American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in the United States, was founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin for the purpose of "promoting useful knowledge." In the 21st century the Society sustains this mission in three principal ways. It honors and engages distinguished scientists, humanists, social scientists, and leaders in civic and cultural affairs through elected membership and opportunities for interdisciplinary, intellectual fellowship, particularly in the semi-annual Meetings in Philadelphia. It supports research and discovery through grants and fellowships, lectures, publications, prizes, exhibitions, and public education. It serves scholars through a research library of manuscripts and other collections internationally recognized for their enduring historic value. The American Philosophical Society's current activities reflect the founder's spirit of inquiry, provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas, and convey the conviction of its members that intel
American Philosophical Society at a glance
In short: American Philosophical Society gave $15K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,000
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $15,000
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $310,248,157
- +6.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to American Philosophical Society
Open Grants
25 open opportunities from American Philosophical Society
APS-NEH Sabbatical Fellowships
American Philosophical Society
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
APS/CSHL Undergraduate Summer Internship in the History of Biology Grant
American Philosophical Society
Amount
Up to US $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Baruch Blumberg Grants in Astrobiology
American Philosophical Society
Amount
US $5,000 - US $7,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who American Philosophical Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Papers of Benjamin Franklin ($15K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How American Philosophical Society gives
- Giving grew 100% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2021) to $15K (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Papers of Benjamin Franklin New Haven, CT | Franklin Papers Project | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $310,248,157 | $20,391,804 | $15,571,638 | $15,000 | 1 | $16,906,951 |
| 2023 | $292,035,358 | $13,318,942 | $14,213,316 | $15,000 | 1 | $9,353,380 |
| 2022 | $267,448,047 | $12,299,474 | $13,165,105 | $15,000 | 1 | $5,717,725 |
| 2021 | $294,142,753 | $31,170,811 | $11,610,685 | $7,500 | 1 | $25,277,245 |
| 2020 | $270,283,272 | $17,828,894 | $11,541,667 | $15,000 | 1 | $14,729,173 |
About American Philosophical Society
Based on IRS filings
American Philosophical Society is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Philadelphia, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $310.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $15K. Net investment income was $16.9M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
American Philosophical Society is led by Patrick Spero, CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 9 of 43 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patrick Spero
CEO
Librarian → CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$241K (2020) → $232K (2024)
Robert M Hauser
CEO
Exc Officer → CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$214K (2020) → $341K (2024)
Roger S Bagnall
President & Councilor
Curator → Curator & Council, 2022
Curator & Council → President & Councilor, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Jacobs
Development Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$148K (2020) → $193K (2024)
Gary David
Asso Director of Collec
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$139K (2024)
Linda Musumeci
Director of Grants
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024)
Michelle McDonald
Director of Library
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$257K (2024)
John Wolfe
Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$200K (2020) → $252K (2024)
Bayard Miller
Associate Director of Digit
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$120K (2024)
Mary Grace Wahl
Associate Director of Colle
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$114K (2024)
Alan S Blinder
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Delbanco
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline W Bynum
Councilor & V.p.
Councilor → Councilor & V.p., 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clyde F Barker
Councilor
President & Councilor → Councilor, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas S Massey
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dusa McDuff
Councilor
Curator & Council → Councilor, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John S Reed
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan R Cole
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia H Gaisser
Councilor
Secretary & Council → Councilor, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Hall Jamieson
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith S Thomson
Curator & Council
Curator → Curator & Council, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie C Aiello
Curator & Council
Councilor → Curator & Council, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Greenhouse
Councilor
President & Councilor → Councilor, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda K Kerber
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret H Marshall
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nina Jablonski
V.p. & Council
Councilor → V.p. & Council, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard B Worley
Councilor
Treasurer & Council → Councilor, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William H Hooke
Councilor
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harriet Zuckerman
Councilor
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline K Barton
V.p. & Council
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Skorton
Councilor & Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jianguo Liu
Councilor
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joanna Aizenberg
Councilor
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marna C Whittington
Councilor & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Case
Councilor
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C Van Horne
Councilor
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Thompson
Councilor
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard E Lenski
Councilor
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Hollinger
Councilor
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul W Kroll
Councilor
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert James Miller
Councilor
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald M Fairman
Councilor
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vijay Kumar
Councilor
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Ann Westcott (2020–2023) — Meetings Director
- Former: Nora Monroe (2020–2023) — Membership Director
- Former: Babak Ashrafi (2020–2022) — Councilor
- Former: Evelyn B Higgenbotham (2020–2022) — Councilor
- Former: Rowena G Matthews (2020–2022) — V.p. & Councilor
- Former: Samuel O Thier (2020–2022) — Councilor
- Former: Sarah Thomas (2022) — Councilor
- Former: Barbara Oberg (2020–2021) — Councilor
- Former: Christopher P Jones (2020–2021) — Councilor
- Former: Elizabeth Cropper (2020–2021) — V.p. & Council
- Former: Philip D Gingerich (2020–2021) — Councilor
- Former: Warren M Washington (2020–2021) — Councilor
- Former: Conrad K Harper (2020) — Councilor
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $341K, to Dr Robert M Hauser (CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about American Philosophical Society
How much does American Philosophical Society give each year?
American Philosophical Society gave $15K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $15K across 1 grant.
How large is American Philosophical Society?
American Philosophical Society reported $310.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.4M.
What is American Philosophical Society?
American Philosophical Society is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Philadelphia, PA. It holds $310.2M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does American Philosophical Society operate?
American Philosophical Society has awarded grants in Connecticut.
What is American Philosophical Society's EIN?
American Philosophical Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1353269. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work American Philosophical Society funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Philosophical Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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