The Peter G. Peterson Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in New York City with over $1 billion in assets. Established in 2008 by Peter G. Peterson (1926–2018), the foundation operates as a nonpartisan organization dedicated to addressing America's long-term fiscal challenges and promoting sustainable economic solutions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1B
+8.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$25.0M
-5.8% YoY
Grant Count
75
+2.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$333K
-8.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Peter G Peterson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to increase public awareness of the nature and urgency of key fiscal challenges threatening America's future and to accelerate action on them. The foundation works to bring Americans together to find and implement sensible, long-term solutions that transcend age, party lines, and ideological divides.
Primary focus areas include:
- Health Care: Healthcare administration and financing, healthcare finance
- Public Affairs: Democracy, civic participation, public administration, public finance
- National Security
- Fiscal Sustainability: Education, awareness, and engagement initiatives to improve Americans' understanding of and participation in supporting fiscal sustainability and economic resiliency
- Democracy: Strengthening and building trust in democracy, fostering conditions that support constructive policymaking
Grantmaking
The foundation provides grants to fund a variety of projects and organizations that advance its mission, including research organizations, foundations, universities, associations, and other nonprofit entities. Grants support education, engagement, and research projects related to the nation's long-term fiscal outlook, healthcare performance, and functioning democracy.
Grant Range
$100,000
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, with particular focus on:
- New York
- Washington, D.C.
- California
- Los Angeles
- Additional states: Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, Washington
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $1,095,437,638
- Total Revenue: $44,626,096
- Total Expenses: $50,237,445
- Total Giving: $24,968,422
- Giving Rate: 2.3% of assets
Historical Trends:
- 2023: $1.0B assets, $26.5M total giving, 73 grants
- 2022: $1.1B assets, $29.9M total giving, 88 grants
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,095,437,638 | $1,010,138,977 | $1,055,700,983 |
| Revenue | $44,626,096 | $10,201,057 | $50,280,779 |
| Expenses | $50,237,445 | $42,851,094 | $45,255,827 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $47,912,584 | $50,622,552 | $47,921,634 |
| Net Investment Income | $26,253,931 | $6,001,648 | $48,644,849 |
| Distributable Amount | $52,784,130 | $50,478,530 | $50,028,411 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Peter G Peterson Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Election Trust Initiative Llc ($5,000,000), Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget ($2,543,545), Milbank Memorial Fund ($1,810,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO SUPPORT EVENTS AND CORE ACTIVITIES. | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN ACTION FORUM INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE NATION'S LONG-TERM FISCAL CHALLENGES, AS PART OF THE PETER G. PETERSON FOUNDATION SOLUTIONS INITIATIVE. | $206,250 |
| AMERICAN ACTION FORUM INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE PETER G. PETERSON FOUNDATION FISCAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. | $5,860 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE NATION'S LONG-TERM FISCAL CHALLENGES, AS PART OF THE PETER G. PETERSON FOUNDATION SOLUTIONS INITIATIVE. | $206,250 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT EVENTS AND CORE ACTIVITIES. | $25,000 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT EVENTS AND CORE ACTIVITIES. | $13,500 |
| BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO ADVANCE BIPARTISAN FISCAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY SOLUTIONS THROUGH RESEARCH AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. | $425,000 |
| BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO PRODUCE BIPARTISAN RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ON FISCAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING POLICIES TO RECOVER FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. | $250,000 |
| BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO ANALYZE CURRENT TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN DIGITAL HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY, AND ITS ROLE IN IMPROVING QUALITY AND LOWERING COSTS. | $225,000 |
| BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE NATION'S LONG-TERM FISCAL CHALLENGES, AS PART OF THE PETER G. PETERSON FOUNDATION SOLUTIONS INITIATIVE. | $206,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Leadership:
- Michael A. Peterson – Director, Chairman & CEO
- Brett Loper – Executive Vice President of Policy
- Loretta Ucelli – Executive Vice President, Strategy & Communications
- Laura Gordon – Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
- Suk Yun Won – Chief Operating Officer
- Myra Sung – Vice President, Programs
- Jeffrey Holland – Vice President, Research
- Prabhjot Singh – Senior Advisor, Strategy
- Mairin Mancino – Vice President, Policy
- Caroline Pearson – Executive Director, PCH, PHTI
- Susan Tanaka – Senior Policy Advisor
Board Members:
- Joan Ganz Cooney – Director
- Michael Shankman – Treasurer
The foundation employs approximately 49 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL A PETERSON | DIRECTOR, CHAIRMAN & CEO | 40 | — |
| JOAN GANZ COONEY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL SHANKMAN | TREASURER | 10 | — |
| SUK YUN WON | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $453,375 |
| LORETTA UCELLI | EVP - STRATEGY & COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $243,340 |
| JEFFREY HOLLAND | VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH | 40 | $312,787 |
| LAURA GORDON | VP, COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS | 40 | $295,667 |
| MYRA SUNG | VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMS | 40 | $269,508 |
| CAROLINE PEARSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PCH, PHTI | 40 | $494,546 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several significant grants in recent years:
BFI Announces 11 New Research Grants Funded by $1M Peter G. Peterson Foundation**Becker Friedman Institute**: $1 million grant for pandemic response policy research, funding 11 new research grants
The Becker Friedman Institute Announces $1 Million Grant from the Peter G.**Howard University and WISER**: $1.9 million grant to support increased diversity in the field of economics
The Becker Friedman Institute Announces $1 Million Grant from the Peter G.**US 2050 Initiative**: Joint grant announcement with the Ford Foundation
BFI Announces 11 New Research Grants Funded by $1M Peter G. Peterson FoundationThe foundation publishes an annual Impact Report (2018–2025) outlining its nonpartisan work to strengthen the economic and democratic foundations of the United States.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Peter G Peterson Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to increase public awareness of the nature and urgency of key fiscal challenges threatening America's future and to accelerate action on them. The foundation works to bring Americans together to find and implement sensible, long-term solutions that transcend age, party lines, and ideological divides. Primary focus areas include: • **Health Care**: Healthcare administration and financing, healthcare finance • **Public Affairs**: Democracy, civic participation, public …
How do I apply for a grant from Peter G Peterson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Distributes approximately $25 million annually • Made 75 grants in 2024 • Median grant size: $100,000 • Grant range: $3,800 to $5,000,000 • Application status: Open to applications **Grant Types:** The foundation provides grants to fund a variety of projects and organizations that advance its mission, including research organizations, foundations, universities, associations, and other nonprofit entities. Grants support education, engagement, and research projects related t…
Where does Peter G Peterson Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, with particular focus on: • New York • Washington, D.C. • California • Los Angeles • Additional states: Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, Washington
What size grants does Peter G Peterson Foundation award?
In 2024, Peter G Peterson Foundation awarded 75 grants totaling $25.0M — an average of about $333K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Peter G Peterson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Peter G Peterson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Peter G Peterson Foundation's EIN?
Peter G Peterson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0316905. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Peter G Peterson 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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