Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation
The Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation is a private foundation located in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1956 by C.H. Sprague & Son Company, the foundation was established to honor P.W. Sprague (1860-1943) and continue his legacy of philanthropic giving to his community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$215K
+11.7% YoY
Grant Count
44
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+11.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $225K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to carrying on the philanthropic work begun over a century ago by Phineas Warren Sprague. The foundation focuses on four key areas of interest:
- Arts & Culture
- Education
- Social Services
- Environment & Agriculture
Grantmaking
The Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation has awarded more than 650 grants totaling nearly three million dollars throughout its history.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maine and the surrounding New England region, with documented grants to organizations in Maine and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $1,612,628
- Total revenues: $268,570
- Total expenses: $223,842
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,554,653 | $1,612,628 | $1,570,153 |
| Revenue | $196,112 | $268,570 | $129,250 |
| Expenses | $253,958 | $223,842 | $234,599 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $232,368 | $207,823 | $210,585 |
| Net Investment Income | $174,522 | $252,551 | $105,236 |
| Distributable Amount | $224,682 | $200,731 | $207,917 |
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
218 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Maine Medical Center ($40,000), American Chestnut Foundation ($10,000), Cape Elizabeth High School ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION ASHEVILLE, NC | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $10,000 |
| C THOMAS MEMORIAL LIBRARY CAPE ELIZABETH, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $1,000 |
| CAMP SUSAN CURTIS PORTLAND, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $5,000 |
| CAPE ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL CAPE ELIZABETH, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $10,000 |
| CAPE ELIZABETH LAND TRUST CAPE ELIZABETH, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $5,000 |
| CHEWONKI FOUNDATION WISCASSET, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $2,000 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM & THEATRE OF MAINE PORTLAND, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $2,000 |
| FARMS FOR FOOD EQUITY CAPE ELIZABETH, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF SEGUIN ISLAND LIGHT STATION BATH, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $5,000 |
| GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK AUBURN, ME | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS | $9,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATE S GILBANE | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| F WHITTINGTON FOSTER | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| ELIZA H S ROWE | TREASURER | — | — |
| TILSLEY H KELLY | SECRETARY | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to carrying on the philanthropic work begun over a century ago by Phineas Warren Sprague. The foundation focuses on four key areas of interest: • Arts & Culture • Education • Social Services • Environment & Agriculture
How do I apply for a grant from Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation?
The Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation has awarded more than 650 grants totaling nearly three million dollars throughout its history. **Recent Activity (2023):** • Made 35 grants in 2023 • Total grant distribution: approximately $191,000 (based on documented grants) • Recent grantees include The Women's Board of the Maine Medical Center ($40,000), Parents Forum of Cape Elizabeth High School ($10,000), The American Chestnut Foundation ($10,000), and Good Shepherd Food Bank The foundation prov…
Where does Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maine and the surrounding New England region, with documented grants to organizations in Maine and Massachusetts.
What size grants does Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation award?
In 2024, Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $215K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Phineas W Sprague Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $225K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Phineas W Sprague Memorial 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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