Caithness Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Falmouth, MA EIN: 26-3917361

Caithness Foundation is a private foundation based in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Its 2026 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including poverty and hunger, medical research, people in need, climate research, and the environment.

Caithness Foundation at a glance

In short: Caithness Foundation gave $84K across 46 grants in 2026 (avg $2K), mostly in Massachusetts. 7% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2026)
$84,000
+9.2% vs 2025
Grants made (2026)
46
+7.0% vs 2025
Average grant
$1,826
+2.1% vs 2025
Median grant
$1,600
Total assets
$1,333,794
+1.0% vs 2025
New grantees (estimate)
7% first-time grantees (3 of 46, 2026)
Primary geography
Massachusetts (59% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Caithness 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: 67 Little Island Road, Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: (508) 566-1882

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Caithness Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2026

Oxfam America: $10KOxfam America$10KDoctors Without Borders USA: $5KDoctors Without Borders USA$5KACLU Foundation: $4KACLU Foundation$4KUS Fund for UNICEF: $4KUS Fund for UNICEF$4KThe Coalition for Children: $4KThe Coalition for Children$4KWoodwell Climate Research Center: $4KWoodwell Climate ResearchCenter$4KChildren's Hospital Boston: $2KChildren's Hospital Boston$2KDana Farber Cancer Institute: $2KDana Farber Cancer Institute$2KEnvironmental Defense Action Fund: $2KEnvironmental Defense ActionFund$2KFalmouth Fund of the CC Foundation: $2KFalmouth Fund of the CCFoundation$2K

The largest 2026 recipient was Oxfam America ($10K). Together the top 10 received $38K.

Grant Size Distribution

213 grants across all recorded years

213<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 213 grants of 213 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2026, Massachusetts organizations received 59% of grant dollars, followed by organizations in New York (12%), the District of Columbia (8%), Maryland (6%), and California (5%).

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.

Cities

FalmouthBostonWashingtonNew YorkHyannisWest FalmouthSouth YarmouthWoods HoleBoulderCambridgeDennisHagerstownHoustonLittletonNorth FalmouthOrleansPlymouthSan FranciscoAnnapolisDedham

Is Caithness Foundation open to new grantees?

7%

first-time grantees, 2026

In 2026, 3 of 46 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $833; repeat grants $2K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 93% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+14%). Method
  • In 2026 it paid out 98% 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 (2021–2026). 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

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K42 grants2021 42 grants2022 40 grants2023 42 grants2024 43 grants2025 46 grants2026

From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $73K (2023) to $84K (2026). In 2026 it made 46 grants totaling $84K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Oxfam America Boston, MAPoverty and Hunger$10,000
Doctors Without Borders USA Hagerstown, MDMedical Research$5,000
ACLU Foundation Washington, DCContributions-Other$4,000
US Fund for UNICEF New York, NYPeople in Need$4,000
The Coalition for Children Falmouth, MAPeople in Need$3,500
Woodwell Climate Research Center Falmouth, MAResearch & Higher Education$3,500
Children's Hospital Boston Boston, MAMedical Research$2,000
Dana Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MAMedical Research$2,000
Environmental Defense Action Fund New York, NYEnergy/Environment$2,000
Falmouth Fund of the CC Foundation South Yarmouth, MAMedical Research$2,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Caithness Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2026$1,333,794$115,168$101,822$84,00046$84,000$97,346$85,822
2025$1,320,448$106,236$93,738$76,90043$76,900$89,398$80,636
2024$1,308,025$72,211$93,117$76,90042$76,900$55,994$76,033
2023$1,328,856$-55,486$89,333$73,40040$73,400$19,634$74,425
2022$1,473,675$-16,990$104,310$80,90042$80,900$4,604$84,742
2021$1,594,975$274,158$98,545$81,60042—$257,213$81,619

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Caithness Foundation reported a distributable amount of $86K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants include support for humanitarian aid, medical research, environmental work, and research and higher education. The supported organizations’ own descriptions illustrate some of this work: Woodwell Climate Research Center says it conducts climate science and works with partners to inform policy and decision-making; Falmouth Service Center says it aims to ease stress, reduce hunger, and improve quality of life for neighbors in need; and the Environmental Defense Action Fund says it advocates for policies that protect the environment.

