Mather Fund
The Richard Mather Fund is a private foundation based in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1958, it operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization focused on supporting nonprofit organizations primarily in the central New York region, with particular emphasis on Syracuse.
Key facts about Mather Fund
- EIN
- 15-6018423
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $261,300
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $9,678
- Median grant
- $6,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (10 of 27, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,449,233
- Primary geography
- New York (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Mather Fund funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Mather Fund's 27 itemized 2024 grants were New York (79%) and Florida (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Syracuse, NY (15 grants) and Cazenovia, NY (2 grants). None of its 27 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Social Services" (15 grants) and "Arts" (10 grants).
Is Mather Fund open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 27 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Mather Fund
- How to evaluate Mather Fund as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$261K
+8.0% YoY
Grant Count
27
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+4.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mather Fund reported a distributable amount of $237K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation prioritizes support for cultural organizations, including visual arts, theater, music (including opera), and museums. Organizations focused on children and youth, social services, and education also receive funding consideration.
The foundation's grantmaking encompasses:
- Arts and creative endeavors
- Historic buildings and preservation
- Journalism
- Community health
- Human services
- Education
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation utilizes program-related investments (PRIs) as an integral part of its exempt programs to complement and extend its grantmaking activities.
Grant Range
$1,000–$50,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations in the central New York region, with emphasis on Syracuse. However, grants have also been made to organizations in Florida, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $3,449,233
- Total revenues: $498,192
- Total expenses: $311,566
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,449,233 | $3,263,784 | $3,335,529 |
| Revenue | $498,192 | $215,993 | $153,959 |
| Expenses | $311,566 | $287,090 | $275,161 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $261,300 | $242,000 | $230,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $448,014 | $170,927 | $114,008 |
| Distributable Amount | $236,891 | $219,491 | $216,881 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Everson Museum of Art ($40,000), John Hopkins All Childrens Hospital ($30,000), Syracuse Stage ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART Syracuse, NY | ARTS | $40,000 |
| JOHN HOPKINS ALL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL Saint Petersburg, FL | SOCIAL SERVICES | $30,000 |
| SYRACUSE STAGE Syracuse, NY | ARTS | $30,000 |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF TAMPA BAY Tampa, FL | SOCIAL SERVICES | $20,000 |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF CENTRAL NEW YORK Syracuse, NY | SOCIAL SERVICES | $15,000 |
| CORTLAND REPERATORY THEATRE Cortland, NY | ARTS | $10,000 |
| EMMAUS MINISTRY Syracuse, NY | SOCIAL SERVICES | $10,000 |
| FRANCIS HOUSE Syracuse, NY | SOCIAL SERVICES | $10,000 |
| THE HAVEN AT SKANDA Cazenovia, NY | SOCIAL SERVICES | $10,000 |
| THE SYRACUSE ORCHESTRA (SYMPHORIA) Syracuse, NY | ARTS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gay M Pomeroy Esquire | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Elizabeth H Schaefer | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Mr S Sterling McMillan III | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Jennifer a Schaefer | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kimberly Marie Hosmer | Trustee | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 440 S Warren St Ste 400 Syracuse, NY 13202-2601
Telephone: 315-233-8223
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mather Fund fund?
The foundation prioritizes support for cultural organizations, including visual arts, theater, music (including opera), and museums. Organizations focused on children and youth, social services, and education also receive funding consideration. The foundation's grantmaking encompasses: • Arts and creative endeavors • Historic buildings and preservation • Journalism • Community health • Human services • Education • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Mather Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $261,300 • Typical grant range: $1,000–$50,000 • Recent grants made: 22 grants in 2024 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Everson Museum of Art: $40,000 • Syracuse Stage: $30,000 • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay: $20,000 **Program Approach:** The foundation utilizes program-related investments (PRIs) as an integral part of its exempt programs to complement and extend its grantmaking activities.
Where does Mather Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations in the central New York region, with emphasis on Syracuse. However, grants have also been made to organizations in Florida, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay.
What size grants does Mather Fund award?
In 2024, Mather Fund awarded 27 grants totaling $261K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mather Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Mather Fund reported a distributable amount of $237K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mather Fund's EIN?
Mather Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 15-6018423. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.