Oedipus Foundation
The Oedipus Foundation is a private foundation based in Dover, Massachusetts. It makes grants to charitable organizations, theater, and the arts, and its website describes its interests as “Artistic Offense,” “Environmental Defense,” and “Lifve Longevity.”
Oedipus Foundation at a glance
In short: Oedipus Foundation gave $26K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Massachusetts. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $26,489
- -15.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- -25.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,152
- +14.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $229,189
- +6.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (2 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (82% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Oedipus 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: PO Box 373, Dover, MA 02030
Phone: (617) 731-1222
Website: https://www.oedipus1.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Oedipus Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Servings ($12K). Together the top 10 received $22K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 97 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Massachusetts recipients received 82% of grant dollars. Oregon, New Mexico, Washington, D.C., and New York each received 4%. These figures describe the distribution of that year’s grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Oedipus Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 22 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $267 repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 277% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2021) to $31K (2023). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $26K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Servings Jamaica Plain, MA | Unrestricted | $12,240 |
| Various Charities Dover, MA | Unrestricted | $2,104 |
| Asian Task Force Lowell, MA | Unrestricted | $1,223 |
| Bellforge Arts Center Medfield, MA | Unrestricted | $1,041 |
| Bustin' Barriers Portland, OR | Unrestricted | $1,041 |
| Dover Land Conservation Trust Dover, MA | Unrestricted | $1,041 |
| Non-Event Jamaica Plain, MA | Unrestricted | $1,041 |
| Stop Handgun Violence Beverly, MA | Unrestricted | $1,041 |
| Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Ramah, NM | Unrestricted | $1,041 |
| Conservation Law Foundation Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $1,041 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $229,189 | $54,912 | $41,055 | $26,489 | 23 | $26,489 | $43,469 | $9,555 |
| 2023 | $215,332 | $34,211 | $36,424 | $31,199 | 31 | $31,199 | $26,929 | $9,586 |
| 2022 | $217,545 | $92,628 | $29,294 | $23,905 | 22 | $23,905 | $85,632 | $7,785 |
| 2021 | $154,211 | $24,860 | $23,553 | $20,080 | 13 | $20,080 | $5,957 | $7,413 |
| 2020 | $152,904 | $54,147 | $23,051 | $21,056 | 8 | — | $14,147 | $4,394 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Oedipus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K 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
The foundation’s website describes its dedication to artistic offense, environmental defense, and “Lifve Longevity.” Its 2024 filing says its charitable activities consist of making grants to charitable organizations, theater, and the arts.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate varied work. Community Servings says its mission is to provide medically tailored meals and groceries to chronically and critically ill people and their families. Dover Land Conservation Trust says it works to protect Dover’s natural resources. Conservation Law Foundation says it protects New England’s environment, while Stop Handgun Violence says it raises public awareness about gun violence. Zumix says it works with young people through music, technology, and creative employment.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $26,489. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $12,240, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest grant was $12,240 to Community Servings. Other notable grants included $2,104 to Various Charities; $1,223 to Asian Task Force; and $1,041 each to Bellforge Arts Center, Bustin’ Barriers, Dover Land Conservation Trust, Non-Event, Stop Handgun Violence, Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, Conservation Law Foundation, and GlobalGiving. The listed grant purposes were unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Edward Hyson as trustee.
Oedipus Foundation is led by Edward Hyson, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edward Hyson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Oedipus Foundation
How much does Oedipus Foundation give each year?
Oedipus Foundation gave $26K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $31K across 31 grants.
What is Oedipus Foundation's typical grant size?
Oedipus Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,152, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Oedipus Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Oedipus Foundation give grants?
Oedipus Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dover, MA (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and Jamaica Plain, MA (2 grants).
Does Oedipus Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Oedipus Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Oedipus Foundation's largest grantees?
Oedipus Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Servings ($12,240), Asian Task Force ($1,223) and Bellforge Arts Center ($1,041), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Oedipus Foundation?
Oedipus Foundation reported $229K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $26K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Oedipus Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its dedication to artistic offense, environmental defense, and “Lifve Longevity.” Its 2024 filing says its charitable activities consist of making grants to charitable organizations, theater, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oedipus 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 Oedipus Foundation's EIN?
Oedipus Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6999201. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Oedipus 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Oedipus 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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