McChord Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Norwalk, CT EIN: 36-4969620

The McChord Foundation is a private foundation based in Norwalk, Connecticut. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations including a science museum, schools, community organizations, a medical center, and organizations responding to humanitarian needs.

McChord Foundation at a glance

In short: McChord Foundation gave $6.6M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $331K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$6,620,000
+50.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
20
-62.3% vs 2023
Average grant
$331,000
+298.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$130,000
Total assets
$182,011,839
+4.5% vs 2023
Primary geography
Massachusetts (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to McChord Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 50 Day Street, Norwalk, CT 06854
Phone: (617) 548-2089

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

Who McChord Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Museum of Science: $1.2MMuseum of Science$1.2MDonorschoose: $1.0MDonorschoose$1.0MBeloved Asheville: $750KBeloved Asheville$750KWorld Central Kitchen Inc: $750KWorld Central Kitchen Inc$750KManresa Island Corp: $500KManresa Island Corp$500KNorthfield Mount Hermon School: $500KNorthfield Mount Hermon School$500KNewtown Forest Association: $475KNewtown Forest Association$475KBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: $250KBeth Israel Deaconess MedicalCenter$250KLet Grow: $250KLet Grow$250KFraser Woods Montessori School: $170K across 2 grantsFraser Woods Montessori School$170K · 2 grants

The largest 2024 recipient was Museum of Science ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $5.8M.

Grant Size Distribution

77 grants across all recorded years

41<$50K10$50–100K11$100–250K6$250–500K5$500K–1M4$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 77 (53%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Massachusetts (29%), Connecticut (26%), New York (19%), North Carolina (11%), and Washington, DC (11%).

Grant Distribution by State

19states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.

Cities

NewtownNew YorkAustinBostonPittsburghBrooklynDurhamFraminghamGeorgetownLongmontMarlboroughNorwalkWiltonActonAshvilleAvonBaltimoreBurlingameDecaturDenver

How McChord Foundation gives

  • 16% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 67% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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$2M$4M$6M$8M0 grants2021 4 grants2022 53 grants2023 20 grants2024

From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $425K (2022) to $6.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $6.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Museum of Science Boston, MAGeneral$1,200,000
Donorschoose New York, NYGeneral$1,000,000
Beloved Asheville Ashville, NCGeneral$750,000
World Central Kitchen Inc Washington DC, DCGeneral$750,000
Manresa Island Corp Norwalk, CTGeneral$500,000
Northfield Mount Hermon School Mount Hermon, MAGeneral$500,000
Newtown Forest Association Newtown, CTGeneral$475,000
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MAGeneral$250,000
Let Grow New York, NYGeneral$250,000
Heifer Project International Little Rock, ARGeneral$140,000
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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
2024$182,011,839$15,459,876$7,660,975$6,620,00020$6,634,900$14,693,801$9,830,788
2023$174,212,938$6,284,553$5,496,860$4,405,00053$4,427,562$5,240,255$8,968,379
2022$173,425,245$173,984,720$559,475$425,0004$425,000$853,197$2,479,391

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, McChord Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.8M for 2024 — 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 2024 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, the Museum of Science says its mission is to inspire a lifelong love of science and make science accessible and engaging. Northfield Mount Hermon School says it educates students’ intellect, compassion, and talents, while World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Newtown Forest Association says it works to secure the benefits of open space lands for Newtown residents and future generations.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $6,620,000. Awards ranged from $50,000 to $1,200,000, with a median grant of $130,000. In 2023, it made 53 grants totaling $4,405,000; in 2022, it made 4 grants totaling $425,000.

Among its largest 2024 grants were $1,200,000 to the Museum of Science, $1,000,000 to DonorsChoose, $750,000 to Beloved Asheville, $750,000 to World Central Kitchen, and $500,000 to Manresa Island Corp. Other awards included $500,000 to Northfield Mount Hermon School, $475,000 to Newtown Forest Association, and $250,000 each to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Let Grow.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Austin McChord, Holt McChord, and Kendall Horch as directors.

McChord Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Austin McChord

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Holt McChord

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kendall Horch

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 McChord Foundation

How much does McChord Foundation give each year?

McChord Foundation gave $6.6M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.4M across 53 grants.

What is McChord Foundation's typical grant size?

McChord Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $130,000, and its average grant was $331,000, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does McChord Foundation give grants?

McChord Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (26%) and New York (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Newtown, CT (7 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).

Does McChord Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of McChord Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are McChord Foundation's largest grantees?

McChord Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Museum of Science ($1,200,000), Donorschoose ($1,000,000) and Beloved Asheville ($750,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is McChord Foundation?

McChord Foundation reported $182.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does McChord Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, the Museum of Science says its mission is to inspire a lifelong love of science and make science accessible and engaging. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from McChord Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is McChord Foundation's EIN?

McChord Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4969620. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.

Does McChord Foundation 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

(4)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  4. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). McChord Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mcchord-foundation-morg_c6157a7cf0394f9aa5132bd638e98d15

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364969620_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{McChord Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/mcchord-foundation-morg_c6157a7cf0394f9aa5132bd638e98d15},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 McChord Foundation'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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