Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 13-3622255

Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. It reports a focus on environmental protection, education, and social justice, and its 2024 grants supported organizations in several states and the District of Columbia.

Key facts about Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc

In short: Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $61K), top state Massachusetts. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
13-3622255
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,350,000
Grants made (2024)
22
Average grant
$61,364
Median grant
$50,000
New grantees (estimate)
14% first-time grantees (3 of 22, 2024; small sample)
Total assets
$24,187,805
Primary geography
Massachusetts (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
Submit a letter of inquiry by email to the foundation’s president stating the purpose and amount requested and the applicant organization’s tax-exempt status. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$24.2M

-3.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.4M

-33.3% YoY

Grant Count

22

-8.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$61K

-27.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

14%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 3 of 22 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $63K. How we count

Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 122% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 foundation states that it concentrates on environmental protection, education, and social justice.

Its 2024 grantees work in a range of areas. For example, the National Redistricting Foundation says it seeks to oppose racial and partisan gerrymandering through litigation and public education. Berkshire Community Land Trust says it works to secure permanent access, affordability, and productivity of land for housing, farming, and local industry. Neighbors Link says it supports immigrant integration through services including English-language instruction, workforce development, legal services, and crisis support. Streetsquash says it provides long-term support to children, families, and schools in Harlem, with the aim of helping participants realize their academic and personal potential.

Other grantee missions span youth development and the arts. Greenagers says it connects young people with land, work, and community through paid jobs and education in conservation, sustainable farming, and related trades. Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center says it presents live performances, film, and cultural events, including educational and family programs.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $1,350,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $175,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest listed awards were $175,000 to Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, and $125,000 each to Campaign Legal Center and the National Redistricting Foundation. Other notable awards included $100,000 each to Berkshire Community Land Trust, Berkshire Natural Resources, Nature Conservancy, and Princeton in Asia.

How to Apply

Submit a letter of inquiry by email to the foundation’s president stating the purpose and amount requested and the applicant organization’s tax-exempt status. The foundation states that there are no restrictions on awards and that it does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 41% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 26% to New York, 19% to the District of Columbia, 7% to Virginia, and 7% to New Jersey.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkGt BarringtonPittsfieldWashingtonMount KiscoS EgremontBostonChicagoArlingtonGreat BarringtonLeePrincetonHartfordLenoxMiddletownSheffieldValatieAstoriaNew HavenAnnandale

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M21 grants2020 25 grants2021 30 grants2022 24 grants2023 22 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2024) to $2.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $1.4M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry Inc: $175KMount Kisco Interfaith FoodPantry Inc$175KCampaign Legal Center Inc: $125KCampaign Legal Center Inc$125KNational Redistricting Foundation: $125KNational RedistrictingFoundation$125KBerkshire Community Land Trust: $100KBerkshire Community Land Trust$100KBerkshire Natural Resources: $100KBerkshire Natural Resources$100KNature Conservancy: $100KNature Conservancy$100KPrinceton in Asia Inc: $100KPrinceton in Asia Inc$100KBerkshire Agriculture Ventures: $75KBerkshire Agriculture Ventures$75KNeighbors Link Corp: $75KNeighbors Link Corp$75KStreetsquash Inc: $60KStreetsquash Inc$60K

The largest 2024 recipient was Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry Inc ($175K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.

Grant Size Distribution

122 grants across all recorded years

49<$50K44$50–100K26$100–250K2$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 122 (40%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry Inc Mount Kisco, NYGeneral & Unrestricted$175,000
Campaign Legal Center Inc Washington, DCGeneral & Unrestricted$125,000
National Redistricting Foundation Washington, DCGeneral & Unrestricted$125,000
Berkshire Community Land Trust GT Barrington, MARiver Run Farm Project$100,000
Berkshire Natural Resources Lenox, MAGeneral & Unrestricted$100,000
Nature Conservancy Arlington, VAGeneral & Unrestricted$100,000
Princeton in Asia Inc Princeton, NJGeneral & Unrestricted$100,000
Berkshire Agriculture Ventures GT Barrington, MAGeneral & Unrestricted$75,000
Neighbors Link Corp Mount Kisco, NYGeneral & Unrestricted$75,000
Streetsquash Inc New York, NYGeneral & Unrestricted$60,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant sum Grant count
2024 $24,187,805 $1,053,172 $1,936,917 $1,350,000 22
2023 $25,071,550 $625,829 $2,528,236 $2,025,000 24
2022 $26,973,957 $1,314,920 $2,442,407 $1,870,000 30
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$24,187,805$25,071,550$26,973,957
Revenue$1,053,172$625,829$1,314,920
Expenses$1,936,917$2,528,236$2,442,407
Qualifying Distributions$1,818,153$2,444,028$2,253,591
Net Investment Income$2,033,499$1,623,022$2,191,268
Distributable Amount$1,496,034$1,455,379$1,731,624

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Mary Bersani as director and president; Matthew Bersani as director and treasurer; Catherine Burns as director and secretary; and Paul Burns, Monica Orbe Cliff, Ursula Cliff, and W Conway Cliff as directors.

Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc is led by Mary Bersani, Director & President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mary Bersani

    Director & President

    Director → Director & President, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $174K (2021) → $214K (2024)

  • Matthew Bersani

    Director & Treasurer

    Director → Director & Treasurer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    35 hrs/week

    $113K (2022) → $169K (2024)

  • Catherine Burns

    Director & Secretary

    Director → Director & Secretary, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Monica Orbe Cliff

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ursula Cliff

    Director

    Director & Secretary → Director & Sec*, 2021

    Director & Sec* → Director, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • W Conway Cliff

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Burns

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Walter C Cliff (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: john r young (2020) — 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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Mary Bersani — Dir, Pres: $214KMary BersaniDir, Pres$214KMatthew Bersani — Dir, Treas: $169KMatthew BersaniDir, Treas$169K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $214K, to Mary Bersani (Dir, Pres). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Application contact: Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc
Mailing address: Foundation Source 55 Walls Dr Fl 3, Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Email: strowbridge@foundationsource.com

Frequently asked questions about Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc

How much does Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc give each year?

Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 24 grants.

What is Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $61,364, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc that year got $48K on average.

Where does Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc give grants?

Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc's top state is Massachusetts, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (26%) and District of Columbia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were GT Barrington, MA (4 grants), Pittsfield, MA (4 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Mount Kisco, NY (2 grants).

Does Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 95% of Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry Inc ($175,000), Campaign Legal Center Inc ($125,000) and National Redistricting Foundation ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc?

Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc reported $24.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation states that it concentrates on environmental protection, education, and social justice. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc?

Submit a letter of inquiry by email to the foundation’s president stating the purpose and amount requested and the applicant organization’s tax-exempt status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc's EIN?

Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3622255. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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