The Lois Chiles Foundation is a private independent foundation based in New York, NY, established in 2004. The organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operates as a grantmaking foundation supporting various charitable causes across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
+12.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-34.1% YoY
Grant Count
31
-8.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
-27.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lois Chiles Foundation reported a distributable amount of $227K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Human services
- Historic preservation
- Historic buildings preservation
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants.
Ready to take the next step with Lois Chiles Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides funding across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia
Cities: Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and others
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $3,219,097
- Total revenue: $1,695,208
- Total expenses: $1,337,080
- Total liabilities: $0
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $2,860,969
- Total revenue: $247,613
- Total expenses: $2,025,647
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,219,097 | $2,860,969 | $4,639,003 |
| Revenue | $1,695,208 | $247,613 | $1,812,708 |
| Expenses | $1,337,080 | $2,025,647 | $444,426 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,305,986 | $1,331,163 | $425,813 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,659,741 | $225,922 | $1,761,041 |
| Distributable Amount | $227,453 | $229,062 | $210,084 |
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
173 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The New York Historical Society ($335,000), American Museum of Natural History ($250,000), Md Anderson Cancer Center ($120,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $250,000 |
| ADAMA FOUNDATION VENICE, CA | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| BIG TREE BOATING ASSOCIATION ISLEBORO, ME | GENERAL FUND | $1,000 |
| BOTANICAL GARDEN OF THE PIEDMONT CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| CHRIST CHURCH DARK HARBOR ISLEBORO, ME | GENERAL FUND | $4,000 |
| DAVID GEFFEN SCHOOL OF DRAMA AT YALE NEW HAVEN, CT | GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
| FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM ROCKLAND, ME | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| FOOD BANK FOR NYC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lois Chiles - President
- Gary S. Castle - Treasurer
- Sue Kiel - Vice President (noted as deceased as of August 11, 2024)
The leadership team operates on a voluntary basis with no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOIS CHILES | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| GARY S CASTLE | TREASURER | 3 | — |
Contact Information
Address: c/o Anchin 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036
EIN: 20-1673659
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lois Chiles Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Education • Human services • Historic preservation • Historic buildings preservation
How do I apply for a grant from Lois Chiles Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2024: $1,288,550 • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $1,185,000 • The foundation made 34 grants in 2023 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • American Museum of Natural History: $1,185,000 • New York Historical Society: $195,000 • MD Anderson Cancer Center: $170,000 **Application Status:** The foundation is open to new applicants.
Where does Lois Chiles Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides funding across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia **Cities:** Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and others
What size grants does Lois Chiles Foundation award?
In 2024, Lois Chiles Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lois Chiles Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lois Chiles Foundation reported a distributable amount of $227K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lois Chiles Foundation's EIN?
Lois Chiles Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1673659. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lois Chiles 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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