Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation
The Harry and Zoe Poole Foundation is a private foundation based in Fairfax, Virginia. It makes grants to charitable organizations that qualify under Section 501(c)(3), with awards subject to the stated restriction that funds be used to promote education or benefit children.
Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation at a glance
In short: Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation gave $143K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), top state Virginia. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $143,000
- -9.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- -8.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,613
- -0.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $3,344,723
- +3.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (2 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written request. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Funds should be used to promote education or benefit children.
- Contact
Application contact: Harry And Zoe Poole Foundation Paul
Mailing address: PO Box 545, Fairfax, VA 22038
Phone: (703) 591-7200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Massachusetts Inst of Tech ($25K). Together the top 10 received $81K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
158 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 158 grants of 158 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia (44%), the District of Columbia (20%), Massachusetts (17%), Maryland (12%), and Pennsylvania (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 28 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $143K (2025) to $183K (2021). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $143K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Inst of Tech Cambridge, MA | Educational Scholarships | $25,000 |
| University of Maryland College Park Foundation College Park, MD | Educational Programs | $10,000 |
| Keen Washington, DC | To provide free programs for kids with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of that disability. | $8,000 |
| Doorways for Women and Families Arlington, VA | At-Risk Women and Children Assistance Programming | $7,500 |
| So Others Might Eat Washington, DC | To help vulnerable neighbors find pathways out of poverty and achieve long-term stability and success | $5,000 |
| Falls Church-McLean Children's Center Falls Church, VA | Providing affordable early childhood education, school readiness, and care for diverse populations in the fairfax/falls church area. | $5,000 |
| Child Resource Connect Upper Marlboro, MD | Child Care Resources | $5,000 |
| The Child & Family Network Centers Alexandria, VA | Provides free, high-quality, multilingual preschool education and comprehensive family support services to under-resourced families | $5,000 |
| Britepaths Fairfax, VA | Crisis Assistance and Self-Sufficiency Supports for Working Families | $5,000 |
| Medical Mission of Mercy USA Falls Church, VA | Provide medical and surgical services to those in need | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,344,723 | $279,778 | $219,639 | $143,000 | 31 | $158,964 | $247,103 | $157,923 |
| 2024 | $3,229,936 | $498,591 | $230,044 | $157,200 | 34 | $169,499 | $466,046 | $153,575 |
| 2023 | $3,125,518 | $54,164 | $221,621 | $150,400 | 30 | $166,055 | $67,677 | $148,727 |
| 2022 | $2,941,695 | $104,556 | $224,362 | $154,500 | 30 | $167,038 | $78,074 | $157,419 |
| 2021 | $3,843,320 | $337,433 | $258,467 | $183,000 | 33 | $183,000 | $289,966 | $188,967 |
| 2020 | $3,720,733 | $173,043 | $230,431 | $143,500 | 26 | — | $114,112 | $158,620 |
| 2019 | $3,237,344 | $663,764 | $255,773 | $179,500 | 27 | — | $615,491 | $149,520 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation reported a distributable amount of $158K for 2025 — 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 states that it makes grants to charitable organizations qualifying under Section 501(c)(3). It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and its filing says funds should be used to promote education or benefit children.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. For example, Doorways for Women and Families describes its work as providing trauma-informed shelter, housing, and support to people affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness. Britepaths says it provides short-term safety-net services while helping neighbors work toward self-sufficiency. The an individual recipient says it helps students reach reading benchmarks in their early school years.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $143,000. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $25,000, with a median of $2,500. Recent filing-year totals were $157,200 across 34 grants in 2024 and $150,400 across 30 grants in 2023.
The largest 2025 award was $25,000 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for educational scholarships. Other notable grants included $10,000 to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation for educational programs; $8,000 to KEEN to provide free programs for children with disabilities; and $7,500 to Doorways for Women and Families for at-risk women and children assistance programming.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paul M. Gurman as president and Charles Wight as director.
Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation is led by Paul M. Gurman, President on every filing since 2019; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul M. Gurman
President
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$25K (2019) → $25K (2025)
Charles Wight
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$3K (2019) → $3K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $25K, to Paul M Gurman (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation
How much does Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation give each year?
Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation gave $143K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $157K across 34 grants.
What is Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's typical grant size?
Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $4,613, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation give grants?
Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's top state is Virginia, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (20%) and Massachusetts (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants), Alexandria, VA (5 grants), Fairfax, VA (4 grants) and Falls Church, VA (2 grants).
Does Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's largest grantees?
Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Massachusetts Inst of Tech ($25,000), University of Maryland College Park Foundation ($10,000) and Keen ($8,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation?
Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $159K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $158K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it makes grants to charitable organizations qualifying under Section 501(c)(3). It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and its filing says funds should be used to promote education or benefit children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation?
Submit a written request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's EIN?
Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1360297. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
Live grants for the work Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation 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 Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harry-and-zoe-poole-foundation-morg_2f9f8d8f61694073a98ca2cf2726564c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201360297_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harry-and-zoe-poole-foundation-morg_2f9f8d8f61694073a98ca2cf2726564c},
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 Harry and ZOE Poole Foundation'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.
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