Park Foundation Inc
Park Foundation Inc is a private, non-operating foundation based in Ithaca, New York. Established in 1966, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization with a focus on supporting public interest initiatives across multiple sectors. The foundation is structured as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and maintains tax-exempt status since January 1967.
Key facts about Park Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 16-6071043
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $30,387,989
- Grants made (2024)
- 457
- Average grant
- $66,495
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $406,024,147
- Primary geography
- New York (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Park Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Park Foundation Inc's 457 itemized 2024 grants were New York (33%), District of Columbia (22%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ithaca, NY (98 grants), Washington, DC (84 grants), New York, NY (47 grants) and San Francisco, CA (13 grants). 52% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (207 grants) and "Other" (11 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$406.0M
+5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$30.4M
-5.1% YoY
Grant Count
457
-5.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
+0.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Park Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $19.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Park Foundation provides support across several key priority areas:
- Democracy and Civic Participation
- Media and Public Interest Media
- Environment and Environmental Protection
- Animal Welfare
- Sustainable Ithaca
- Community Needs
- School Food & Nutrition
- Social Justice
The foundation emphasizes support for public broadcasting projects and maintains particular commitment to local organizations in Ithaca, New York.
Grantmaking
Notable grants include:
Grant Range
$5,000 to $250,000
How to Apply
New applicants typically begin with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), while returning grantees can submit full proposals directly
Ready to take the next step with Park Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in:
- New York
- District of Columbia
- California
Local emphasis on Ithaca, New York organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 457 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024
- Total Assets: $406,024,147
- Total Liabilities: $21,876,024
- Net Assets: $384,148,123
- Total Revenue: $34,324,264
- Total Expenses: $38,465,716
- Net Income: -$4,141,452
Revenue Composition (2024)
- Sales of Assets: $30,079,097 (87.6%)
- Interest Revenue: $2,302,488 (6.7%)
- Dividends: $1,904,508 (5.5%)
- Other Income: $37,319 (0.1%)
- Contributions Received: $852 (0.0%)
Expense Composition (2024)
- Charitable Disbursements: $32,509,193 (84.5%)
- Compensation of Officers: $308,334 (0.8%)
Historical Asset Growth
- 2011: $335.4 million
- 2024: $406 million
Fiscal Year 2023
- Total Assets: $383,671,762
- Total Revenue: $13,991,627
- Total Expenses: $33,679,514
- Grants Made: $49,982,226
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $406,024,147 | $383,671,762 | $374,209,039 |
| Revenue | $34,324,264 | $13,991,627 | $14,200,366 |
| Expenses | $38,465,716 | $33,679,514 | $34,742,392 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $33,396,030 | $35,212,594 | $35,361,157 |
| Net Investment Income | $30,640,726 | $10,552,934 | $9,253,200 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,728,330 | $17,198,104 | $20,048,047 |
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
2,368 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Park Foundation Inc
Park Foundation Grants: Civic Participation
PARK FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Park Foundation Grants: Democracy
PARK FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Park Foundation Grants: Sustainable Ithaca
PARK FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Tides Foundation ($740,000 across 5 grants), Center for Investigative Reporting ($670,000), Wgbh Educational Foundation ($600,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $670,000 |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| TIDES FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $420,000 |
| FREE PRESS FLORENCE, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $350,000 |
| GREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELEC ASSOC INC ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| FUND FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| GEORGIA ALLIANCE EDUCATION FUND ATLANTA, GA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| NEW VENTURE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| PROPUBLICA INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Historical Leadership
Roy H. Park (Founder, 1910-1993): Born in North Carolina, graduated from NC State University in 1931 with a degree in Business Administration. Established Park Communications, which grew to include 177 media properties. Upon his death in 1993, he bequeathed more than 70% of his holdings to the foundation.
Dorothy Dent Park (President, 1994-2010): Led the foundation through significant growth, expanding support to public broadcasting projects and establishing the Park Scholars Programs.
Alicia Park Wittink (began service 1998): Grantmaking interests include work on fresh water, youth, and toxics.
Current Structure
- Governed by 8 officers and trustees
- Staff: 19 employees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADELAIDE P GOMER | PRESIDENT | 9.53 | $50,000 |
| ALICIA P WITTINK | VICE PRESIDENT | 9.85 | $50,000 |
| DONNA F EDWARDS | DIRECTOR | 4.08 | $50,000 |
| JAY R HALFON | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 3.94 | $50,000 |
| JEROME B LIBIN | DIRECTOR | 0.06 | $8,333 |
| LISA GRAVES | DIRECTOR | 3.96 | $50,000 |
| RAY PAULTRE | DIRECTOR | 4.19 | $50,000 |
| RACHEL LEON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $281,108 |
Contact Information
Address: 140 Seneca Way, Suite 100, Ithaca, NY 14850-4396
Phone: (607) 272-9124
Website: parkfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Park Foundation Inc fund?
The Park Foundation provides support across several key priority areas: • Democracy and Civic Participation • Media and Public Interest Media • Environment and Environmental Protection • Animal Welfare • Sustainable Ithaca • Community Needs • School Food & Nutrition • Social Justice The foundation emphasizes support for public broadcasting projects and maintains particular commitment to local organizations in Ithaca, New York.
How do I apply for a grant from Park Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total grants provided: $30.4 million • Number of grantees: 550 • Multi-year grantees: 65% **Grant Characteristics** • Grant range: $5,000 to $250,000 • Application process: New applicants typically begin with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), while returning grantees can submit full proposals directly • Status: Currently open for unsolicited proposals **Recent Grantees (2023)** Notable grants include: • Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association (WETA): $…
Where does Park Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in: • New York • District of Columbia • California Local emphasis on Ithaca, New York organizations.
What size grants does Park Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Park Foundation Inc awarded 457 grants totaling $30.4M — an average of about $66K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Park Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Park Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $19.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Park Foundation Inc's EIN?
Park Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6071043. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Park Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated June 2026.