Good Words Foundation
Good Words Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Washington, DC. Established in 2019, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.5M
-1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$945K
-18.2% YoY
Grant Count
19
+5.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
-22.5% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation indicates it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds."
Grant Range
$25,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Good Words Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- California
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Virginia
Specific cities mentioned include Austin, Boston, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023 (most recent complete year):
- Total Assets: $18,760,050
- Total Revenue: $625,246
- Total Expenses: $1,219,755
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $673,319
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: -$41,917
- Miscellaneous revenues: -$6,156
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $18,529,948
- Total Giving: $945,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,529,948 | $18,760,050 | $19,354,559 |
| Revenue | $827,016 | $625,246 | $1,461,128 |
| Expenses | $1,057,118 | $1,219,755 | $1,083,332 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $953,762 | $1,165,414 | $1,057,533 |
| Net Investment Income | $725,336 | $623,083 | $1,458,987 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,104,784 | $1,009,961 | $991,022 |
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
113 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nebraska Journalism Trust ($150,000), Capital B News Inc ($125,000), The 19th News ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTBLUE CIVICS INC BOSTON, MA | EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY | $10,000 |
| AMALGAMATED FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT TRANSGENDER FREEDOM ALLIANCE | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION INC NEW YORK CITY, NY | SUPPORT PROTECTION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC | WAMU PUBLIC RADIO | $5,000 |
| CAPITAL B NEWS INC NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT REPORTING FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES | $125,000 |
| CIVIC NEWS COMPANY NEW YORK, NY | HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW AMERICA WORKS | $100,000 |
| EDMUND BURKE SCHOOL WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| GEORGETOWN MINISTRY CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESS | $10,000 |
| GEORGETOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WASHINGTON, DC | MINISTRY SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| MADRID EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION MADRID, IA | SUPPORT MADRID COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a volunteer leadership team with no paid staff:
- Erin Collier – President (3 hours/week, $0 compensation)
- Kent Collier – Secretary/Treasurer (3 hours/week, $0 compensation)
- Kristi Kleinschmit – Director (3 hours/week, $0 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIN COLLIER | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| KENT COLLIER | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 3 | — |
| KRISTI KLEINSCHMIT | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Good Words Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Good Words Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 27 grants in 2023 • Made 19 grants in 2024 • Median grant size: $25,000 • Grant range: $5,000–$200,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Capital B News: $100,000 (General Purpose) • Civic News Company: $100,000 (General Support) • The Center for Public Integrity: $100,000 (General Support) **Application Process:** The foundation indicates it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds."
Where does Good Words Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • California • District of Columbia • Florida • Massachusetts • New York • Pennsylvania • Texas • Virginia Specific cities mentioned include Austin, Boston, and New York.
What size grants does Good Words Foundation award?
In 2024, Good Words Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $945K — an average of about $50K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Good Words Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Good Words Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Good Words Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Demand Justice Initiative
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$7.6M
Grants
1
Total Given
$225K
American Academic Leadership Institute
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$3.6M
Grants
2
Total Given
$50K
Cnfa
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$18.3M
Grants
9
Total Given
$4.2M
Partnership for a Healthier America
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$10.8M
Grants
12
Total Given
$350K
Association of Schools of Allied Health
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
2
Total Given
$60K
Fulcrum Foundation Inc
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$53K
Grants
10
Total Given
$13K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Good Words Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Good Words Foundation to a real strategy.