Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation
The Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dedicated to improving the quality of life for children in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. Established in 1960 by Caroline A. Churchman in memory of her mother, it supports programs for children and their families.
Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation at a glance
In short: Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation gave $792K across 47 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 74% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $791,517
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 47
- +74.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,841
- -43.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $7,897,449
- +6.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 74% first-time grantees (26 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligible organizations submit an application and supporting documents through its website. Awards and their terms are at the directors’ discretion.
- Review Cycle
- Applications submitted by January 31 are generally considered in the spring, and those submitted by July 31 are generally considered in the fall. The listed next deadline is January 31, 2027.
- Deadline
- Applications submitted by January 31 are generally considered in the spring, and those submitted by July 31 are…
- Contact
Application contact: Nadine Doolittle
Mailing address: 30 S 17Th St Ste 820, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (267) 369-3342
Website: https://carolinealexanderbuck.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation
Who Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Big Picture Philadelphia ($100K). Together the top 10 received $380K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 123 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation limits funding to the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. In filing year 2025, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation open to new grantees?
74%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 26 of 35 grantees (74%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $36K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 9% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $640K (2022) to $808K (2024). In 2025 it made 47 grants totaling $792K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Picture Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Support Literacy as a Social Justice Issue. | $100,000 |
| Inn Dwelling Inc Philadelphia, PA | Build Permanent Families for Children in Foster Care. | $75,000 |
| Holy Child Academy Philadelphia, PA | Create safe hangout spaces for teens in sw philadelphia. | $30,000 |
| CCSA Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Help provide free, high-quality healthcare to uninsured working people in Chester county. | $25,000 |
| Gateway Horseworks Philadelphia, PA | Help kids succeed in life through mentoring, intense physical fitness, and sports. | $25,000 |
| Leveling the Playing Field Philadelphia, PA | To service society through contributions towards people's health and well-being. | $25,000 |
| Need in Deed Philadelphia, PA | Work collaboratively with the people we serve to provide creative education, healthy food, and employment opportunities. | $25,000 |
| Northern Children's Services Philadelphia, PA | Equip youth and families with the tools necessary for academic achievement. | $25,000 |
| Providence Center Philadelphia, PA | Support Experienced-Based Curriculum Which Creatively Integrates Running. | $25,000 |
| St James School Philadelphia, PA | Transform young people's lives through long distance running and mentorship. | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,897,449 | $1,342,755 | $889,959 | $791,517 | 47 | $843,810 | $1,291,713 | $780,967 |
| 2024 | $7,444,653 | $1,401,344 | $883,882 | $808,288 | 27 | $839,721 | $1,357,182 | $731,935 |
| 2023 | $6,927,191 | $367,063 | $795,458 | $698,940 | 15 | $738,788 | $325,393 | $687,174 |
| 2022 | $7,355,586 | $818,816 | $750,383 | $640,327 | 12 | $672,504 | $778,824 | $711,285 |
| 2021 | $7,065,872 | $1,737,355 | $868,031 | $789,864 | 22 | $817,230 | $1,686,554 | $724,623 |
| 2020 | $6,196,548 | $618,188 | $859,208 | $751,081 | 23 | — | $571,478 | $606,491 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation reported a distributable amount of $781K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. Its funding focuses on educational opportunities and support for children from preschool through high school, and social services for children and their families. It may fund general operating expenses, direct-service costs, and specific projects.
The Foundation funds public charities with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that serve children and families in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. Examples of supported work include education and tutoring: Inn Dwelling describes its work as providing educational assistance, including scholarships and tutoring, to students in difficult living situations. Need in Deed says it improves the education experience of students in grades 3–8 in Philadelphia public schools through service-learning. Providence Center describes education programming for children, youth, and adults in North Philadelphia’s Fairhill community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 47 grants totaling $791,517. Individual grants ranged from $1,447 to $100,000, with a median of $15,000. Notable awards included $100,000 to Big Picture Philadelphia for literacy, $75,000 to Inn Dwelling, and $30,000 to Holy Child Academy for safe hangout spaces for teens in Southwest Philadelphia. Other $25,000 awards included grants to CCSA Foundation, Gateway Horseworks, Need in Deed, Northern Children’s Services, Providence Center, and St. James School.
The Foundation’s website says it accepts grant requests throughout the year and that directors review requests twice yearly, in spring and fall. Applicants submit an online application and supporting documents; directors may invite an applicant to present. Awards are limited to one year, and funded organizations must wait at least two years after receiving an award before applying again. The Foundation does not fund individuals, political lobbying or legislative activities, programs without a charitable or educational purpose, or programs that do not support children. It generally does not fund event sponsorships, capital campaigns, or endowments, and does not fund institutions that discriminate on specified legally protected grounds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following directors: Martha Bardsley, Leidy McIlvaine Churchman, Sonia H. Churchman, L. Stirling Churchman, W. Morgan Churchman, Nadine Dootlittle, Gordon L. Keen Jr., Wendy Mackey, Beverly Anne McConnell, and Binney H. C. Wietlisbach. The Foundation’s website also lists George Connell as director emeritus.
Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation's 2025 filing lists 10 officers; 3 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Beverly Anne McConnell
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Gordon L. Keen Jr Esquire
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $1K (2025)
Wendy Mackey
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Binney H. C. Wietlisbach
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
L. Stirling Churchman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leidy McIlvaine Churchman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
W. Morgan Churchman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha Bardsley
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nadine Dootlittle
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonia H. Churchman
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Bruce A. Rosenfield Esquire (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: George Connell (2020–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $6K, to Wendy Mackey (Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation
How much does Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation give each year?
Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation gave $792K across 47 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $808K across 27 grants.
What is Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation's typical grant size?
Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,841, across 47 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation give grants?
Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (43 grants).
Does Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 47 grants with a stated purpose on Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation's largest grantees?
Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Big Picture Philadelphia ($100,000), Inn Dwelling Inc ($75,000) and Holy Child Academy ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation?
Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation reported $7.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $844K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $781K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. Its funding focuses on educational opportunities and support for children from preschool through high school, and social services for children and their families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/caroline-alexander-buck-foundation-morg_de91ed610e9d4cd4b43d90ecd2cdc3a1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236257115_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/caroline-alexander-buck-foundation-morg_de91ed610e9d4cd4b43d90ecd2cdc3a1},
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 Caroline Alexander Buck 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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