The Chess Foundation is a private foundation located in Purchase, New York, established in 2013. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking entity focused on supporting charitable causes through general purpose grants and targeted philanthropic initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.2M
+27.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$618K
+17.3% YoY
Grant Count
38
+8.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+8.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chess Foundation reported a distributable amount of $657K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Chess Foundation primarily funds general purpose grants and COVID-19 response initiatives. The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable organizations across multiple sectors, including healthcare, community development, and social services.
Grantmaking
The Chess Foundation made 19 grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
Review Cycle
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates with a focus on the New York region, though its grantmaking extends to national and international organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $7,956,995
- Total Revenues: $305,263
- Total Expenses: $640,982
- Investment Income and Dividends: $262,646
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $42,617
- Number of Employees: 0
Year-over-Year Changes (2023 vs. 2022):
- Total Revenues increased 93.1% ($305,263 vs. $158,050)
- Investment Income increased 66.2% ($262,646 vs. $158,049)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,178,556 | $7,956,995 | $8,291,714 |
| Revenue | $3,051,561 | $305,263 | $158,050 |
| Expenses | $830,000 | $640,982 | $493,791 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $622,750 | $535,405 | $399,750 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,871,624 | $202,256 | $64,509 |
| Distributable Amount | $657,013 | $535,231 | $478,690 |
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
134 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New Heights Youth ($50,000), Jay Heritage Center ($36,000), Peace Players ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1898 FOUNDATION INC PURCHASE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BREAD OF LIFE RYE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CAPITAL SQUASH INC HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CARVER CENTER PORT CHESTER, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| FEEDING WESTCHESTER ELMSFORD, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION ROCKVILLE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| FOCUS FOR A FUTURE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| FRIENDS OF RYE NATURE CENTER RYE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| GIFFORD LAW CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT WALLACH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROLINE WALLACH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chess Foundation fund?
The Chess Foundation primarily funds general purpose grants and COVID-19 response initiatives. The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable organizations across multiple sectors, including healthcare, community development, and social services.
How do I apply for a grant from Chess Foundation?
The Chess Foundation made 19 grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • The Jay Heritage Center: $70,000 (General Support) • Doctors without Borders USA: $25,000 (General Support) • Port Chester Carver Center: $25,000 (General Support) The foundation also provided significant support to Mount Sinai and other organizations during the 2023 grant cycle.
Where does Chess Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates with a focus on the New York region, though its grantmaking extends to national and international organizations.
What size grants does Chess Foundation award?
In 2024, Chess Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $618K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Chess Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Chess Foundation reported a distributable amount of $657K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Chess Foundation's EIN?
Chess Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0782279. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chess 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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