Grantmaking

In 2026, the foundation reported 46 grants totaling $84,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $1,600. The largest grant was $10,000 to Oxfam America for poverty and hunger. Other notable grants included $5,000 to Doctors Without Borders USA for medical research; $4,000 each to the ACLU Foundation and the US Fund for UNICEF; and $3,500 each to the Coalition for Children and Woodwell Climate Research Center.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Daniel H. Webb is listed on the 2026 filing as PR, TR, and CLER.

Caithness Foundation's only listed officer is Daniel H. Webb, Pr, Tr & Clerk since 2025 (on filings since 2021) (uncompensated).

Officers on the 2026 filing

  • Daniel H. Webb

    Pr, Tr & Clerk

    Pr, Tr & Director → Pr, Tr & Clerk, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Douglas C. Webb (2021–2024) — Clerk & Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "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 Caithness Foundation

How much does Caithness Foundation give each year?

Caithness Foundation gave $84K across 46 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $77K across 43 grants.

What is Caithness Foundation's typical grant size?

Caithness Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $1,600, and its average grant was $1,826, across 46 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Caithness Foundation that year got $833 on average.

Where does Caithness Foundation give grants?

Caithness Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (12%) and District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Falmouth, MA (10 grants), Boston, MA (5 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).

Does Caithness Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2026: none of the 46 grants with a stated purpose on Caithness Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "People in Need" (8 grants), "Medical Research" (6 grants) and "Education" (6 grants).

Who are Caithness Foundation's largest grantees?

Caithness Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Oxfam America ($10,000), Doctors Without Borders USA ($5,000) and ACLU Foundation ($4,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.

How large is Caithness Foundation?

Caithness Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $84K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $86K (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 Caithness Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants include support for humanitarian aid, medical research, environmental work, and research and higher education. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Caithness 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 Caithness Foundation's EIN?

Caithness Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3917361. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.

Does Caithness 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 October 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Caithness Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Stanley W Watson Foundation

Falmouth, MA

The Stanley W Watson Foundation supports Massachusetts nonprofits working in areas including research, health care, housing, land preservation, and community services. In 2024, its 36 grants ranged from $2,500 to $450,000, with a median of $21,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$31.4M

Grants

36

Total Given

$1.8M

The Ford Foundation

New York, NY

The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$17.5B

Grants

4,007

Total Given

$844.7M

Hermann Foundation Inc

Worcester, MA

The foundation supports a broad range of work, including health care, land preservation, climate research, arts, education, housing, and services for people affected by ALS or domestic violence. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $497,500, with a median of $50,000; most funding went to Massachusetts, followed by California, Connecticut, and Nebraska. Applications are made by letter, but whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.

Assets

$66.7M

Grants

63

Total Given

$4.7M

Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust

Chicago, IL

The trust’s grants support a varied mix of arts and culture, public media, education, health, food assistance, and land conservation organizations, with no formal mission stated. In 2025 it gave $1,000–$50,000, with a median grant of $5,000, mainly to organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. It accepts requests by letter; there is no formal application, and applicants are advised to contact the foundation about deadlines and restrictions.

Assets

$6.7M

Grants

61

Total Given

$447K

Harken Foundation

Highland Park, IL

Assets

$672K

Grants

80

Total Given

$250K

Foundation for the Carolinas

Charlotte, NC

Foundation For The Carolinas funds education and youth development, environmental and wildlife work, health and human services, and animal welfare, with a reported median grant of $25,000 in 2024. Its competitive programs focus on Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Carolinas, and specific local communities, while donor-advised funds may support eligible nonprofits more broadly; it accepts applications for some competitive grants, but most grants are recommended by fund advisors and have no application process.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$3.9B

Grants

1,605

Total Given

$609.1M

More similar funders

More Funders in Massachusetts

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Caithness Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/caithness-foundation-morg_c1e7cdaa725a490689ed4f8fb068e0f5

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263917361_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Caithness Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/caithness-foundation-morg_c1e7cdaa725a490689ed4f8fb068e0f5},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Caithness 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.

Caithness Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?