Learning by Giving Foundation Inc
Learning by Giving Foundation Inc. was a private foundation based in Marshfield, Massachusetts, that supported student-led grantmaking and philanthropy education. Its website describes a model in which it partners with colleges and universities to provide funding to undergraduate students, who then make grants to nonprofits in their communities.
Learning by Giving Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Learning by Giving Foundation Inc gave $123K across 26 grants in 2023 (avg $5K), top state California. 71% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $122,547
- -33.2% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 26
- -13.3% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $4,713
- -22.9% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $4,975
- New grantees (estimate)
- 71% first-time grantees (17 of 24, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (25% 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 Learning by Giving Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says students select the nonprofit recipients, and that requests from individuals or nonprofits will not be considered.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3 Snow Road Box 434, Marshfield, MA 02050
Phone: (781) 933-6732
Website: https://learningbygivingfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Learning by Giving Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Binghamton University Foundation ($10K). Together the top 10 received $64K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($20,951), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
155 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 155 grants of 155 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2023 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares went to California (25%), Massachusetts (24%), Louisiana (10%), Washington, D.C. (10%), and New York (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Learning by Giving Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
71%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 17 of 24 grantees (71%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 25% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving fell 53% 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 (2018–2023). 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 2018 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $123K (2023) to $554K (2018). In 2023 it made 26 grants totaling $123K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $20,951 |
| Binghamton University Foundation Binghamton, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
| The Immigrant Learning Center Malden, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Honoring Individual Power & Strength Hips Washington, DC | General Support | $7,000 |
| N'fungola Sibo African Dance & Drum Company Inc New Orleans, LA | General Support | $7,000 |
| Aging & Disability Resource Center of Brown County Green Bay, WI | General Support | $5,000 |
| Brothers Building a Better Nation Newark, NJ | General Support | $5,000 |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | General Support | $5,000 |
| Justice 4 Housing Inc Boston, MA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Ohio University Athens, OH | General Support | $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 | — | $1,650,425 | $295,531 | $122,547 | 26 | $264,883 | $1,510,555 | $22,445 |
| 2022 | $636,506 | $187,135 | $481,914 | $183,399 | 30 | $452,771 | $115,950 | $74,085 |
| 2021 | $3,354,224 | $480,714 | $520,174 | $184,652 | 34 | $473,901 | $423,959 | $141,410 |
| 2020 | $2,497,617 | $29,648 | $751,261 | $262,861 | 33 | — | $331,007 | $94,355 |
| 2019 | $2,884,489 | $299,775 | $867,108 | $250,555 | 32 | — | — | $82,421 |
| 2018 | $2,993,843 | $-5,492 | $1,167,746 | $554,453 | 64 | — | $1,125,609 | $127,789 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Learning by Giving Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $22K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Founded by Doris Buffett, the foundation says it inspires and educates a new generation of philanthropists and community leaders to distribute capital effectively to local communities. Its website also describes a high school program launched in 2018 to provide experiential philanthropy education, with curriculum, resources, and staff support for partner programs.
Its 2023 grants included general support for organizations with varied missions. For example, The Immigrant Learning Center described its work as operating an English-as-a-second-language school for foreign-born adults; RESIST described its work as supporting movements for justice and liberation through resource redistribution and storytelling; and Silver Lining Mentoring described its mission as helping youth impacted by foster care thrive through mentoring and life-skills development.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $122,547. Grant amounts ranged from $646 to $10,947, with a median of $4,975. The largest listed grants included $10,947 to The Metropolitan for a “Learn. Lead. Give.” scholarship recipient, $10,004 to an individual recipient for the same purpose, and $10,000 each to Binghamton University Foundation and The Immigrant Learning Center for general support. Other listed grants included $7,000 each to Honoring Individual Power & Strength HIPS and N’Fungola Sibo African Dance & Drum Company, and $5,000 each to Aging & Disability Resource Center of Brown County, Brothers Building a Better Nation, Georgetown University, Justice 4 Housing, Ohio University, and RESIST.
The foundation’s website says students make funding decisions and that it does not ask them to consider particular nonprofits. Its 2023 filing states that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Alex Rozek as president and Sarah Krueger as director.
Learning by Giving Foundation Inc is led by Alex Rozek, President since 2020 (on filings since 2018); none of the 2 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Alex Rozek
President
Director → Board Chair, 2019
Board Chair → President, 2020
On filings since 2018
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Krueger
Director
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$20K (2018) → $0 (2023)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Howard Buffet (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Nora Silver (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Amy Kingman (2018–2019) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2019 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2019 filing was $55K, to Amy Kingman (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Learning by Giving Foundation Inc
How much does Learning by Giving Foundation Inc give each year?
Learning by Giving Foundation Inc gave $123K across 26 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $183K across 30 grants.
What is Learning by Giving Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Learning by Giving Foundation Inc's median grant in 2023 was $4,975, and its average grant was $4,713, across 26 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Learning by Giving Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does Learning by Giving Foundation Inc give grants?
Learning by Giving Foundation Inc's top state is California, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (24%) and Louisiana (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and New Orleans, LA (2 grants).
Does Learning by Giving Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of Learning by Giving Foundation Inc's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Learning by Giving Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Learning by Giving Foundation Inc's largest 2023 grantees include Binghamton University Foundation ($10,000), The Immigrant Learning Center ($10,000) and Honoring Individual Power & Strength Hips ($7,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($20,951), which are not listed by name. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Learning by Giving Foundation Inc fund?
Founded by Doris Buffett, the foundation says it inspires and educates a new generation of philanthropists and community leaders to distribute capital effectively to local communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Learning by Giving Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Learning by Giving Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Learning by Giving Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $22K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Learning by Giving Foundation Inc's EIN?
Learning by Giving Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2324555. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2023.
Does Learning by Giving 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS January 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2023
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Figures come from Learning by Giving 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.
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