Charles Pankow Foundation
The Charles Pankow Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2002 and tax-exempt since November 2003. Headquartered in Pasadena, California, with additional office space in Haymarket, Virginia, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a small staff of two employees. The foundation is classified as a corporate foundation focused on advancing innovation in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.2M
+0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-5.4% YoY
Grant Count
25
-3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
-1.6% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: To provide the AEC industry with a better way to design and build.
Mission: To be a catalyst to advance innovation in the design and construction of buildings.
The foundation exists to advance innovations in building design and construction through research, providing the public with buildings of improved quality, efficiency, and value. The foundation leads industry collaborations, funds research, and delivers solutions that help the design and construction industry be more efficient and cost competitive.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Higher education grants
- Education nonprofits
- Science and STEM education
- Research in building design and construction
- Civil engineering innovation
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Prospective applicants should contact the foundation directly for information about funding opportunities.
Grant Range
$2,000–$353,500
Average Grant
amount: $182
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, with particular concentration in:
- California
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
The foundation funds initiatives in major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as university-based research programs across numerous states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $26.2 million
- Revenue: $2.03 million
- Expenses: $1.86 million
- Net income: $170,675
- Total liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $25.98 million
- Total revenues: $2.19 million
- Total expenses: $1.79 million
Historical Giving Trends:
- 2024: $1.1 million in grants (26 grants)
- 2023: $1.5 million in grants (29 grants)
- 2022: $812,000 in grants (21 grants)
- 2021: $1.1 million in grants (18 grants)
- 2020: $1.7 million in grants (20 grants)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,151,235 | $25,980,560 | $25,580,250 |
| Revenue | $2,033,284 | $2,187,528 | $2,049,174 |
| Expenses | $1,862,609 | $1,787,218 | $2,042,619 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,481,429 | $1,587,155 | $1,854,240 |
| Net Investment Income | $930,153 | $1,331,583 | $1,176,037 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,828,567 | $1,612,456 | $1,632,084 |
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
119 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Northeastern University ($353,500), Oregon State University ($150,000), Ucla ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACE MENTOR PROGRAM OF AMERICA INC STANFORD, CT | UNRESTRICTED/GENERAL | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS RESTON, VA | OPAL 2024 | $5,000 |
| ASCE FOUNDATION INC RESTON, VA | UNRESTRICTED/GENERAL | $3,000 |
| ASCE PURDUE STUDENT CHAPTER WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | UNRESTRICTED/GENERAL | $2,500 |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED/GENERAL | $2,000 |
| CAL POLY POMONA, CA | UNRESTRICTED/GENERAL | $25,000 |
| COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES GOLDEN, CO | CPF RESEARCH GRANT | $51,000 |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT FUND CINCINNATI, OH | UNRESTRICTED/GENERAL | $15,000 |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY AMES, IA | CPF RESEARCH GRANT | $49,331 |
| METROPOLITAN AREA NEIGHBORHOOD NUTRITION ALLIANCE PHILADELPHIA, PA | UNRESTRICTED/GENERAL | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Richard M. Kunnath, PE – President and Director
- Stuart Harrison – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD M KUNNATH PE | PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR | 10 | $30,000 |
| TIMOTHY P MURPHY ESQ | SECRETARY, CFO & DIRECTOR | 10 | $36,000 |
| RON KLEMENCIC | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GREG GIDEZ | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GLENN BELL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| EMILY GUGLIELMO | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LAURA STAGNER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CATRIONA WINTER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| STUART HARRISON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $220,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation actively awards research grants focused on building design and construction innovation. Recent grant announcements include:
Charles Pankow Foundation awards grant for Assembly Live Load ...Awards for research on assembly live load consistency for buildings and embedded energy reduction
Charles Pankow Foundation awards grant for Assembly Live Load ...Phase II funding for steel plate flooring system research at Northeastern University
Pankow Foundation Greenlights Phase II of Hajjar's Steel Plate ...Collaborative research grant announcements with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Structural Engineering Institute
The Charles Pankow Foundation announces two research grant awardsOngoing CPF Research Grant program supporting university-based and industry research initiatives
The Charles Pankow Foundation announces two research grant awardsThe foundation maintains an active web presence with approximately 3,328 monthly visits and 928 LinkedIn followers, demonstrating consistent engagement with the AEC industry community.
Contact Information
Mailing Address: Charles Pankow Foundation 5501 Merchants View Square, Suite 114 Haymarket, VA 20169
Phone: (360) 326-3767
Email: info@pankowfoundation.org
Website: www.pankowfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charles Pankow Foundation fund?
**Vision:** To provide the AEC industry with a better way to design and build. **Mission:** To be a catalyst to advance innovation in the design and construction of buildings. The foundation exists to advance innovations in building design and construction through research, providing the public with buildings of improved quality, efficiency, and value. The foundation leads industry collaborations, funds research, and delivers solutions that help the design and construction industry be more effi…
How do I apply for a grant from Charles Pankow Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $26.2 million (as of 2024) • Annual giving: $1.1 million (2024) • Total giving: $1.07 million (2024) **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $2,000–$353,500 • Median grant size: $26,000 (2024) • Average grant amount: $182 • Number of grants awarded: 26 grants (2024) **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Northeastern University: $230,000 (CPF Research Grant) • Purdue University: $191,000 (CPF Research Grant) • University of Buffalo: $86,000 (CPF …
Where does Charles Pankow Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, with particular concentration in: • California • Illinois • Massachusetts • New York • Texas • Washington The foundation funds initiatives in major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as university-based research programs across numerous states.
What size grants does Charles Pankow Foundation award?
In 2024, Charles Pankow Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Charles Pankow Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Charles Pankow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charles Pankow 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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