Bulova Gale Foundation
Bulova Gale Foundation is a private foundation based in Lenox, Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants supported organizations engaged in education, religious activities, cultural preservation, swimming, animal care, food services, and cancer research.
Bulova Gale Foundation at a glance
In short: Bulova Gale Foundation gave $140K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Florida. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $139,500
- -4.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,982
- -4.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,750
- Total assets
- $2,512,857
- -1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (3 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Florida (26% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bulova Gale Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: C/O Orenstein - 55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA 01240
Phone: (413) 447-1900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bulova Gale Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Trustees of Grinnell College ($20K). Together the top 10 received $96K.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 114 grants of 114 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (26%), New York (25%), Massachusetts (18%), Iowa (14%), and California (13%). Listed recipients included organizations in Sarasota and Tampa, Florida; New York City and Spencertown, New York; Lenox-area communities in Massachusetts; Grinnell, Iowa; and San Diego, California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Bulova Gale Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 28 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 86% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $135K (2020) to $159K (2022). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $140K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trustees of Grinnell College Grinell, IA | Education | $20,000 |
| Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Pittsfield, MA | Religious Activities | $13,000 |
| University of South Florida Foundat Tampa, FL | Furtherance of Education | $10,000 |
| Manasota Asalh Sarasota, FL | to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community. | $10,000 |
| Sarasota Sharks Inc Sarasota, FL | Promote Swimming & Competitive Ability Amongst Young Students | $9,000 |
| Foundation for Animal Care Educatio San Diego, CA | Provide financial assistance for emergency veterinary care for animal owners uable to afford | $8,100 |
| Hevreh of Southern Berkshire Great Barrington, MA | Religious Activites | $7,500 |
| Girl Rising Spencertown, NY | Assistance to provide access to quality education for girls worldwide. | $7,500 |
| Mama's Kitchen San Diego, CA | Food Service | $5,600 |
| Children First Inc Sarasota, FL | Promote Early Childhood Education and Development | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bulova Gale Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation made 28 grants in both 2024 and 2023, and 32 in 2022.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,512,857 | $135,510 | $172,164 | $139,500 | 28 | $142,024 | $105,370 | $149,223 |
| 2023 | $2,549,511 | $97,988 | $178,327 | $145,500 | 28 | $148,103 | $68,345 | $138,576 |
| 2022 | $2,629,850 | $234,499 | $193,947 | $159,100 | 32 | $159,350 | $199,902 | $146,614 |
| 2020 | $2,339,536 | $160,411 | $162,268 | $135,000 | 26 | — | $134,778 | $138,162 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bulova Gale Foundation reported a distributable amount of $149K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, Manasota ASALH says its mission is to promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, history, and culture. Girl Rising says it uses storytelling, educational tools, programs, and support for local organizations to advance girls’ education. Mama’s Kitchen says it provides nutritious food to people and families vulnerable to malnutrition due to critical illness.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $139,500. Grants ranged from $800 to $20,000, with a median of $2,750. Notable grants included $20,000 to the Trustees of Grinnell College for education; $13,000 to the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires for religious activities; $10,000 each to the University of South Florida Foundation for furtherance of education and to Manasota ASALH; and $9,000 to Sarasota Sharks to promote swimming and competitive ability among young students.
The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires describes its mission as caring for people in need and sustaining the Jewish community locally, in Israel, and around the world. Sarasota Sharks says it operates the Selby Aquatic Center and runs aquatics programs including competitive swimming, lessons, and community programs. These are grantee descriptions, not statements of the foundation’s own mission.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lynn Gale as President, Peter Gale as Vice President, Barbara Maisel as Secretary/Treasurer, and David L Orenstein as CPA.
Bulova Gale Foundation is led by Lynn Gale, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lynn Gale
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Maisel
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David L. Orenstein
CPA
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Gale
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Bulova Gale Foundation
How much does Bulova Gale Foundation give each year?
Bulova Gale Foundation gave $140K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $146K across 28 grants.
What is Bulova Gale Foundation's typical grant size?
Bulova Gale Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,750, and its average grant was $4,982, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bulova Gale Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Bulova Gale Foundation give grants?
Bulova Gale Foundation's top state is Florida, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (25%) and Massachusetts (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Sarasota, FL (4 grants), Great Barrington, MA (3 grants) and Ghent, NY (3 grants).
Does Bulova Gale Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on Bulova Gale Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Bulova Gale Foundation's largest grantees?
Bulova Gale Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Trustees of Grinnell College ($20,000), Jewish Federation of the Berkshires ($13,000) and University of South Florida Foundat ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bulova Gale Foundation?
Bulova Gale Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $142K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $149K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Bulova Gale Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, Manasota ASALH says its mission is to promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, history, and culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bulova Gale Foundation?
The foundation 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 Bulova Gale Foundation's EIN?
Bulova Gale Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3866091. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Bulova Gale 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bulova Gale Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bulova-gale-foundation-morg_0e3e6c6e1829477085098fc98bc5cb11
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133866091_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bulova Gale Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bulova-gale-foundation-morg_0e3e6c6e1829477085098fc98bc5cb11},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Bulova Gale 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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