Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Falls Church, VA EIN: 13-6062709

The Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation is a private foundation based in Falls Church, Virginia. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in areas including public broadcasting, education, civil liberties, advocacy, and humanitarian aid.

Key facts about Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation

In short: Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation gave $239K across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), top state New York. 49% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
13-6062709
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$238,750
Grants made (2025)
46
Average grant
$5,190
Median grant
$3,000
New grantees (estimate)
49% first-time grantees (22 of 45, 2025)
Total assets
$2,779,179
Primary geography
New York (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The 2024 filing says to send a written letter to Derek Smith. Full details ↓
Deadline
None; gifts are made on a rolling basis, according to the 2024 filing.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.8M

+259.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$239K

+516.1% YoY

Grant Count

46

+142.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

+154.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation reported a distributable amount of $224K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation open to new grantees?

49%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 22 of 45 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.

  • 29% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 180% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, PBS Foundation says it raises philanthropic support to promote public broadcasting, while Prep for Prep describes its work as expanding educational access and opportunity for New York City students. The American Civil Liberties Union describes its mission as advancing civil liberties, and the Southern Poverty Law Center says it works to advance racial justice and human rights.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation made 46 grants totaling $238,750. Grants ranged from $300 to $25,500, with a median of $3,000. The largest reported grants included $25,500 to National Public Radio and $25,000 to PBS Foundation, both for general support. Other grants of $10,000 each went to Fresh Air Fund, Planned Parenthood, Doctors without Borders, Southern Poverty Law Center, Common Cause Education Fund, Prep for Prep, Vassar College, CARE, and the American Civil Liberties Union. The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund received $9,000.

Review Cycle

None; gifts are made on a rolling basis, according to the 2024 filing.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, grant dollars were distributed primarily to recipients in New York (32%), the District of Columbia (24%), Virginia (19%), and Maryland (11%). Alabama received 4%.

Grant Distribution by State

18states

Share of all 46 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

WashingtonNew YorkFalls ChurchAlexandriaAmherstArlingtonBostonBrewsterMontgomeryNew OrleansPerrysburgShalimarCapon BridgeAnnadaleAnnandaleBoulderSalineAlexadriaEmeryvilleHagerstown

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K31 grants202032 grants202127 grants202231 grants202319 grants202446 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $39K (2024) to $239K (2025). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $239K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

National Public Radio: $26KNational Public Radio$26KPBS Foundation: $25KPBS Foundation$25KFresh Air Fund: $10KFresh Air Fund$10KPlanned Parenthood: $10KPlanned Parenthood$10KDoctors without Borders: $10KDoctors without Borders$10KSouthern Poverty Law Center: $10KSouthern Poverty Law Center$10KCommon Cause Education Fund: $10KCommon Cause Education Fund$10KPrep for Prep: $10KPrep for Prep$10KVassar College: $10KVassar College$10KCare: $10KCare$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was National Public Radio ($26K). Together the top 10 received $131K.

Grant Size Distribution

155 grants across all recorded years

155<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 155 grants of 155 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
National Public Radio Baltimore, MDGeneral Support$25,500
PBS Foundation Arlington, VAGeneral Support$25,000
Fresh Air Fund New York, NYGeneral Support$10,000
Planned Parenthood Washington, DCGeneral Support$10,000
Doctors without Borders New York, NYGeneral Support$10,000
Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, ALGeneral Support$10,000
Common Cause Education Fund Washington, DCGeneral Support$10,000
Prep for Prep New York, NYGeneral Support$10,000
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NYGeneral Support$10,000
Care Washington, DCGeneral Support$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $2,779,179 $2,294,057 $308 $238,750
2024 $773,209 $65,514 $40,641 $38,750
2023 $785,444 $83,509 $9,566 $111,250
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,779,179$773,209$785,444
Revenue$2,294,057$65,514$83,509
Expenses$308$40,641$9,566
Qualifying Distributions$243,750$38,750$111,250
Net Investment Income$171,478—$63,104
Distributable Amount$224,259$114,552$98,116

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Derek P. Smith as President and Treasurer and Maria P. Smith as Secretary.

Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation is led by Derek P. Smith, President & Treasurer since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Derek P. Smith

    President & Treasurer

    Treasurer → President Treasurer, 2023

    President Treasurer → President & Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Maria P. Smith

    Secretary

    Vice President & Secretary → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Elisabeth De Picciotto (2020–2022) — President
  • Former: Philip De Picciotto (2020–2022) — Director & Board Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Application contact: Derek Smith
Mailing address: 6541 Brooks Place, Falls Church, VA 22044
Phone: (571) 278-1422
Email: dsmith@7cornersgroup.com

Frequently asked questions about Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation

How much does Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation give each year?

Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation gave $239K across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $39K across 19 grants.

What is Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation's typical grant size?

Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $5,190, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation that year got $6K on average.

Where does Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation give grants?

Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation's top state is New York, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (24%) and Virginia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (13 grants), New York, NY (9 grants), Arlington, VA (2 grants) and Falls Church, VA (2 grants).

Does Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 98% of Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (45 of 46) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation's largest grantees?

Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Public Radio ($25,500), PBS Foundation ($25,000) and Fresh Air Fund ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation?

Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $244K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $224K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation fund?

The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation?

The 2024 filing says to send a written letter to Derek Smith. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation's EIN?

Frank and Janina Petschek Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6062709. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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