Finistere Charitable Foundation
Finistere Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $31.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $1.8M. Net investment income was $4.0M.
Finistere Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Finistere Charitable Foundation gave $1.8M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $197K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,772,398
- +28.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +12.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $196,933
- +13.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $31,406,057
- +6.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Finistere Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New York Genome Center ($600K). Together the top 9 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
36 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 36 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Finistere Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving grew 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $665K (2020) to $1.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York Genome Center New York, NY | Charitable Purpose | $600,000 |
| Rockefeller University New York, NY | Charitable Purpose | $500,000 |
| Cambridge in America New York, NY | Charitable Purpose | $282,398 |
| Charities Aid Foundation Alexandria, VA | Charitable Purpose | $200,000 |
| Association of Marshall Scholars Brooklyn, NY | Charitable Purpose | $100,000 |
| Everyorg San Francisco, CA | Charitable Purpose | $50,000 |
| Harvard Science of the Human Past Initiative Discretionary Fund Cambridge, MA | Charitable Purpose | $20,000 |
| Media Matters for America Washington, DC | Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Pro Publica Inc New York, NY | Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,406,057 | $4,145,315 | $2,065,070 | $1,772,398 | 9 | $1,902,498 | $3,982,743 | $1,438,124 |
| 2023 | $29,625,853 | $1,723,853 | $1,599,210 | $1,385,211 | 8 | $1,447,297 | $1,369,983 | $1,393,579 |
| 2022 | $27,269,617 | $2,191,716 | $1,516,422 | $1,305,375 | 8 | $1,355,095 | $685,757 | $1,409,023 |
| 2021 | $31,695,759 | $1,553,709 | $1,376,156 | $1,161,096 | 8 | $1,220,985 | $1,411,523 | $1,543,938 |
| 2020 | $29,223,362 | $13,745,251 | $937,825 | $665,183 | 3 | — | $2,936,214 | $1,291,068 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Finistere Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Finistere Charitable Foundation is led by Howard V. Sontag, President & Treasurer since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Howard V. Sontag
President & Treasurer
Director, Treasurer & Secretary → President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Angel-Lalanne
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Weslie R. Janeway
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: William D. Zabel (2020–2023) — Director & President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Finistere Charitable Foundation
How much does Finistere Charitable Foundation give each year?
Finistere Charitable Foundation gave $1.8M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 8 grants.
What is Finistere Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Finistere Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $196,933, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Finistere Charitable Foundation give grants?
Finistere Charitable Foundation gives mostly in New York: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants).
Who are Finistere Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Finistere Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include New York Genome Center ($600,000), Rockefeller University ($500,000) and Cambridge in America ($282,398), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Finistere Charitable Foundation?
Finistere Charitable Foundation reported $31.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Finistere Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Finistere Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2856772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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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