Charles Pankow Foundation
The Charles Pankow Foundation is a private foundation based in Pasadena, California. It supports research and industry collaboration intended to advance innovation in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, with work product shared publicly for collective use.
Charles Pankow Foundation at a glance
In short: Charles Pankow Foundation gave $1.1M across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $43K), top state Massachusetts. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,071,018
- -5.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- -3.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $42,841
- -1.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $26,151,235
- +0.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (6 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (38% 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 Charles Pankow Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its published process begins with a Research Need Statement (RNS), which staff assess against the Foundation’s vision, mission, and current initiatives. For qualified RNS submissions, the Foundation requests a fuller proposal. The Board reviews proposals for innovation and potential impact on the AEC industry and decides whether to award a grant. Staff then negotiate terms with the research team, and the Foundation provides leadership, support, and review during the project. RNS guidelines call for a statement covering the project topic, mission fit, industry need, proposed research and expected outcome, dissemination, principal investigator and institution, industry support, timing, funding request and co-funding, and contact information. An RNS may be submitted at any time, with consideration occurring periodically; the guidelines limit it to three pages.
- Contact
Mailing address: 199 S Los Robles Ave 300, Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: (626) 304-1190
Website: https://pankowfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Charles Pankow Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northeastern University ($354K). Together the top 10 received $916K.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 119 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. Massachusetts accounted for 38% of grant dollars, California 15%, Oregon 14%, Colorado 7%, and New York 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Charles Pankow Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 25 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $32K; repeat grants $46K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 81% 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 $812K (2021) to $1.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University Boston, MA | CPF Research Grant | $353,500 |
| Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | CPF Research Grant | $150,000 |
| UCLA Los Angeles, CA | CPF Research Grant | $75,000 |
| University of Buffalo Amherst, NY | CPF Research Grant | $68,961 |
| Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO | CPF Research Grant | $51,000 |
| RDH Building Science Inc Boston, MA | CPF Research Grant | $50,000 |
| Iowa State University Ames, IA | CPF Research Grant | $49,331 |
| University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA | CPF Research Grant | $48,000 |
| Purdue University Chicago, IL | CPF Research Grant | $43,810 |
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL | CPF Research Grant | $26,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $26,151,235 | $2,033,284 | $1,862,609 | $1,071,018 | 25 | $1,481,429 | $930,153 | $1,828,567 |
| 2023 | $25,980,560 | $2,187,528 | $1,787,218 | $1,132,433 | 26 | $1,587,155 | $1,331,583 | $1,612,456 |
| 2022 | $25,580,250 | $2,049,174 | $2,042,619 | $1,485,825 | 29 | $1,854,240 | $1,176,037 | $1,632,084 |
| 2021 | $25,573,695 | $2,620,297 | $1,360,928 | $812,251 | 21 | $1,181,419 | $1,819,840 | $1,645,043 |
| 2020 | $24,314,326 | $899,971 | $1,639,691 | $1,098,219 | 18 | — | $274,208 | $1,391,783 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles Pankow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M 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
The Foundation’s vision is “to provide the AEC industry with a better way to design and build,” and its mission is “to be a catalyst to advance innovation in the design and construction of buildings.” Its grantmaking supports research projects and collaborations addressing industry needs and the potential for innovation and positive impact in the AEC industry.
Recipients in 2024 included universities, industry organizations, and other nonprofits. For example, the University of California Berkeley Foundation describes its mission as advancing the interests and welfare of UC Berkeley and encouraging charitable support for the university. The National Building Museum says it inspires curiosity about the world we design and build. RCI-IIBEC Foundation describes its work as supporting research, education, and information-sharing for the building enclosure industry.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 25 grants totaling $1,071,018. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $353,500, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards included $353,500 to Northeastern University, $150,000 to Oregon State University, $75,000 to UCLA, $68,961 to the University of Buffalo, and $51,000 to Colorado School of Mines; each was designated a “CPF RESEARCH GRANT.” Cal Poly received a $25,000 unrestricted/general grant.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard M. Kunnath, PE, as president and director; Timothy P. Murphy, Esq., as secretary, CFO, and director; and Ron Klemencic, Greg Gidez, Glenn Bell, Emily Guglielmo, Laura Stagner, and Catriona Winter as directors. Stuart Harrison is listed as executive director.
Charles Pankow Foundation is led by Richard M. Kunnath Pe, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 3 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard M. Kunnath Pe
President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$42K (2020) → $30K (2024)
Stuart Harrison
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$119K (2023) → $220K (2024)
Timothy P. Murphy Esq.
Secretary, CFO & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $36K (2024)
Glenn Bell
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Gidez
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ron Klemencic
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Guglielmo
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catriona Winter
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Stagner
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Mark Perniconi (2023) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Anne Ellis (2020–2022) — Executive Director
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 $220K, to Stuart Harrison (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Charles Pankow Foundation
How much does Charles Pankow Foundation give each year?
Charles Pankow Foundation gave $1.1M across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 26 grants.
What is Charles Pankow Foundation's typical grant size?
Charles Pankow Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $42,841, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Charles Pankow Foundation that year got $32K on average.
Where does Charles Pankow Foundation give grants?
Charles Pankow Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (15%) and Oregon (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants) and Reston, VA (2 grants).
Does Charles Pankow Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of Charles Pankow Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "CPF Research Grant" (13 grants).
Who are Charles Pankow Foundation's largest grantees?
Charles Pankow Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Northeastern University ($353,500), Oregon State University ($150,000) and UCLA ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Charles Pankow Foundation?
Charles Pankow Foundation reported $26.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (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 Charles Pankow Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s vision is “to provide the AEC industry with a better way to design and build,” and its mission is “to be a catalyst to advance innovation in the design and construction of buildings.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Charles Pankow Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Charles Pankow Foundation's EIN?
Charles Pankow Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0919052. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Charles Pankow 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). Charles Pankow Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/charles-pankow-foundation-morg_7c641ffb42c24059a0d5a51151fdd5d8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_710919052_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Charles Pankow Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/charles-pankow-foundation-morg_7c641ffb42c24059a0d5a51151fdd5d8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Charles Pankow 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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