James S Peterson Foundation
The James S Peterson Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in New York, NY. Established in February 2008, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic activities. The foundation maintains its office at 399 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.3M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$463K
+10.6% YoY
Grant Count
29
-6.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+18.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James S Peterson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $402K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes. Primary funding areas include:
- Core charitable activities
- Endowment fund support
- Democracy action initiatives
- Hope Lodge NYC operations
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking across multiple sectors. In 2023, the foundation made 38 grants totaling approximately $375,000 (with the largest grants documented at $50,000).
Grant Range
s range from $1,000 to $50,000, reflecting support for both major initiatives and specific program activities.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations based in New York, with particular emphasis on New York City-based charities and initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2023:
- Total Assets: $8.43 million
- Total Revenues: $316,102
- Total Expenses: $431,678
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains a substantial asset base with annual expenses exceeding revenues, indicating strategic deployment of accumulated resources for grantmaking purposes.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,342,899 | $8,430,282 | $8,545,858 |
| Revenue | $388,392 | $316,102 | $91,171 |
| Expenses | $475,775 | $431,678 | $492,779 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $468,275 | $429,178 | $492,775 |
| Net Investment Income | $388,392 | $316,102 | $91,167 |
| Distributable Amount | $402,063 | $401,263 | $416,452 |
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
172 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Guild Hall of East Hampton ($50,000), Robin Hood Foundation ($50,000), Success Academy Charter Schools ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT HOPE LODGE NYC. | $1,000 |
| ASSOCIATION TO BENEFIT CHILDREN NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $2,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $5,000 |
| CEDARS OF MARIN ROSS, CA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $20,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC INDIAN RIVER FOUNDATION VERO BEACH, FL | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $2,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA HAGERSTOWN, MD | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $15,000 |
| DOE FUND INC NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $10,000 |
| EAST HAMPTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION EAST HAMPTON, NY | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $3,000 |
| ELEANOR WHITMORE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER INC EAST HAMPTON, NY | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $2,500 |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE MONTGOMERY, AL | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S CORE ACTIVITIES. | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James S Peterson — Director, Chairman, President
- Michael A Peterson — Secretary & Treasurer
- Michael Shankman — Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES S PETERSON | DIRECTOR, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL A PETERSON | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | 0.1 | — |
| MICHAEL SHANKMAN | TREASURER | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James S Peterson Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes. Primary funding areas include: • Core charitable activities • Endowment fund support • Democracy action initiatives • Hope Lodge NYC operations
How do I apply for a grant from James S Peterson Foundation?
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking across multiple sectors. In 2023, the foundation made 38 grants totaling approximately $375,000 (with the largest grants documented at $50,000). **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Success Academy Charter Schools: $50,000 • Robin Hood Foundation: $50,000 • Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): $40,000 • American Cancer Society: $1,000 (for Hope Lodge NYC support) Grant sizes range from $1,000 to $50,000, reflecting support for both major initiatives an…
Where does James S Peterson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations based in New York, with particular emphasis on New York City-based charities and initiatives.
What size grants does James S Peterson Foundation award?
In 2024, James S Peterson Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $463K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James S Peterson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James S Peterson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $402K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James S Peterson Foundation's EIN?
James S Peterson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1607047. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James S Peterson 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.