Park Foundation Inc
Park Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Ithaca, New York. It supports nonprofit partners, from grassroots programs in Tompkins County to initiatives with national impact, across areas including the environment, democracy, media, civic participation, animal welfare, and community needs.
Park Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Park Foundation Inc gave $30.4M across 457 grants in 2024 (avg $66K), top state New York. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $30,387,989
- -5.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 457
- -5.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $66,495
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $406,024,147
- +5.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (64 of 376, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (33% 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 Park Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written request identifying the organization and purpose of funds. The foundation’s website encourages use of its application portal and recommends contacting the foundation before submitting a full proposal.
- Review Cycle
- Quarterly deadlines; the filing states that dates vary by year and fall on the first Friday of each quarter.
- Deadline
- Quarterly deadlines; the filing states that dates vary by year and fall on the first Friday of each quarter.
- Contact
Application contact: Park Foundation Inc
Mailing address: PO Box 550, Ithaca, NY 14851
Phone: (607) 272-9124
Website: https://parkfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Park Foundation Inc
Park Foundation Grants: Civic Participation
Park Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Park Foundation Grants: Democracy
Park Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Park Foundation Grants: Sustainable Ithaca
Park Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Park Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tides Foundation ($740K across 5 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
2,368 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,192 grants of 2,368 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports work locally in Ithaca and Tompkins County as well as initiatives with national impact. In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were distributed as follows: New York, 33%; District of Columbia, 22%; California, 12%; Massachusetts, 7%; and Pennsylvania, 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 457 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Park Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 64 of 376 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $89K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $65K repeat.
- 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 169% 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 $30.4M (2024) to $32.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 457 grants totaling $30.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with Park Foundation Inc?
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 | $406,024,147 | $34,324,264 | $38,465,716 | $30,387,989 | 457 | $33,396,030 | $30,640,726 | $19,728,330 |
| 2023 | $383,671,762 | $13,991,627 | $33,679,514 | $32,008,612 | 483 | $35,212,594 | $10,552,934 | $17,198,104 |
| 2022 | $374,209,039 | $14,200,366 | $34,742,392 | $31,489,953 | 456 | $35,361,157 | $9,253,200 | $20,048,047 |
| 2021 | $505,545,130 | $75,092,084 | $37,574,630 | $31,759,561 | 513 | $33,458,119 | $54,258,724 | $21,656,125 |
| 2020 | $441,658,371 | $31,775,654 | $32,657,217 | $30,488,558 | 459 | — | $26,914,598 | $17,650,314 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Park Foundation’s mission is to advance a more just, equitable, and sustainable society and environment nationally and in the Ithaca community. Its stated approach is principled, strategic, collaborative, nimble, and innovative, with a commitment to challenging threats to independent media, robust democracy, and the planet’s future.
Its eight primary program areas are Environment; Civic Participation; Media; Democracy; Community Needs; Sustainable Ithaca; Animal Welfare; and School Food & Nutrition. The foundation’s website describes support for environmental policy, advocacy, organizing, and corporate responsibility; voter rights, election integrity, and year-round civic engagement; public-interest media; democracy and good governance; low-income residents of Tompkins County; sustainability in Ithaca and Tompkins County; wildlife protection and conservation; and nutritional security for Tompkins County residents.
The 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. WGBH Educational Foundation describes its work as providing programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain while fostering citizenship, culture, learning, and diverse perspectives. The Project on Government Oversight describes itself as a nonpartisan, independent watchdog investigating and exposing corruption, abuse of power, and waste, and advocating reforms. Chef Ann Foundation says it works to equip school food professionals to provide fresh, healthy, made-from-scratch meals that support children’s health and the planet.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 457 grants totaling $30,387,989. Grants ranged from $50 to $670,000, with a median grant of $50,000. Selected large grants included $670,000 to Center for Investigative Reporting, $600,000 to WGBH Educational Foundation, $500,000 to Tides Foundation, $420,000 to Project on Government Oversight, and $350,000 to Free Press. The listed purposes for these grants were general operating support. Other notable awards included $250,000 to Georgia Alliance Education Fund for project support and $225,000 to Chef Ann Foundation for project support.
The foundation’s website encourages prospective grantees to contact it before submitting a full proposal and encourages use of its proposal and letter-of-inquiry portal. Letters of inquiry are accepted at any time for the Democracy, Civic Participation, and Animal Welfare programs; those program guidelines advise applicants not to submit a full proposal after an LOI unless contacted by staff. The foundation accepts requests for general operating support and multi-year grants, subject to program fit and other factors. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, or have an eligible fiscal sponsor; the foundation does not fund individuals, for-profit entities, endowments, or debt reduction. Capital grants are highly selective and generally limited to nonprofits in Tompkins County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Adelaide P Gomer as president; Alicia P Wittink as vice president; Donna F Edwards, Jerome B Libin, Lisa Graves, and Ray Paultre as directors; Jay R Halfon as secretary/treasurer; and Rachel Leon as executive director.
Park Foundation Inc is led by Adelaide P. Gomer, President on every filing since 2020; all 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adelaide P. Gomer
President
On filings since 2020
9.5 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Rachel Leon
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$29K (2020) → $281K (2024)
Donna F. Edwards
Director
On filings since 2020
4.1 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Jerome B. Libin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $8K (2024)
Lisa Graves
Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
$13K (2023) → $50K (2024)
Ray Paultre
Director
On filings since 2023
4.2 hrs/week
$13K (2023) → $50K (2024)
Alicia P. Wittink
Vice President
On filings since 2020
9.9 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Jay R. Halfon
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3.9 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Richard G. Robb (2020) — Senior Advisor
- Former: William L. Bondurant (2020) — Senior Advisor
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $281K, to Rachel Leon (Executive Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Park Foundation Inc
How much does Park Foundation Inc give each year?
Park Foundation Inc gave $30.4M across 457 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $32.0M across 483 grants.
What is Park Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Park Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $66,495, across 457 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Park Foundation Inc that year got $43K on average.
Where does Park Foundation Inc give grants?
Park Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were 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).
Does Park Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 52% of Park Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (239 of 457) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (207 grants) and "Other" (11 grants).
Who are Park Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Park Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Tides Foundation ($740,000 across 5 grants), Center for Investigative Reporting ($670,000) and WGBH Educational Foundation ($600,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Park Foundation Inc?
Park Foundation Inc reported $406.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Park Foundation Inc fund?
Park Foundation’s mission is to advance a more just, equitable, and sustainable society and environment nationally and in the Ithaca community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Park Foundation Inc?
Submit a written request identifying the organization and purpose of funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Park Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Park Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/park-foundation-inc-morg_6203496b8dc24421a7bc118ee6409fb9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_166071043_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Park Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/park-foundation-inc-morg_6203496b8dc24421a7bc118ee6409fb9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Park Foundation Inc'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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