Good Words Foundation
Good Words Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations working in journalism and civic reporting, as well as education, ministry, civil liberties, and other areas.
Good Words Foundation at a glance
In short: Good Words Foundation gave $945K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $50K), top state New York. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $945,000
- -18.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- +5.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $49,737
- -22.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $18,529,948
- -1.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (9 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (26% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Good Words Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue Nw 200, Washington, DC 20007
Phone: (929) 446-0980
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Good Words Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Nebraska Journalism Trust ($150K). Together the top 10 received $860K.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 113 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that recipients in New York received 26% of grant dollars, those in Pennsylvania and Nebraska each received 16%, and those in Washington, DC, and Texas each received 13%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Good Words Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 19 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $70K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $55K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $945K (2024) to $1.2M (2021). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $945K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Journalism Trust Omaha, NE | Support Flatwater Free Press | $150,000 |
| Capital B News Inc New York, NY | Support Reporting for Black Communities | $125,000 |
| The 19TH News Austin, TX | Support Empowerment of Underserved Communities | $125,000 |
| Civic News Company New York, NY | Help People Understand How America Works | $100,000 |
| Spotlight PA Harrisburg, PA | Support Independent Nonpartisan Reporting | $100,000 |
| Madrid Educational Endowment Foundation Madrid, IA | Support Madrid Community School District | $75,000 |
| Georgetown Presbyterian Church Washington, DC | Ministry Support | $60,000 |
| Resolve Philly Philadelphia, PA | Support Unbiased Reporting in Underserved Communities | $50,000 |
| University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA | McIntire Foundation to Benefit Smart Women | $50,000 |
| Amalgamated Foundation Washington, DC | Support Transgender Freedom Alliance | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Good Words 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $18,529,948 | $827,016 | $1,057,118 | $945,000 | 19 | $953,762 | $725,336 | $1,104,784 |
| 2023 | $18,760,050 | $625,246 | $1,219,755 | $1,155,262 | 18 | $1,165,414 | $623,083 | $1,009,961 |
| 2022 | $19,354,559 | $1,461,128 | $1,083,332 | $1,057,533 | 29 | $1,057,533 | $1,458,987 | $991,022 |
| 2021 | $18,976,763 | $169,666 | $1,180,069 | $1,166,592 | 23 | $1,166,592 | $169,491 | $1,008,699 |
| 2020 | $19,987,166 | $274,594 | $1,121,705 | $1,103,650 | 24 | — | $274,594 | $1,025,072 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Good Words Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for independent and community-focused journalism, a community school district, church ministry, civil liberties, and the Transgender Freedom Alliance.
Several grantees describe their own missions as centered on journalism and civic engagement. Nebraska Journalism Trust says it aims to uncover truth, amplify diverse voices, and enrich life in Nebraska. Capital B News says it delivers trustworthy journalism that informs and empowers Black communities. The 19th News says it produces representative journalism serving women and LGBTQ+ people. Spotlight PA describes its work as investigative and public-service journalism that holds powerful public and private forces accountable. Civic News Company says it provides deep local coverage to increase public understanding of and participation in civic issues.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $945,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $150,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $150,000 to Nebraska Journalism Trust to support Flatwater Free Press; $125,000 each to Capital B News for reporting for Black communities and The 19th News to support empowerment of underserved communities; and $100,000 each to Civic News Company to help people understand how America works and Spotlight PA for independent, nonpartisan reporting. Other grants included $75,000 to Madrid Educational Endowment Foundation to support Madrid Community School District and $60,000 to Georgetown Presbyterian Church for ministry support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Erin Collier as president, Kent Collier as secretary/treasurer, and Kristi Kleinschmit as director.
Good Words Foundation is led by Erin Collier, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Erin Collier
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Kleinschmit
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kent Collier
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Good Words Foundation
How much does Good Words Foundation give each year?
Good Words Foundation gave $945K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 18 grants.
What is Good Words Foundation's typical grant size?
Good Words Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $49,737, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Good Words Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does Good Words Foundation give grants?
Good Words Foundation's top state is New York, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (16%) and Nebraska (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Does Good Words Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Good Words Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Good Words Foundation's largest grantees?
Good Words Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Nebraska Journalism Trust ($150,000), Capital B News Inc ($125,000) and The 19TH News ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Good Words Foundation?
Good Words Foundation reported $18.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $954K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Good Words Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for independent and community-focused journalism, a community school district, church ministry, civil liberties, and the Transgender Freedom Alliance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Good Words Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Good Words Foundation's EIN?
Good Words Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-5368680. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Good Words Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Good Words Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/good-words-foundation-morg_6df2a4ef1d094e2fbb5e0968c276a629
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_825368680_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Good Words Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/good-words-foundation-morg_6df2a4ef1d094e2fbb5e0968c276a629},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Good Words 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.
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