Golden Rule Foundation
Golden Rule Foundation is a private foundation based in Rockport, Maine. Its website says the foundation is governed by the ideal of the American dream of self-help. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including arts and culture, childcare, education, and Indigenous rights.
Golden Rule Foundation at a glance
In short: Golden Rule Foundation gave $157K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $157,000
- -1.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,815
- -9.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,706,088
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (22% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Golden Rule Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Only 501(c)(3) organizations may apply, and applicants must be recommended by a foundation board member, who serves as their primary contact. Applications are submitted online; mailed materials are not accepted. Required materials include a project description of up to 400 characters, a one-page project budget in PDF format, and a current IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exemption letter in PDF format. An organizational or project overview is optional. Approved proposals require a signed Letter of Agreement.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 Round 1 proposal deadline is January 22, with the signed Letter of Agreement due February 19. The Round 2 proposal deadline is June 4, with the signed Letter of Agreement due July 16. The foundation states that grant funds are mailed by early March for Round 1 and by early August for Round 2.
- Deadline
- The 2026 Round 1 proposal deadline is January 22, with the signed Letter of Agreement due February 19.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 845, Rockport, ME 04856
Website: https://www.goldrule.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Golden Rule Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Studio Two Three ($18K). Together the top 10 received $113K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 77 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to New York (22%), Virginia (21%), Maine (18%), Pennsylvania (15%), and California (15%). These five states accounted for 91% of that year’s grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Golden Rule Foundation gives
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 144% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $136K (2022) to $180K (2020). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $157K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Two Three Richmond, VA | Administrative support for programming and general administrative support. | $18,000 |
| Northeast Historic Film Bucksport, ME | Funding for operations and Here All The Time | $15,000 |
| Arcadia University Glendale, PA | Funding for the creation of art by David Guinn | $15,000 |
| Hooves for Harmony Inc Rohnert Park, CA | Our program is expanding to include more than just children with disabilitiesand foster children. We have joined forces with other nonprofits to reach someof the most vulnerable children in our community: those who live in poverty.We are working with Novato Spirit, Gilead House (homeless shelter), andMarin Community Clinic. | $11,000 |
| Friends of Urban Inc Bronx, NY | This grant will allow our school to enhance our performing arts, acting andchorus programming. We will use this funding to hire a musical director, actingteacher and choreographer to coach our students. We will also allocate moneyfor our set design crew. Our goal is to provide students with acting classes andsinging lessons and to perform a school musical and talent show. | $10,000 |
| The Visual Arts Center of Richmond Richmond, VA | This grant request is to support the continued success and expansion ofCommunity Partnerships Programs (CPPs) at VisArts. This includes: MakeSpace, Art After School (AAS), Adult Partnerships (Studio S and Veterans)and Engage, our gallery education program.CPPs deliver artseducation and studio arts experiences to 2,500 youth and over 500 adultcommunity-members who are in need. | $10,000 |
| US PIRG Education Fund Denver, CO | Funding to support the PennPIRG Education Fund | $10,000 |
| Fire Museum Presents Philadelphia, PA | General operations and venue rental spaces. | $9,000 |
| Belfast Area Child Care Services Belfast, ME | We want to continue our music and movement program for the children atBelfast Area Children's Center and Starrett Children's Center. We will bring ina musician each week as well as a yoga instructor to teach children aboutmusic and movement. The benefits of both Yoga and music for children arewell documented as far as being beneficial in reducing stress and advancingbrain development. | $8,000 |
| ISSUE Project Room Brooklyn, NY | Funding for the development of audiences and artistic activity | $7,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Golden Rule Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,706,088 | $550,578 | $236,290 | $157,000 | 27 | $169,661 | $511,625 | $117,943 |
| 2024 | $2,391,800 | $177,064 | $245,265 | $160,001 | 25 | $176,229 | $136,514 | $117,097 |
| 2022 | $2,606,695 | $131,993 | $223,192 | $136,000 | 23 | $178,402 | $86,774 | $146,191 |
| 2021 | $2,697,894 | $290,325 | $239,073 | $157,000 | 1 | — | $243,461 | $160,731 |
| 2020 | $2,646,642 | $194,694 | $257,454 | $180,000 | 1 | — | $160,598 | $155,845 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Golden Rule Foundation reported a distributable amount of $118K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its governing ideal as the American dream of self-help. Its reported grants show support for a range of organizations and activities rather than a single stated program area. For example, Studio Two Three describes its mission as empowering artists to make art and make change, while Northeast Historic Film says it collects and preserves the film and video record of Northern New England and provides public access to that history and culture. The Visual Arts Center of Richmond describes its mission as celebrating and supporting creative life through artmaking, exhibitions, and community programs. Survival International USA says it works in partnership with Indigenous peoples to campaign for Indigenous rights and amplify Indigenous voices.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $157,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $18,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $18,000 to Studio Two Three for programming and general administrative support; $15,000 each to Northeast Historic Film for operations and “Here All The Time,” and to Arcadia University for the creation of art by David Guinn; and $11,000 to Hooves for Harmony.
Other notable 2025 grants included $10,000 to Friends of Urban Inc for performing arts programming, $10,000 to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for community partnership programs, $10,000 to US PIRG Education Fund to support the PennPIRG Education Fund, and $9,000 to Fire Museum Presents for general operations and venue rental spaces.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sian Evans as Chairman; Gareth Evans, Tegan Evans-Stephen, Axelle Evans, and Lucie Evans as Trustees; Trevor Evans as Treasurer; and Aidan Stephen as Secretary.
Golden Rule Foundation is led by Sian Evans, Chairman since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sian Evans
Chairman
Chair → Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Axelle Evans
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Gareth Evans
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Lucie Evans
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Tegan Evans-Stephen
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$6K (2022) → $6K (2025)
Aidan Stephen
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Trevor Evans
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Tegan Stephen (2020–2021) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $6K, to Sian Evans (Chairman). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Golden Rule Foundation
How much does Golden Rule Foundation give each year?
Golden Rule Foundation gave $157K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $160K across 25 grants.
What is Golden Rule Foundation's typical grant size?
Golden Rule Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,815, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Golden Rule Foundation give grants?
Golden Rule Foundation's top state is New York, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (21%) and Maine (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Richmond, VA (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Golden Rule Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of Golden Rule Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Golden Rule Foundation's largest grantees?
Golden Rule Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Studio Two Three ($18,000), Northeast Historic Film ($15,000) and Arcadia University ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Golden Rule Foundation?
Golden Rule Foundation reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $170K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $118K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Golden Rule Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its governing ideal as the American dream of self-help. Its reported grants show support for a range of organizations and activities rather than a single stated program area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Golden Rule Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Golden Rule Foundation's EIN?
Golden Rule Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-9207701. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Golden Rule Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Golden Rule Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/golden-rule-foundation-morg_94a5646e971a4d83b6558b26b56b105c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_599207701_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Golden Rule Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/golden-rule-foundation-morg_94a5646e971a4d83b6558b26b56b105c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Golden Rule Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Golden Rule Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?