The ALKU Foundation is the philanthropic arm of ALKU, a specialized staffing and consulting services firm headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts. Founded in 2022, the foundation operates as part of ALKU's embedded culture of giving back and community support. ALKU itself is a rapidly growing staffing firm with seven offices nationwide, specializing in senior-level consulting across Technologies, Healthcare IT, Life Sciences, and Government industries.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.4M
+36.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$864K
+48.0% YoY
Grant Count
58
+34.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+9.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Alku Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $541K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The ALKU Foundation supports youth-serving programs that promote equity and social progress to build future leaders. The foundation prioritizes initiatives focused on:
- Youth development and empowerment
- Women's initiatives
- Equity and social progress
- Community strengthening and local partnerships
Grantmaking
In December 2024, the ALKU Foundation awarded $300,000 in grants through its Catalyst Fund to eight nonprofits across Massachusetts in the second year of the program. Grant recipients included:
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The ALKU Foundation primarily funds organizations across Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the Boston area and surrounding communities including Andover and Lawrence.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,438,644 | $7,623,420 | $4,991,535 |
| Revenue | $3,706,607 | $5,771,026 | $6,380,514 |
| Expenses | $892,609 | $847,741 | $204,682 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $868,580 | $792,002 | $196,984 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,185,652 | $220,606 | $1,199,036 |
| Distributable Amount | $540,893 | $286,398 | $18,776 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Alku Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mass Mentoring Partnership ($155,000), Silver Lining Mentoring ($65,000), Reproductive Equity Now Foundation ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 826 BOSTON ROXBURY, ME | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $5,000 |
| A BETTER CHANCE OF ANDOVER ANDOVER, MA | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $45,000 |
| A BETTER CHANCE OF WINCHESTER WINCHESTER, ME | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $5,000 |
| AMAZING GRACE OF CAPE COD CENTERVILLE, MA | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $2,500 |
| BAGLY BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $10,000 |
| BEYOND SOCCER LAWRENCE, MA | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $5,000 |
| BOOTHBAY YMCA BOOTHBAY HARBOR, ME | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $2,500 |
| BOSTON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $10,000 |
| BOSTON SCORES BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $20,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF BOSTON ROXBURY, MA | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Vanessa Plant: Executive Director of The ALKU Foundation
- Mark Eldridge: CEO of ALKU and trustee of The ALKU Foundation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHLEEN ELDRIDGE | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 2 | — |
| JOHN ELDRIDGE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MADELINE ELDRIDGE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK ELDRIDGE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| VANESSA PLANT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEE STMT ATTACHED | 40 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**December 2024**: The ALKU Foundation announced the awarding of $300,000 in grants from its Catalyst Fund to eight nonprofits across Massachusetts, marking the second year of the Catalyst Fund initiative. According to Vanessa Plant, Executive Director, grant recipients are "embarking on meaningful new projects — whether expanding services, supporting their teams, or building capacity — to deepen their impact for youth and women across Massachusetts."
ALKU Foundation Awards $300,000 in Grants to Empower Local Nonprofits - fundsforNGOsThe foundation's commitment extends beyond direct grantmaking. ALKU and the foundation also partner with organizations like Mass Mentoring Partnership (partnership since 2012) and BEST Kids (partnership since 2016) to support mentoring initiatives. Additionally, ALKU administers an annual scholarship program in partnership with Mass Mentoring Partnership, with a $30,000 academic scholarship awarded annually.
Mass Mentoring Partnership Hosts Annual Fundraising Event, Awards $30,000Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Alku Foundation Inc fund?
The ALKU Foundation supports youth-serving programs that promote equity and social progress to build future leaders. The foundation prioritizes initiatives focused on: • Youth development and empowerment • Women's initiatives • Equity and social progress • Community strengthening and local partnerships
How do I apply for a grant from Alku Foundation Inc?
**Catalyst Fund**: The foundation's primary grantmaking vehicle, which awards grants to strengthen partnerships with community nonprofits and expand their operational capacity. In December 2024, the ALKU Foundation awarded $300,000 in grants through its Catalyst Fund to eight nonprofits across Massachusetts in the second year of the program. Grant recipients included: 1. YouthConnect 2. Silver Lining Mentoring 3. Shine Initiative 4. Reproductive Equity Now 5. Girls on the Run Greater Boston 6. …
Where does Alku Foundation Inc make grants?
The ALKU Foundation primarily funds organizations across Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the Boston area and surrounding communities including Andover and Lawrence.
What size grants does Alku Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Alku Foundation Inc awarded 58 grants totaling $864K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Alku Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Alku Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $541K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Alku Foundation Inc's EIN?
Alku Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-3376597. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Alku Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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