Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation
The Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation is a private family foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dedicated to improving the quality of life for children in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. Established in 1960, the foundation supports public charities providing direct services to children and families.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.4M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$808K
+15.6% YoY
Grant Count
27
+80.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
-35.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation reported a distributable amount of $732K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation strives to improve the quality of life for children in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area by supporting organizations that educate children and foster their growth into productive and engaged members of their communities.
The foundation specifically focuses funding on:
- Educational opportunities and support for children from preschool through high school
- Social services support to children and their families
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
- Grant requests should be submitted by **July 31** for consideration in the fall review cycle
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area and the greater Philadelphia region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $7,444,653
- Total Giving: $808,288
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,444,653 | $6,927,191 | $7,355,586 |
| Revenue | $1,401,344 | $367,063 | $818,816 |
| Expenses | $883,882 | $795,458 | $750,383 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $839,721 | $738,788 | $672,504 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,357,182 | $325,393 | $778,824 |
| Distributable Amount | $731,935 | $687,174 | $711,285 |
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
99 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include A Book a Day ($100,000), Big Picture Philadelphia ($100,000), Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BOOK A DAY PHILADELPHIA, PA | ENGAGE THE ARTS TO EXPAND LITERACY. | $100,000 |
| ACHIEVE NOW PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT LITERACY AS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE. | $10,000 |
| ADOPTION CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PA | BUILD PERMANENT FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. | $20,000 |
| ANTI-VIOLENCE PARTNERSHIP PHILADELPHIA, PA | HELP PROVIDE INTERVENTION, PREVENTION, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO END VIOLENCE. | $25,000 |
| BIG PICTURE PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERSERVED HS YOUTH. | $100,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS FROM PHILADELPHIA. | $5,000 |
| BRIGHTER HORIZON FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE-PURSUING HS STUDENTS. | $30,000 |
| CHESTER EASTSIDE CHESTER, PA | SUPPORT PROGRAMS PROVIDING CHARITABLE FOOD, EDUCATION AND LITERACY. | $25,000 |
| COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE WEST CHESTER, PA | HELP PROVIDE FREE, HIGH-QUALITY HEALTHCARE TO UNINSURED WORKING PEOPLE IN CHESTER COUNTY. | $25,000 |
| CONNECTEDLY PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR OLDER WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- W. Mackey - Contact person for grant inquiries
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARTHA BARDSLEY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| LEIDY MCILVAINE CHURCHMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| SONIA H CHURCHMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| L STIRLING CHURCHMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| W MORGAN CHURCHMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| NADINE DOOTLITTLE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GORDON L KEEN JR ESQUIRE | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| WENDY MACKEY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $6,000 |
| BEVERLY ANNE MCCONNELL | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $2,000 |
| BINNEY H C WIETLISBACH | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation fund?
The foundation strives to improve the quality of life for children in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area by supporting organizations that educate children and foster their growth into productive and engaged members of their communities. The foundation specifically focuses funding on: • **Educational opportunities and support** for children from preschool through high school • **Social services support** to children and their families
How do I apply for a grant from Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $100,000. **Application Process:** • Grant requests should be submitted by **January 31** for consideration in the spring review cycle • Grant requests should be submitted by **July 31** for consideration in the fall review cycle • The Directors meet twice a year in the spring and fall to review grant requests **Contact:** wmackey@carolinealexanderbuck.org **Recent Grants:** Recent funding recipients include: • Brighter Horizon Foundation (…
Where does Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses on the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area and the greater Philadelphia region.
What size grants does Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation award?
In 2024, Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $808K — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation reported a distributable amount of $732K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation's EIN?
Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6257115. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation'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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