Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation
The Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation is a private foundation based in Mansfield, Massachusetts. In 2025, it reported making 52 grants totaling $225,000 to charitable organizations.
Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation at a glance
In short: Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation gave $225K across 52 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Maine. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $225,000
- +4.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 52
- +18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,327
- -11.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $1,533,039
- -1.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (10 of 52, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maine (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Phineas W Sprague Memorial 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: P O Box 140, Mansfield, MA 02048-0140
Phone: (617) 624-0800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maine Medical Center ($44K). Together the top 10 received $112K.
Grant Size Distribution
235 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 235 grants of 235 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine. Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Vermont each accounted for 3%. The reported grants included organizations in Portland, Auburn, Cape Elizabeth, and other Maine communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 52 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $179K (2020) to $243K (2021). In 2025 it made 52 grants totaling $225K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Medical Center Portland, ME | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $43,500 |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank Auburn, ME | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $12,000 |
| Farms for Food Equity Cape Elizabeth, ME | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $11,000 |
| Cape Elizabeth High School Cape Elizabeth, ME | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $10,000 |
| American Chestnut Foundation Asheville, NC | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $6,000 |
| Ketcha Outdoors Scarborough, ME | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $6,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of New England Colchester, VT | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $6,000 |
| Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center Windham, ME | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $6,000 |
| Wayfinder Schools New Gloucester, ME | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $6,000 |
| Camp Community Arena Group Cape Elizabeth, ME | Primary purpose of the foundation to meet irs minimum distribution requirements | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,533,039 | $240,520 | $262,383 | $225,000 | 52 | $242,617 | $220,754 | $228,334 |
| 2024 | $1,554,653 | $196,112 | $253,958 | $215,000 | 44 | $232,368 | $174,522 | $224,682 |
| 2023 | $1,612,628 | $268,570 | $223,842 | $192,500 | 44 | $207,823 | $252,551 | $200,731 |
| 2022 | $1,570,153 | $129,250 | $234,599 | $194,000 | 47 | $210,585 | $105,236 | $207,917 |
| 2021 | $1,672,758 | $372,682 | $277,740 | $242,500 | 48 | $259,588 | $354,530 | $234,950 |
| 2020 | $1,578,650 | $205,560 | $214,467 | $178,500 | 35 | — | $183,769 | $189,760 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $228K for 2025 — 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 stated application policy says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its grantees’ missions illustrate the range of work among the organizations it supports. Good Shepherd Food Bank, for example, describes its mission as eliminating hunger in Maine by improving access to nutritious and culturally relevant food. Farms for Food Equity says it works toward access to nutritious food for Maine residents while supporting the stability of Maine farms. Cape Elizabeth Land Trust describes its work as conserving and stewarding land and easements in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
Other 2025 grantees include Wayfinder Schools, which says it helps students discover their strengths, contribute to their communities, and earn a high school diploma; Ketcha Outdoors, which aims to provide equitable access to outdoor experiences and gear; and Maine Preservation, which promotes and preserves historic places and strengthens Maine communities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 52 grants totaling $225,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $43,500, with a median grant of $3,000.
The largest reported grant was $43,500 to Maine Medical Center. Other notable 2025 grants included $12,000 to Good Shepherd Food Bank, $11,000 to Farms for Food Equity, and $10,000 to Cape Elizabeth High School. The American Chestnut Foundation received $6,000, as did Ketcha Outdoors, Planned Parenthood of New England, Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center, and Wayfinder Schools. Cape Elizabeth Land Trust received $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cate S Gilbane as president, F Whittington Foster as vice president, Eliza H S Rowe as treasurer, and Tilsley H Kelly as secretary.
Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation is led by Cate S. Gilbane, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cate S. Gilbane
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Eliza H. S. Rowe
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
F. Whittington Foster
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tilsley H. Kelly
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation
How much does Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation give each year?
Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation gave $225K across 52 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $215K across 44 grants.
What is Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation's typical grant size?
Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,327, across 52 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation give grants?
Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (20 grants), Cape Elizabeth, ME (6 grants), Scarborough, ME (4 grants) and Bath, ME (2 grants).
Does Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 52 grants with a stated purpose on Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation's largest grantees?
Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Maine Medical Center ($43,500), Good Shepherd Food Bank ($12,000) and Farms for Food Equity ($11,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation?
Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $243K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $228K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated application policy says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its grantees’ missions illustrate the range of work among the organizations it supports. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Phineas W Sprague Memorial 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 Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation's EIN?
Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6043554. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Phineas W Sprague Memorial 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/phineas-w-sprague-memorial-foundation-morg_f1048778e7f04bd0bc8dc364d5798a95
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046043554_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/phineas-w-sprague-memorial-foundation-morg_f1048778e7f04bd0bc8dc364d5798a95},
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 Phineas W Sprague Memorial 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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