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Pen American Center Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 13-3447888 Website

Pen American Center, inc. Is an association of writers and others in the literary community working to defend free expression, advance literature, and foster international literary fellowship.

Pen American Center Inc at a glance

In short: Pen American Center Inc gave $144K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $29K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$144,473
-74.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
5
+66.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$28,895
-84.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$17,750
Total assets
$45,658,360
-4.5% vs 2023
Primary geography
New York (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

How to apply to Pen American Center Inc

Who Pen American Center Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

Bard College: $72KBard College$72KFactchequeando: $18KFactchequeando$18KThe Texas Tribune: $18KThe Texas Tribune$18KConecta Arizona: $18KConecta Arizona$18K

The largest 2024 recipient was Bard College ($72K). Together the top 4 received $125K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($19,500), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

8 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K1$50–100K1$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 8 (63%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.

Cities

AnnandaleonhudsonAustinCarmichaelDallasPheonixSarasota

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1MTotal only2020 Total only2021 Total only2022 3 grants2023 5 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $144K (2024) to $857K (2022). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $144K.

Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Bard College Annandaleonhudson, NYRussian Independent Media Archive (Rima) Subgrant$72,223
1 grant to individuals Recipients not named —$19,500
Factchequeando Carmichael, CANonpartisan Anti-Disinformation Initiatives$17,750
The Texas Tribune Austin, TXNonpartisan Anti-Disinformation Initiatives$17,500
Conecta Arizona Pheonix, TXNonpartisan Anti-Disinformation Initiatives$17,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$45,658,360$15,931,942$25,197,771$144,4735$2,140,309
2023$47,830,208$21,777,695$20,250,417$563,8573$90,236
2022$45,475,752$25,786,149$16,101,224$856,871Total only$538,802
2021$36,781,487$29,059,092$10,783,207$299,324Total only$295,674
2020$18,457,364$14,855,317$9,702,620$367,220Total only$115,718

"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

About Pen American Center Inc

Based on IRS filings

Pen American Center Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $45.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $144K. Net investment income was $2.1M.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Pen American Center Inc is led by Suzanne Nossel, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 10 of 51 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Suzanne Nossel

    Chief Executive Officer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $399K (2020) → $450K (2024)

  • Jennifer Finney Boylan

    President

    Trustee → President, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Allison Lee

    Managing Director

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $201K (2023) → $236K (2024)

  • Jonathan Friedman

    Managing Director & Free Exp

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $227K (2024)

  • Shawnna Jannah

    Managing Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $202K (2024)

  • Alix Ritchie

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew Solomon

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ayad Akhtar

    Trustee

    President → Vice President, 2023

    Vice President → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bridget Colman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Hemmerdinger

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Franklin Leonard

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • James Hannaham

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jamie Wolf

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Chao

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lauren Embrey

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lynn Nottage

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Margaret Munzer Loeb

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Pietsch

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patricia Fili-Krushel

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Muldoon

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard Sarnoff

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Roxanne Donovan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sean Kelly

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Choi

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tom Healy

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Yvonne Marsh

    Trustee

    Treasurer → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Zachary Karabell

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anya Salama

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Luis Alberto Urrea

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter Barbey

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tara Westover

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Allison Markin Powell

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ken Miller

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Krystyna Poray Goddu

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • George Packer

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Margo Lowy

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patricia Duff

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Suzy Wahba

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jodi Picoult

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Linda Johnson

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf

    Chief Program Officer & Lit Program

    Senior Director & Literary → Chief Program Officer & Literary Prg, 2022

    Chief Program Officer & Literary Prg → Chief Program Officer & Lit Program, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $123K (2020) → $282K (2024)

  • Olakunle Apampa

    Chief Financial Officer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $190K (2020) → $337K (2024)

  • Summer Lopez

    Chief Program Officer & Free Exp

    Chief Program Officer & Free Expression → Chief Program Officer & Free Exp., 2023

