Gowanus Falls Foundation
Gowanus Falls Foundation is a private foundation, based in Reston, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $195K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $165K.
Gowanus Falls Foundation at a glance
In short: Gowanus Falls Foundation gave $165K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $165,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- Average grant
- $33,000
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $195,252
- -45.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (61% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Gowanus Falls Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Doctors Without Borders ($100K). Together the top 5 received $165K.
Grant Size Distribution
8 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 8 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Gowanus Falls Foundation gives
- Giving grew 13639% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 939% of 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2022) to $165K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $165K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Doctors Without Borders Hagrstown, MD | General Support | $100,000 |
| Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative New York, NY | General Support | $25,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Support | $20,000 |
| The Bail Project Pasadena, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
| The Liberty Fund New York, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $195,252 | — | $165,000 | $165,000 | 5 | $165,000 | $17,564 |
| 2024 | $360,252 | — | — | — | — | — | $17,742 |
| 2023 | $360,252 | — | $40,000 | $40,000 | 2 | $40,000 | $19,514 |
| 2022 | $398,799 | $100,000 | $1,201 | $1,201 | 1 | $1,201 | $15,181 |
| 2021 | $300,000 | $300,000 | — | — | — | — | $1,201 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gowanus Falls Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Gowanus Falls Foundation is led by Noah Pollack, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Noah Pollack
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Lintott
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Gowanus Falls Foundation
How much does Gowanus Falls Foundation give each year?
Gowanus Falls Foundation gave $165K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Gowanus Falls Foundation's typical grant size?
Gowanus Falls Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $33,000, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Gowanus Falls Foundation give grants?
Gowanus Falls Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (21%) and District of Columbia (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Gowanus Falls Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Gowanus Falls Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gowanus Falls Foundation's largest grantees?
Gowanus Falls Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Doctors Without Borders ($100,000), Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative ($25,000) and World Central Kitchen ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gowanus Falls Foundation?
Gowanus Falls Foundation reported $195K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $165K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $18K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Gowanus Falls Foundation's EIN?
Gowanus Falls Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2948250. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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