Defense Against Thought Control
Defense Against Thought Control Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as an independent foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$718K
-72.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+204.4% YoY
Grant Count
41
-8.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
+234.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Defense Against Thought Control reported a distributable amount of $71K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$10,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023-2024):
- Total assets: $717,761 to $718,000
- Annual income: $1.6 million
- Total giving: $2,207,000 (2024 filing)
- Total liabilities: $0
Asset Trend: Total assets have decreased significantly from $3.2 million in 2019 to approximately $718,000 in 2024.
Historical Revenue & Expenses (2023):
- Revenue: $502,000
- Expenses: $736,000
- Total assets: $2.65 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $717,761 | $2,651,164 | $2,884,306 |
| Revenue | $295,268 | $502,422 | $-507,000 |
| Expenses | $2,228,671 | $735,564 | $623,319 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,207,000 | $725,000 | $595,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $830,144 | $79,552 | $147,651 |
| Distributable Amount | $71,421 | $135,205 | $159,028 |
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
219 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Free Speech for People ($1,500,000), Counter Punch ($100,000), National Lawyers Guild ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A FAR CRY JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | IGNITE A LOVE FOR GREAT MUSIC | $1,000 |
| AGITARTE INC CAMBRIDGE, MA | EDUCATION FOR CULTURAL SOLIDARITY | $2,000 |
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND DENVER, CO | SUPPORT FOR NATIVE AMERICANS | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATIONAL FUND RAPID CITY, SD | SUPPORT FOR NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CATCHING THE DREAM ALBUQUERQUE, NM | GRANTS TO NATIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND WORKS TO IMPROVE INDIAN SCHOOLS. | $10,000 |
| CITY LIFEVIDA URBANA JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | PROVIDES FREE GUIDANCE FOR PEOPLE FACING FORECLOSURE OR EVICTION | $2,000 |
| COUNTER PUNCH PETROLIA, CA | EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT JOURNALISM AND CURRENT EVENTS | $100,000 |
| DAVIS PUTTER SCHOLARSHIP FUND NEW YORK, NY | EDUCATION ON DISCRIMINATION | $5,000 |
| DEMOCRACY NOW NEW YORK, NY | EDUCATION ON DEMOCRACY | $3,000 |
| FAIRNESS & ACCURACY IN REPORTING NEW YORK, NY | ADVOCATES FOR GREATER DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES IN NEWS REPORTING | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Lee Goldstein
The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY SCHEIDE | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| JAY SCHEIDE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JEFFREY M FEUER | TREASURER | — | — |
| JEFFREY M FEUER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LEE D GOLDSTEIN | CLERK | — | — |
| LEE D GOLDSTEIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Defense Against Thought Control fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Defense Against Thought Control?
**Grant Activity:** • Total grants awarded: 135 grants totaling $1.9 million (based on available records) • Median grant size: $10,000 • Individual grant range: $1,000 to $75,000 • Average award: $14,000 • Annual giving has decreased from $1.2 million in 2022 to $725,000 in 2023 **Grant Type:** The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Where does Defense Against Thought Control make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Massachusetts • New York • District of Columbia
What size grants does Defense Against Thought Control award?
In 2024, Defense Against Thought Control awarded 41 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $54K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Defense Against Thought Control required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Defense Against Thought Control reported a distributable amount of $71K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Defense Against Thought Control's EIN?
Defense Against Thought Control's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4712449. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Defense Against Thought Control'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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