Henderson Foundation
Henderson Foundation is a private trust established in 1947 and based in Sudbury, Massachusetts. The foundation received its IRS tax-exempt ruling in December 1949 and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. It is governed by four officers and trustees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.9M
+2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$586K
+0.3% YoY
Grant Count
73
-6.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+7.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Henderson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $732K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Henderson Foundation supports public policy organizations in the fields of foreign policy, defense, peace, and media issues. The foundation also provides funding for higher and precollege education, with minor support directed toward medical research.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantmaking model, meaning it makes contributions only to charitable organizations it has identified in advance rather than accepting unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$5,000
Average Grant
$7,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Henderson Foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia, which account for 56% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 19 states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $6.76 million
- Total liabilities: $309,000
- Revenue: $669,213
- Expenses: $936,138
- Annual income: $3 million (reported)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,948,737 | $6,758,887 | $6,804,054 |
| Revenue | $1,211,287 | $669,213 | $501,979 |
| Expenses | $1,032,764 | $936,138 | $834,894 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $696,834 | $632,139 | $641,170 |
| Net Investment Income | $911,684 | $425,911 | $243,022 |
| Distributable Amount | $732,062 | $593,805 | $620,881 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lionheart Classical Academy ($100,000), Mt Auburn Hospital ($70,000), Food Bank of the Rockies ($23,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCURACY IN MEDIA WASHINGTON, DC | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| ALPINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ALPINE, CA | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN AGRI-WOMEN RESOURCE CENTER COLCHESTER, VT | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| ASIA INITIATIVES NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $4,000 |
| AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL AVON, CT | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BATES COLLEGE LEWISTON, ME | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BAXTER ACADEMIES OF MAINE PORTLAND, ME | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| BAY PATH ELDER SERVICES FRAMINGHAM, MA | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| BOSTON LIVING CENTER BOSTON, MA | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| BOWDOIN COLLEGE BRUNSWICK, ME | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Barclay Henderson serves as the principal officer of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERTA HENDERSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | $36,667 |
| CARLOS AYALA | TRUSTEE | 1 | $36,667 |
| KEVIN HENDERSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | $34,660 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 420, Sudbury, MA 01776-0420
- Phone: (978) 443-9000
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Henderson Foundation fund?
Henderson Foundation supports public policy organizations in the fields of foreign policy, defense, peace, and media issues. The foundation also provides funding for higher and precollege education, with minor support directed toward medical research.
How do I apply for a grant from Henderson Foundation?
The foundation operates on a preselected grantmaking model, meaning it makes contributions only to charitable organizations it has identified in advance rather than accepting unsolicited applications. **Grant Activity:** • Total of 347 grants made, totaling $2.3 million • Median grant size: $5,000 • Average grant size: $7,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $64,000 • Annual distribution between $532,000 and $1.1 million from 2020 to 2023 • Highest grantmaking activity in 2022 with …
Where does Henderson Foundation make grants?
Henderson Foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia, which account for 56% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 19 states.
What size grants does Henderson Foundation award?
In 2024, Henderson Foundation awarded 73 grants totaling $586K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Henderson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Henderson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $732K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Henderson Foundation's EIN?
Henderson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6051095. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Henderson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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