Mather Fund

Private foundation · Grantmaker Syracuse, NY EIN: 15-6018423

Mather Fund is a private foundation based in Syracuse, New York. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations in New York and Florida, including arts, social services, historical preservation, and education organizations.

Mather Fund at a glance

In short: Mather Fund gave $252K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in New York. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$251,500
-3.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
21
-22.2% vs 2024
Average grant
$11,976
+23.7% vs 2024
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$3,509,994
+1.8% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
14% first-time grantees (3 of 21, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
New York (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Mather Fund

How to Apply

The filing says to apply in writing. It lists Gay Pomeroy as the contact and states that there are no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: Gay Pomeroy
Mailing address: 440 S Warren Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 233-8223

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Mather Fund funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Everson Museum of Art: $40KEverson Museum of Art$40KSyracuse Stage: $40KSyracuse Stage$40KThe Haven at Skanda: $34KThe Haven at Skanda$34KFriends of the Three Bears: $20KFriends of the Three Bears$20KJohn Hopkins All Childrens Hospital: $20KJohn Hopkins All ChildrensHospital$20KPlanned Parenthood: $20KPlanned Parenthood$20KRonald McDonald House Charities of Central New York: $15KRonald McDonald HouseCharities of Central New York$15KCortland Reperatory Theatre: $10KCortland Reperatory Theatre$10KEmmaus Ministry: $7KEmmaus Ministry$7KED23 Foundation: $5KED23 Foundation$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Everson Museum of Art ($40K). Together the top 10 received $211K.

Grant Size Distribution

118 grants across all recorded years

115<$50K3$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 115 grants of 118 (97%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 14% to recipients in Florida. Reported New York grantees include organizations in Syracuse and other locations in the state; a Florida grant recipient was John Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in Saint Petersburg.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

SyracuseCazenoviaEatonSaint PetersburgTampaAuburnCortlandChittenangoManliusManilusNew YorkOvidHannibalSherrillRochester

Is Mather Fund open to new grantees?

14%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 21 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $12K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K19 grants2019 20 grants2020 22 grants2021 22 grants2022 26 grants2023 27 grants2024 21 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $201K (2019) to $261K (2024). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $252K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Everson Museum of Art Syracuse, NYARTS$40,000
Syracuse Stage Syracuse, NYARTS$40,000
The Haven at Skanda Cazenovia, NYSocial Services$33,500
Friends of the Three Bears Ovid, NYHistorical Preservation$20,000
John Hopkins All Childrens Hospital Saint Petersburg, FLSocial Services$20,000
Planned Parenthood Rochester, NYSocial Services$20,000
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York Syracuse, FLSocial Services$15,000
Cortland Reperatory Theatre Cortland, NYARTS$10,000
Emmaus Ministry Syracuse, NYSocial Services$7,000
ED23 Foundation Syracuse, NYEducation$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$3,509,994$367,077$305,902$251,50021$251,500$312,710$242,085
2024$3,449,233$498,192$311,566$261,30027$261,300$448,014$236,891
2023$3,263,784$215,993$287,090$242,00026$242,000$170,927$219,491
2022$3,335,529$153,959$275,161$230,20022$230,200$114,008$216,881
2021$3,455,000$309,825$273,347$227,25022$227,250$266,184$248,694
2020$3,418,372$205,723$256,372$220,00020—$169,379$216,697
2019$3,476,502$206,734$242,424$201,30019—$165,860$208,946

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mather Fund reported a distributable amount of $242K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2025 grants include support designated for arts, social services, historical preservation, and education.

Grantee descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations it has supported. ED23 Foundation says it provides charitable funding for basketball camps and youth teams in the Syracuse area. The Erie Canal Museum says it collects and preserves canal material and offers educational experiences about the Erie Canal. Madison County Childrens Camp says it operates a residential camp for young people in need at no charge. Friends of the Central Library says it champions the library through fundraising and public advocacy.

Grantmaking

In 2025, Mather Fund reported 21 grants totaling $251,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $40,000, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest reported grants were $40,000 each to Everson Museum of Art and Syracuse Stage; $33,500 to The Haven at Skanda; and $20,000 each to Friends of the Three Bears, John Hopkins All Childrens Hospital, and Planned Parenthood. Other reported grants included $15,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York, $10,000 to Cortland Reperatory Theatre, and $7,000 to Emmaus Ministry. The fund also gave $5,000 each to ED23 Foundation and The Erie Canal Museum, and $2,500 to Friends of the Central Library.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Gay M Pomeroy Esquire, Elizabeth H Schaefer, Mr S Sterling McMillan III, Jennifer A Schaefer, and Kimberly Marie Hosmer.

Mather Fund's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Elizabeth H. Schaefer

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gay M. Pomeroy Esquire

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer A. Schaefer

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kimberly Marie Hosmer

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • S. Sterling McMillan III

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Mather Fund

How much does Mather Fund give each year?

Mather Fund gave $252K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $261K across 27 grants.

What is Mather Fund's typical grant size?

Mather Fund's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,976, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mather Fund that year got $10K on average.

Where does Mather Fund give grants?

Mather Fund gives mostly in New York: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Syracuse, NY (9 grants) and Cazenovia, NY (3 grants).

Does Mather Fund give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Mather Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Social Services" (9 grants), "Arts" (8 grants) and "Education" (3 grants).

Who are Mather Fund's largest grantees?

Mather Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Everson Museum of Art ($40,000), Syracuse Stage ($40,000) and The Haven at Skanda ($33,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Mather Fund?

Mather Fund reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $252K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $242K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Mather Fund fund?

No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2025 grants include support designated for arts, social services, historical preservation, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Mather Fund?

The filing says to apply in writing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

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 2019–2025.

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

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
  3. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 18, 2020)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 23, 2021)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 6, 2022)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 26, 2023)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Mather Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mather-fund-morg_cc332c09184b456abe6cfc8a8f227b91

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_156018423_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Mather Fund funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/mather-fund-morg_cc332c09184b456abe6cfc8a8f227b91},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Mather Fund'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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