    Chief Program Officer & Free Exp. → Chief Program Officer & Free Exp, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $150K (2020) → $264K (2024)

  • Geraldine Baum

    Chief Communications Officer

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $190K (2023) → $230K (2024)

  • Kimberly Thomas

    Chief Operating Officer

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $212K (2024)

  • Maayan Dauber

    Chief Development Officer

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $214K (2024)

  • Dinaw Mengestu

    Vice President

    Trustee → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Markus Dohle

    Treasurer

    Executive Vice President → Executive Vice President & Treasurer, 2023

    Executive Vice President & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marvin Putnam

    Vice President

    Trustee → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tracy Higgins

    Executive Vice President

    Vice President → Executive Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marie Arana

    Vice President

    Trustee → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (19)
  • Former: Deborah Wilson (2020–2023) — Chief Development Officer
  • Former: Min Jin Lee (2020–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Wesley Morris (2022–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Drusilla Menaker To (2023) — Chief Operating Officer
  • Former: Drusilla Menaker (2020–2022) — Chief Operating Officer
  • Former: Gregory Pardlo (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Masha Gessen (2020–2022) — Vice President
  • Former: Sevil Miyhandar (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Julie Trebault (2022) — Director
  • Former: Nadine Farid Johnson (2022) — Managing Director
  • Former: Alexandra Munroe (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Jacob Weisberg (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Jeanmarie Fenrich (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Jennifer Egan (2020–2021) — Treasurer
  • Former: Matthew Bailey (2021) — Program Director & Digital Freedom
  • Former: Stephen Fee (2021) — Senior Director & Communications
  • Former: Welsey Morris (2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Michelle Meyering (2020) — Executive Director & Los Angeles
  • Former: Thomas Melia (2020) — Senior Director & Washington

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

Suzanne Nossel — Chief Executive Officer: $450KSuzanne NosselChief Executive Officer$450KOlakunle Apampa — Chief Financial Officer: $337KOlakunle ApampaChief Financial Officer$337KClarisse Rosaz Shariyf — Chief Program Officer, Lit Prog: $282KClarisse Rosaz ShariyfChief Program Officer, Lit Prog$282KSummer Lopez — Chief Program Officer, Free EXP: $264KSummer LopezChief Program Officer, Free EXP$264KAllison Lee — Managing Director, LA: $236KAllison LeeManaging Director, LA$236KGeraldine Baum — Chief Communications Officer: $230KGeraldine BaumChief Communications Officer$230KJonathan Friedman — Managing Director, Free EXP: $227KJonathan FriedmanManaging Director, Free EXP$227KMaayan Dauber — Chief Development Officer: $214KMaayan DauberChief Development Officer$214KKimberly Thomas — Chief Operating Officer: $212KKimberly ThomasChief Operating Officer$212KShawnna Jannah — Managing Director/HR: $202KShawnna JannahManaging Director/HR$202K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $450K, to Suzanne Nossel (Chief Executive Officer). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Pen American Center Inc

How much does Pen American Center Inc give each year?

Pen American Center Inc gave $144K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $564K across 3 grants.

What is Pen American Center Inc's typical grant size?

Pen American Center Inc's median grant in 2024 was $17,750, and its average grant was $28,895, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Pen American Center Inc give grants?

Pen American Center Inc gives mostly in New York: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (24%) and Florida (13%).

Does Pen American Center Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Pen American Center Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Nonpartisan Anti-Disinformation Initiatives" (3 grants).

Who are Pen American Center Inc's largest grantees?

Pen American Center Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Bard College ($72,223), Factchequeando ($17,750) and The Texas Tribune ($17,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($19,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Pen American Center Inc?

Pen American Center Inc reported $45.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.9M.

What is Pen American Center Inc?

Pen American Center Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in New York, NY. It holds $45.7M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Pen American Center Inc's EIN?

Pen American Center Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3447888. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 24, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Pen American Center 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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