Kates Foundation Inc
Kates Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Norwell, Massachusetts. Its 2023 IRS filing is marked as the organization’s final return, indicating that it has terminated or is winding down.
Kates Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Kates Foundation Inc gave $188K across 46 grants in 2023 (avg $4K), top state Vermont. 54% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $187,500
- +119.3% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 46
- +76.9% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $4,076
- +24.0% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $3,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (25 of 46, 2023)
- Primary geography
- Vermont (23% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kates Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 72, Norwell, MA 02061-0072
Phone: (781) 659-6787
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kates Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Aikido of Champlain Valley ($10K). Together the top 10 received $85K.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 110 grants of 110 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Vermont (23%), Massachusetts (22%), New York (14%), Illinois (11%), and New Hampshire (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Kates Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 25 of 46 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 39% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 1072% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2020) to $188K (2023). In 2023 it made 46 grants totaling $188K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aikido of Champlain Valley Burlington, VT | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Circle Barre, VT | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Midwest Access Coalition Chicago, IL | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Studio Place Arts Barre, VT | Charitable Contributions | $10,000 |
| Brigid Alliance New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Vermont Food Bank Barre, VT | Charitable Contribution | $8,500 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | Charitable Contribution | $8,000 |
| ALS Association Arlington, VA | Charitable Contribution | $8,000 |
| Anikaya Somerville, MA | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Committee on Temporary Shelter Burlington, VT | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $-1,531 | $192,177 | $187,500 | 46 | $187,500 | $58 | $4,731 |
| 2022 | $193,708 | $-3,525 | $87,768 | $85,500 | 26 | $85,500 | $18,002 | $11,935 |
| 2021 | $285,002 | $16,761 | $19,018 | $16,750 | 19 | $16,750 | $18,584 | $13,781 |
| 2020 | $287,259 | $39,324 | $18,246 | $16,000 | 19 | — | $18,539 | $13,030 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kates Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grantees included organizations with a range of missions. For example, Midwest Access Coalition says it provides logistical and financial support to people seeking a safe legal abortion; Circle Inc says it provides direct services to victims of domestic violence, including a hotline, legal advocacy, support groups, community education, and shelter; and Vermont Foodbank says it gathers and shares food so that no one in Vermont will go hungry.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2023, the foundation reported 46 grants totaling $187,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $3,000. Among the largest were $10,000 each to Aikido of Champlain Valley, Circle, Midwest Access Coalition, Studio Place Arts, and Brigid Alliance. Other notable awards included $8,500 to Vermont Food Bank, $8,000 each to Alzheimer’s Association and ALS Association, and $5,000 each to Anikaya, Committee on Temporary Shelter, New Hampshire AFSC, and Wesleyan University.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Helen Kates as president, Jane Kates Pincus as vice president, James Kates as secretary, and Peter Kates as treasurer.
Kates Foundation Inc is led by Helen Kates, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Helen Kates
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Kates
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Kates Pincus
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Kates
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Kates Foundation Inc
How much does Kates Foundation Inc give each year?
Kates Foundation Inc gave $188K across 46 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $86K across 26 grants.
What is Kates Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Kates Foundation Inc's median grant in 2023 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,076, across 46 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kates Foundation Inc that year got $3K on average.
Where does Kates Foundation Inc give grants?
Kates Foundation Inc's top state is Vermont, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (22%) and New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Boston, MA (7 grants), Barre, VT (3 grants) and Chicago, IL (3 grants).
Who are Kates Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Kates Foundation Inc's largest 2023 grantees include Aikido of Champlain Valley ($10,000), Circle ($10,000) and Midwest Access Coalition ($10,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Kates Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grantees included organizations with a range of missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kates Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Kates Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Kates Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Kates Foundation Inc's EIN?
Kates Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6161546. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Does Kates 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
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Kates Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?