National Grid Foundation
The National Grid Foundation is a corporate foundation established in December 1998 and based in Hicksville, New York. It was created to enhance the quality of life across the service territory of National Grid, an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people in New York and Massachusetts. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has provided more than $43 million in grants to hundreds of nonprofit organizations since its inception.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$38.0M
-1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.4M
+67.6% YoY
Grant Count
91
-1.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$60K
+69.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, National Grid Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that create opportunities for the communities it serves, with the goal of helping to transform individuals' lives, neighborhoods, and cities. The Foundation positions itself as more than just a funding source, aiming to serve as a thought leader, key partner, and convener to create opportunities and bring about change that inspires people and transforms lives.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education (STEM and literacy)
- Community wellbeing and social determinants
- Environmental initiatives
- Community and economic development
- Employment and job training
- Community improvement and beautification
Areas the Foundation does not support:
- Capital campaigns, including purchasing vehicles
- Direct scholarships
- Conferences and seminars (cost of event location, tables, and guest speakers)
- General operating expenses, including transportation costs
- Endowment campaigns
- Individual grants
- Support for religious, political, fraternal, social, or other membership organizations
Grantmaking
Grant Range
and Activity:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation provides grants across its service territory, with primary focus on:
- New York (including Long Island, Brooklyn, and Upstate NY)
- Massachusetts (including Boston and the Merrimack Valley region)
- Rhode Island
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $38,704,340
- Total Revenue: $2,113,602
- Total Expenses: $5,546,659
- Net Income: -$3,433,057
- Total Liabilities: $118,000
Historical Context: The Foundation was established with an initial fund of $20 million, which was enhanced with an additional $10 million in 2000 and a further $5 million in 2007.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,959,519 | $38,704,340 | $32,881,952 |
| Revenue | $2,113,602 | $-1,007,488 | $2,100,708 |
| Expenses | $5,546,659 | $3,584,960 | $2,849,147 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,491,423 | $3,290,829 | $2,839,706 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,039,351 | $801,684 | $2,005,789 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,958,531 | $1,657,937 | $1,745,736 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from National Grid Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany ($300,000), Brooklyn Public Library ($70,000), Citizens Committee for Nyc ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN BROOKLYN, NY | NATIONAL GRID FOUNDATION SENIOR LEAP PROJECT | $20,000 |
| BARUCH COLLEGEBARUCH COLLEGE FUND NEW YORK, NY | IMPROVING VULNERABLE STUDENT OUTCOMES - SEEK PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| BEAM CENTER BROOKLYN, NY | SKILLCETT (SKILLS IN CRAFT EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL TRAINING) | $20,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF METRO WEST MARLBOROUGH, MA | CLEAN ENERGY LEADERS OF THE FUTURE | $20,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WAKEFIELD - STONEHAM STONEHAM, MA | ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM | $21,000 |
| BOSTON CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BOSTON, MA | ADULT EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE INITIATIVES | $15,000 |
| BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND BOSTON, MA | ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE | $20,000 |
| BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY BROOKLYN, NY | 2024 SUMMER READING PROGRAM INCLUDING STORYTEEN | $70,000 |
| BUFFALO ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER BUFFALO, NY | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC STABILITY | $30,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF ALBANY ALBANY, NY | 2022-2023 EMERGENCY ENERGY ASSISTANCE SERVICES | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Eileen R. Cohen - Chair, National Grid Foundation
- Robert Simmons - Executive Director, National Grid Foundation
- Edward White - Former Executive Director (served until June 2023)
Board members and executives work on a voluntary basis, receiving no compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EILEEN R COHEN | CHAIR | 1.3 | — |
| REV DR GARY V SIMPSON | VICE-CHAIR | 1.3 | — |
| CARMEN FIELDS | VICE-CHAIR | 1.3 | — |
| DON LOWERY | TREASURER | 0.35 | — |
| EBONE M CARRINGTON | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| CALVIN L CORRIDERS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| HON LOUIS ELISA II | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| MELANIE LITTLEJOHN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| LORRAINE LYNCH | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| AARON CHOO | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| CAROLINE HON | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| STEPHEN ZELKOWITZ | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| STEPHEN J WOERNER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| MARCY L REED | BOARD MEMBER UNTIL JAN. 2024 | 0.35 | — |
| ROBERT SIMMONS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**January 2024:** The Foundation kicked off its 25th Anniversary with a $550,000 gift supporting emergency heating and utility assistance programs across New York and Massachusetts
**February 2026:** Launched a Request for Proposals for $250,000 in general operating support grants to strengthen nonprofits in New York and Massachusetts
National Grid Foundation Launches RFP for $250,000 in General Operating Support**January 2026:** Announced $5 million in energy affordability and efficiency grants to support households and small businesses in New York and Massachusetts
National Grid and National Grid Foundation Announce $5 Million in Energy**March 2026:** Awarded $625,000 in grants to strengthen Long Island communities
National Grid Awards $625,000 in Grants to Strengthen Long Island CommunitiesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does National Grid Foundation fund?
The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that create opportunities for the communities it serves, with the goal of helping to transform individuals' lives, neighborhoods, and cities. The Foundation positions itself as more than just a funding source, aiming to serve as a thought leader, key partner, and convener to create opportunities and bring about change that inspires people and transforms lives. **Primary funding areas include:** • Education (STEM and literacy) • Community wellbeing…
How do I apply for a grant from National Grid Foundation?
**Grant Size and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $2,500 to $1,000,000 • Total giving in 2024: $5,439,800 • Total giving in 2023: approximately $3.2 million • The Foundation has awarded $1.5 million annually in recent years to emergency heating and utility assistance programs **Recent Grant Examples:** • United Way of Long Island: $350,000 for Project Warmth (2023) • United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley: $300,000 for The Family Fund - Emergency Heating Assistance (2…
Where does National Grid Foundation make grants?
The Foundation provides grants across its service territory, with primary focus on: • **New York** (including Long Island, Brooklyn, and Upstate NY) • **Massachusetts** (including Boston and the Merrimack Valley region) • **Rhode Island**
What size grants does National Grid Foundation award?
In 2024, National Grid Foundation awarded 91 grants totaling $5.4M — an average of about $60K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is National Grid Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, National Grid Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is National Grid Foundation's EIN?
National Grid Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3466416. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in National Grid 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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