Cloudsplitter Foundation
Cloudsplitter Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Saranac Lake, New York. The foundation provides grants and loans to support environmental and community programs, with a particular focus on the Adirondack region. The foundation was established in 1987 and is also known as the Ernest and Nancy Keet Foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.6M
+19.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+48.4% YoY
Grant Count
274
+81.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-18.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cloudsplitter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Cloudsplitter Foundation's philanthropic philosophy centers on using leverage to create lasting, recurring good rather than temporary relief. The foundation is guided by the principle of teaching rather than simply providing—similar to teaching someone to fish rather than giving them a fish for a day. The foundation self-initiates projects, provides bridge and matching financing to improve the success of larger grants, and partners with other nonprofits and state entities to multiply impact in the region.
The foundation supports a diverse range of nonprofit sectors including:
- Social service organizations
- Museums and art institutions
- Theater companies
- Libraries
- Observatories
- Public media
- Environmental groups
- Community organizations
- Childcare centers
- Healthcare institutions
- Schools and colleges
Primary funding focus areas include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
Recent grants documented include:
Grant Range
s and Types:**
Ready to take the next step with Cloudsplitter Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Adirondack region of New York, with grant-making focus areas including New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania. The foundation is particularly engaged with the Adirondacks community and maintains membership in the Funders For the Adirondacks (FFA) listserv, a network of funding organizations that support programs and people in the Adirondack region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $32,556,545 (most recent filing)
Annual Activity:
- Total giving: $1,843,143
- Total revenues: $6,839,530 (2023)
- Total expenses: $1,530,288 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,556,545 | $27,302,448 | $21,993,206 |
| Revenue | $7,538,611 | $6,839,530 | $588,250 |
| Expenses | $2,284,514 | $1,530,288 | $2,011,661 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,465,250 | $1,498,760 | $1,983,317 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,462,179 | $1,652,179 | $557,965 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,195,613 | $1,428,133 | $1,395,426 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Cloudsplitter Foundation
Cloudsplitter Foundation: Program + Project Support Grants
CLOUDSPLITTER FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Cloudsplitter Rapid Response Grants
CLOUDSPLITTER FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Cloudsplitter Unrestricted Support Grants
CLOUDSPLITTER FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Paul Smith's College ($40,000), The Andrew Goodman Foundation ($30,000), Northern Forest Center ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADIRONDACK FOUNDATION LAKE PLACID, NY | PROJECT GRANT | $24,000 |
| ADIRONDACK THEATER FESTIVAL GLENS FALLS, NY | PROJECT GRANT | $1,000 |
| CAMP UNIRONDACK LOWVILLE, NY | PROJECT GRANT | $1,000 |
| TAHAWUS CULTURAL CENTER AU SABLE FORKS, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $2,000 |
| TRI-LAKES CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SARANAC LAKE, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $3,000 |
| THE SEMBRICH BOLTON LANDING, NY | RAPID RESPONSE | $5,000 |
| TAUNY CANTON, NY | PROJECT GRANT | $5,000 |
| MERCY CARE FOR THE ADIRONDACKS LAKE PLACID, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $5,000 |
| SARANAC LAKE CIVIC CENTER SARANAC LAKE, NY | RAPID RESPONSE | $1,500 |
| ADIRONDACK EXPLORER SARANAC LAKE, NY | RAPID RESPONSE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director:
- Daniel KieferBach - Executive Director with experience as Community Development Coordinator at LivingADK, where he developed grassroots community programs for towns in the Old Forge region
Director of Grants and Administration:
- Chenelle Palyswiat - A native of Saranac Lake with a degree in Interior Design. She serves as a member of the ALICE Steering Committee and as an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Saranac Lake
Grants Advisor:
- Kara Page - Brings 28 years of experience working with nonprofits, government, international institutions, and the private sector in environment, arts, and community development. Offers free advice and support to local nonprofits seeking increased funding from new grant-making sources
Board of Trustees:
- Janet Bliss - Lake Placid native, B.A. in Economics from St. Lawrence University (1974), Juris Doctor (magna cum laude)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERNEST KEET | BOARD CHAIR | 30 | — |
| NANCY R KEET | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| GLENN KEET | BOARD TREASURER | 5 | — |
| MELISSA EISINGER | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| HOLLY WOLFF | BOARD MEMBER | 15 | — |
| DIANE FISH | BOARD SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| ROBERT BEIER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| TRACY ORMSBY | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| JULIA GOREN | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Emily Nobel Maxwell was announced as the incoming Executive Director, joining the foundation in January (based on news announcement timing).
The foundation has been actively making grants to local organizations, including recent support to childcare centers and community programs in the Ticonderoga area and other Adirondack communities. The foundation continues to expand its strategic approach beyond simply responding to grant requests, now self-initiating projects and providing bridge and matching financing to strengthen larger grant applications.
Ti childcare center awarded $25K Cloudsplitter Foundation grant ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cloudsplitter Foundation fund?
Cloudsplitter Foundation's philanthropic philosophy centers on using leverage to create lasting, recurring good rather than temporary relief. The foundation is guided by the principle of teaching rather than simply providing—similar to teaching someone to fish rather than giving them a fish for a day. The foundation self-initiates projects, provides bridge and matching financing to improve the success of larger grants, and partners with other nonprofits and state entities to multiply impact in …
How do I apply for a grant from Cloudsplitter Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Types:** • Typical awards range from $150,000 to $215,000 • The foundation offers multiple grant programs including Unrestricted Support Grants, Rapid Response Grants, and Program + Project Support Grants **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants documented include: • Adirondack Mental Health Foundation: $197,500 (2023) • Pendragon: $125,000 (2023) • Trudeau Institute: $50,000 (2023) • Ti childcare center: $25,000 • Ticonderoga Area Backpack Program: $10,000 • Town of Ausable C…
Where does Cloudsplitter Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Adirondack region of New York, with grant-making focus areas including New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania. The foundation is particularly engaged with the Adirondacks community and maintains membership in the Funders For the Adirondacks (FFA) listserv, a network of funding organizations that support programs and people in the Adirondack region.
What size grants does Cloudsplitter Foundation award?
In 2024, Cloudsplitter Foundation awarded 274 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cloudsplitter Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cloudsplitter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cloudsplitter Foundation's EIN?
Cloudsplitter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2784895. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cloudsplitter Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Adirondack Foundation
LAKE PLACID, NY
Assets
$117.8M
Grants
313
Total Given
$8.2M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
JM McDonald Foundation Inc
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
—
Grants
187
Total Given
$1.5M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Charles R Wood Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$45.7M
Grants
83
Total Given
$2.0M
Ge Aerospace Foundation
NORWALK, CT
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foun
JOHNSBURG, NY
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
40
Total Given
$105K
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Price Chopper's Golub Foundation
SCHENECTADY, NY
Assets
$347K
Grants
277
Total Given
$444K
Verizon Foundation
BASKING RIDGE, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Cloudsplitter Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities