Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc
Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 1991 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with no employees. It functions as an independent grantmaking foundation.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support environmental protection, opera, and ballet, with preference given to organizations that were supported by Mr. Hughes during his lifetime.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with a significant annual giving program. Recent grant activity shows:
Grant Range
** $10,000–$750,000
Average Grant
amount:** Approximately $84,400
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of March 2024:
- Total assets: $24,187,805
- Total revenue: $1,053,172
- Total expenses: $1,936,917
- Total liabilities: $0
- Investment income and dividends: $10,087
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with substantial assets relative to annual giving levels.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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
122 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry Inc ($175,000), Campaign Legal Center Inc ($125,000), National Redistricting Foundation ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1BERKSHIRE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE FOUNDATION INC PITTSFIELD, MA | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURE VENTURES GT BARRINGTON, MA | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST GT BARRINGTON, MA | River Run Farm Project | $100,000 |
| BERKSHIRE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION TEAM INC PITTSFIELD, MA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| BERKSHIRE IMMIGRANT CENTER INC PITTSFIELD, MA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| BERKSHIRE NATURAL RESOURCES LENOX, MA | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| BERKSHIRE OPERA FESTIVAL PITTSFIELD, MA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| BERKSHIRES BOUNTY INC GT BARRINGTON, MA | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER INC WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $125,000 |
| CONSTRUCT INC GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Mary Bersani, Director and President
- Matthew Bersani, Director and Treasurer
- Catherine Burns, Director and Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Bersani | Dir, Pres | 40 | $214,167 |
| Matthew Bersani | Dir, Treas | 35 | $169,167 |
| Catherine Burns | Dir, Sec | 1 | — |
| Paul Burns | Dir | 1 | — |
| Monica Orbe Cliff | Dir | 1 | — |
| Ursula Cliff | Dir | 1 | — |
| W Conway Cliff | Dir | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant grants to environmental and public service organizations, including major grants to Wyoming PBS Foundation ($500,000 challenge grant) and Teton Habitat ($500,000 grant), demonstrating continued commitment to environmental protection initiatives.
Wyoming PBS announces $500k grant from Hughes Charitable Foundation | WyomingFrequently Asked Questions
What does Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support environmental protection, opera, and ballet, with preference given to organizations that were supported by Mr. Hughes during his lifetime.
How do I apply for a grant from Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with a significant annual giving program. Recent grant activity shows: • **Total giving (2024):** $1,350,000 • **Number of grants:** 24 grants in recent fiscal year • **Typical grant range:** $10,000–$750,000 • **Average grant amount:** Approximately $84,400 • **Median grant amount:** $50,000 Recent grants include: • The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry: $175,000 (2024) • Campaign Legal Center: $125,000 (2024) • National Redistricting Foundation: $125,00…
Where does Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc awarded 22 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Geoffrey C Hughes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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