Gould Family Foundation
The Gould Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Westport, Connecticut. Novelist Lois Gould established it and provided its initial funding upon her death in 2002. Its stated mission is to fund work in the public interest worldwide.
Gould Family Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $2,068,345
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $75,719
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $8,368
- -79.8% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $67,070
- +282.7% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Gould Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. Its filing lists a letter as the application material, no award restrictions, and no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: The Gould Family Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 493, Washington Depot, CT 06794
Phone: (860) 868-1462
Website: https://gould-foundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gould Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 47 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it funds public-interest work worldwide.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Gould Family Foundation gives
- In 2022 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $34.4M (2022). In 2022 it made 1 grant totaling $34.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The New York Community Trust New York, NY | Community Charitable Trust | $34,448,071 |
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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 | $2,068,345 | $75,719 | $67,070 | — | — | — | $8,368 | $91,633 |
| 2023 | $2,063,007 | $54,075 | $17,524 | — | — | — | $41,508 | $88,604 |
| 2022 | $2,011,485 | $302,888 | $34,742,847 | $34,448,071 | 1 | $34,603,258 | $230,431 | $500,415 |
| 2021 | $22,385,927 | $4,583,944 | $1,870,925 | $1,500,000 | 18 | $1,665,034 | $4,437,146 | $1,747,317 |
| 2020 | $19,667,110 | $1,880,224 | $1,712,904 | $1,409,500 | 28 | — | $1,753,885 | $1,450,891 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gould Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $92K for 2024 — 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’s mission is to provide funding for work done in the public interest worldwide. Its stated areas of focus include preserving the natural world, alleviating poverty and disease in the developing world, and assisting local cultural, civic, and humane institutions.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported no grants in 2024 or 2023. In 2022, it reported one grant of $34,448,071 to The New York Community Trust. The Trust describes its mission as fostering and engaging in enduring and innovative philanthropy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Edwin S. Matthews Jr. was listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
Gould Family Foundation is led by Edwin S. Matthews Jr., Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edwin S. Matthews Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$31K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anthony Gould (2020–2022) — Trustee
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 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $5K, to Edwin S Matthews Jr (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Gould Family Foundation
How large is Gould Family Foundation?
Gould Family Foundation reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $76K.
What does Gould Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to provide funding for work done in the public interest worldwide. Its stated areas of focus include preserving the natural world, alleviating poverty and disease in the developing world, and assisting local cultural, civic, and humane institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gould Family Foundation?
The foundation states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Gould Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation states that it funds public-interest work worldwide.
How much is Gould Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gould Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $92K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gould Family Foundation's EIN?
Gould Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0595263. 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.
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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