Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc is a family foundation based in Marshfield, Vermont, established in 2001 to honor Harris and Frances Block and their daughter Carol Block Maurer. Its filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation). The foundation supports small grassroots nonprofits working toward just and sustainable communities, with priorities including sustainable agriculture and food systems, environmental activism, social and economic justice, and community development.
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc gave $687K across 37 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in Vermont. 51% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $686,520
- -6.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 37
- -14.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $18,555
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $11,241,629
- -1.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 51% first-time grantees (19 of 37, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Vermont (51% 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 Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website describes a letter-of-inquiry process, with full proposals requested for projects that fit its priorities; proposals are submitted only upon request. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt nonprofits or groups working through a tax-exempt organization. The foundation does not fund lobbying or efforts to influence public elections, land acquisition, capital construction, endowments, deficit financing, scholarships, fellowships, loans, or grants to individuals.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists June 1 and December 1 proposal deadlines. Proposals are submitted only upon request.
- Deadline
- The website lists June 1 and December 1 proposal deadlines.
- Contact
Mailing address: 491 Ennis Hill Road, Marshfield, VT 05658
Phone: (802) 426-3806
Website: https://blockfound.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc
Who Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Institute for Social Ecology ($35K). Together the top 10 received $284K.
Grant Size Distribution
210 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 208 grants of 210 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Vermont, North Carolina, Virginia, and New York City as its geographic focus. In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Vermont (51%), North Carolina (25%), New York (14%), Massachusetts (4%), and Colorado (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
51%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 37 grantees (51%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 162% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $552K (2020) to $798K (2022). In 2024 it made 37 grants totaling $687K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Institute for Social Ecology Plainfield, VT | Popular Education for Racial and Environmental Justice | $35,000 |
| Movement for Justice in El Barrio New York, NY | Environmental Justice and Immigration | $35,000 |
| Migrant Justice Burlington, VT | Human Rights for Immigrant Farmworkers Project | $30,000 |
| Montpelier Parks and Trees Department Montpelier, VT | Montplier Community Feast Farm Project | $30,000 |
| Jaquith Public Library Marshfield, VT | Marshfield Resilience Hub-Food Security Project | $27,000 |
| Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium St Johnsbury, VT | Environmental Education Programming at the Metsinger Forest | $26,520 |
| Center for Creative Aging NC Greensboro, NC | Bringing Generations Together Through Art, Food, and Farming | $25,000 |
| Conservation Law Foundation Boston, MA | Slingshot grant award; building community power for environmental justice in vt. | $25,000 |
| Partnership for Appalachian Girls' Education Marshall, NC | Exploring Appalachian Environments - STEM Labs | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of NNE Colchester, VT | Delivering Life Changing Care | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc?
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 | $11,241,629 | $617,067 | $1,035,325 | $686,520 | 37 | $870,054 | $461,390 | $536,633 |
| 2023 | $11,368,953 | $439,464 | $1,017,824 | $736,635 | 43 | $860,350 | $288,520 | $557,818 |
| 2022 | $12,019,748 | $405,102 | $1,094,441 | $797,539 | 52 | $961,732 | $276,500 | $618,178 |
| 2021 | $13,894,652 | $1,527,408 | $981,191 | $682,725 | 38 | $801,703 | $1,367,875 | $661,047 |
| 2020 | $13,681,934 | $831,969 | $842,800 | $552,461 | 40 | — | $722,476 | $639,425 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $537K 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
The foundation says it seeks equitable solutions to social and environmental problems and works with small and emerging organizations. Its website identifies environmental education and justice, farm and garden programs, farmworkers’ rights, and food justice as areas of focus.
Examples of grantees’ work include Migrant Justice’s organizing for farmworker economic justice and human rights; the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium’s work to inspire responsibility for the natural world; and SNACC’s hands-on food education, food access, and youth development programs. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 37 grants totaling $686,520. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $35,000, with a median of $20,000. Notable grants included $35,000 to the Institute for Social Ecology for popular education for racial and environmental justice and $35,000 to Movement for Justice in El Barrio for environmental justice and immigration. Other grants included $30,000 to Migrant Justice for its human rights for immigrant farmworkers project, $27,000 to Jaquith Public Library for a resilience hub and food security project, and $26,520 to the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium for environmental education programming.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nancy M. Sluys as president; Elizabeth M. Chodorkoff as executive director and treasurer; Rebecca Robinson as program director and trustee; and Lisa Chodorkoff as secretary.
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc is led by Elizabeth M. Chodorkoff, Executive Director & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; all 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth M. Chodorkoff
Executive Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$87K (2020) → $69K (2024)
Nancy M. Sluys
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2020) → $8K (2024)
Rebecca Robinson
Program Director & Trustee
Secretary & Consultant → Secretary & Program Director, 2022
Secretary & Program Director → Program Director & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $80K (2024)
Lisa Chodorkoff
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2020) → $8K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Diana Maurer Schatz (2020–2021) — 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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $80K, to Rebecca Robinson (Program Director & Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc
How much does Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc give each year?
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc gave $687K across 37 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $737K across 43 grants.
What is Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $18,555, across 37 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc that year got $15K on average.
Where does Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc give grants?
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc gives mostly in Vermont: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were North Carolina (25%) and New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Montpelier, VT (4 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Durham, NC (2 grants) and Greensboro, NC (2 grants).
Does Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Institute for Social Ecology ($35,000), Movement for Justice in El Barrio ($35,000) and Migrant Justice ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc?
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc reported $11.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $870K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $537K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation says it seeks equitable solutions to social and environmental problems and works with small and emerging organizations. Its website identifies environmental education and justice, farm and garden programs, farmworkers’ rights, and food justice as areas of focus. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc's EIN?
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1784246. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc 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
Live grants for the work Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harris-and-frances-block-foundation-inc-morg_81fe209af9c146f3a36ca14e640ce415
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311784246_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harris \& Frances Block Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harris-and-frances-block-foundation-inc-morg_81fe209af9c146f3a36ca14e640ce415},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc'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.
Harris & Frances Block Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?