Grant and Lara Gund Foundation
The Grant and Lara Gund Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Concord, Massachusetts. Established in 2002, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization dedicated to grantmaking across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Key facts about Grant and Lara Gund Foundation
- EIN
- 55-0805387
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,093,450
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- Average grant
- $39,052
- Median grant
- $15,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (8 of 28, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,657,983
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Grant and Lara Gund Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Grant and Lara Gund Foundation's 28 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (50%) and Vermont (42%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants), Burlington, VT (3 grants), Cambridge, MA (2 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants). None of its 28 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Help Further Charitable Purpose of Organization." (25 grants).
Is Grant and Lara Gund Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 28 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 739% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Grant and Lara Gund Foundation
- How to evaluate Grant and Lara Gund Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
-27.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+3.8% YoY
Grant Count
28
+3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
+0.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grant and Lara Gund Foundation reported a distributable amount of $150K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus but has demonstrated support across diverse funding categories including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, and environmental initiatives. The foundation's activities span multiple disciplines and geographic locations, suggesting a broad philanthropic approach.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported total giving of approximately $1.1 million in recent fiscal years, with typical award ranges between $1,000 and $200,000. The foundation has awarded grants to numerous recipients, with historical grant activity indicating an average grant size of approximately $144 and a median grant amount that varies by funding cycle. The foundation appears open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.
Grant Range
of approximately $144 and a median grant amount that varies by funding cycle. The foundation appears open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.
Average Grant
of approximately $144 and a median grant amount that varies by funding cycle. The foundation appears open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.
Ready to take the next step with Grant and Lara Gund Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Grant and Lara Gund Foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including major urban centers such as Boston, New York, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities. Primary geographic focus areas include Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Connecticut. The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to environmental initiatives in Vermont, including support for the University of Vermont's environmental programs.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 28 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of the most recent fiscal year (2023):
- Total Assets: $2.29 million
- Total Expenses: $1.1 million
- Revenue: Negative $29,343
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation's assets have shown modest growth, increasing 2.6% from the previous year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,657,983 | $2,289,779 | $3,416,781 |
| Revenue | $499,583 | $-29,343 | $81,257 |
| Expenses | $1,134,595 | $1,096,450 | $1,106,967 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,111,920 | $1,071,948 | $1,077,844 |
| Net Investment Income | $478,958 | $32,722 | $50,076 |
| Distributable Amount | $150,385 | $189,007 | $233,990 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
129 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Root Capital ($200,000), University of Vermont - Match ($200,000), University of Vermont - Foundation for the Environment ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ROOT CAPITAL Cambridge, MA | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $200,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - MATCH Burlington, VT | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. | $200,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - FOUNDATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Burlington, VT | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION. | $150,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - R1 Burlington, VT | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. | $100,000 |
| MILTON ACADEMY Milton, MA | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. | $80,000 |
| GROTON SCHOOL Gorton, MA | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. | $70,000 |
| HARVARD SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE - RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY AND BIOMATERIALS Cambridge, MA | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. | $50,000 |
| THE CARROLL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND Newton, MA | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. | $40,000 |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER Boston, MA | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. | $25,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - KELLOGG SCHOOL Evanston, IL | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by trustees Grant A. Gund and Lara B. Gund, who serve without compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant a Gund | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Lara B Gund | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Gund family, including Grant and Lara Gund, participated in a $6 million gift to the University of Vermont to create the Gund Institute for Environment. This initiative expanded upon the family's earlier establishment of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at UVM in 2002, demonstrating sustained commitment to environmental scholarship and sustainability research.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grant and Lara Gund Foundation fund?
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus but has demonstrated support across diverse funding categories including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, and environmental initiatives. The foundation's activities span multiple disciplines and geographic locations, suggesting a broad philanthropic approach.
How do I apply for a grant from Grant and Lara Gund Foundation?
The foundation reported total giving of approximately $1.1 million in recent fiscal years, with typical award ranges between $1,000 and $200,000. The foundation has awarded grants to numerous recipients, with historical grant activity indicating an average grant size of approximately $144 and a median grant amount that varies by funding cycle. The foundation appears open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.
Where does Grant and Lara Gund Foundation make grants?
The Grant and Lara Gund Foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including major urban centers such as Boston, New York, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities. Primary geographic focus areas include Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Connecticut. The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to environmental initiatives in Vermont, including support for the University of Vermont's environmental programs.
What size grants does Grant and Lara Gund Foundation award?
In 2024, Grant and Lara Gund Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Grant and Lara Gund Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Grant and Lara Gund Foundation reported a distributable amount of $150K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Grant and Lara Gund Foundation's EIN?
Grant and Lara Gund Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0805387. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.