rights.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $819,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $75,000, with a median award of $25,000. Among the largest were $75,000 each to For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation for a named activity pavilion, The Community Grocer for debt reduction, Inglis House for an omnibus, The Nature Conservancy for projects related to Pennsylvania flagship preserves and accessibility, and Mighty Writers for its Mighty Mart West Philly client-choice food pantry. Other awards included $50,000 to ByerSchool Foundation for a playground capital campaign and $50,000 to YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School for the discovery phase of a transitional housing and recreation center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Caroline Buck Rogers as chair and director; James M. Buck III as president, treasurer, and director; Elinor H. Buck as vice president and director; and Heike K. Sullivan as secretary and outside director. Wells Fargo, listed as trustee, was marked removed.
25TH Century Foundation is led by James M. Buck III, President, Treasurer & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James M. Buck III
President, Treasurer & Director
President & Director → President, Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Buck Rogers
Chair & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elinor H. Buck
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heike K. Sullivan
Secretary & Outside Director
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Wells Fargo (2024–2025) — Trustee · Filing note: Until sept 2023
- Former: Marilyn C. Sanborne (2020–2023) — Secretary & Outside Director
- Former: Wells Fargo Bank NA (2020–2023) — Director & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about 25TH Century Foundation
How much does 25TH Century Foundation give each year?
25TH Century Foundation gave $819K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $698K across 17 grants.
What is 25TH Century Foundation's typical grant size?
25TH Century Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $31,500, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from 25TH Century Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does 25TH Century Foundation give grants?
25TH Century Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (9%) and Texas (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (10 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does 25TH Century Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of 25TH Century Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are 25TH Century Foundation's largest grantees?
25TH Century Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation ($75,000), The Community Grocer ($75,000) and Inglis House ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is 25TH Century Foundation?
25TH Century Foundation reported $15.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $853K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $793K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does 25TH Century Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from 25TH Century Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is 25TH Century Foundation's EIN?
25TH Century Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1738216. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does 25TH Century Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 3, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in 25TH Century Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). 25TH Century Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/25th-century-foundation-morg_a70c4373feff4efab52e27f5c28660da
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311738216_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{25TH Century Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/25th-century-foundation-morg_a70c4373feff4efab52e27f5c28660da},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from 25TH Century Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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