Pinkerton Foundation
The Pinkerton Foundation is an independent grantmaking organization established in 1966 and incorporated in Delaware. Based in New York City, the foundation supports community-based programs for children, youth, and families in economically disadvantaged areas. The foundation was founded by Robert Allan Pinkerton, a Harvard College graduate who served as chairman and CEO of Pinkerton's, Inc. for more than 35 years until his death in 1967. The foundation retains no connection with Pinkerton's, Inc., which was sold in 1983 and is now a subsidiary of Securitas AB.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$689.1M
+6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$38.6M
+2.4% YoY
Grant Count
445
-3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$87K
+6.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose is to provide giving to economically disadvantaged children, youth, and families, with support also for severely learning-disabled children and adults of borderline intelligence. The foundation is interested in endeavors that:
- Strengthen youth programming in poor communities
- Develop an individual's competencies and instill values
- Increase opportunities for young people to participate in society
Primary funding focus areas include:
- After-School and Summer Learning
- Career Readiness
- Education
- Youth and Family Justice
- Science education (The Pinkerton Science Scholars program)
- Leadership development (Pinkerton Advanced Leadership Network and Pinkerton Senior Leadership Network)
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds programs in New York City, with some activity in Mississippi and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $689,062,497
- Total Revenue: $29,392,315
- Total Expenses: $51,620,920
- Net Income: -$22,228,605
- Total Liabilities: $29,000,000
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $8,921,078
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $20,471,237
Tax Status:
- EIN: 13-6206624
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since August 1966
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $689,062,497 | $649,124,106 | $842,095,038 |
| Revenue | $29,392,315 | $13,020,940 | $66,922,248 |
| Expenses | $51,620,920 | $50,193,972 | $43,747,279 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $42,479,041 | $41,270,683 | $36,623,398 |
| Net Investment Income | $22,908,934 | $6,914,438 | $61,127,467 |
| Distributable Amount | $32,305,989 | $34,250,945 | $38,242,680 |
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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Pinkerton Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Richard M. Smith serves as President & CEO. The foundation employs 11 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL L MOSLEY | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| JOAN COLELLO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS | 1 | — |
| JAMES PIERESON | TREASURER | 2 | $25,000 |
| RICHARD M SMITH | PRESIDENT | 35 | $468,722 |
| ROBERT GOULD | TRUSTEE | 15 | $250,000 |
| MARNIE PILLSBURY | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| ROY WEATHERS | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| HEATHER A BENJAMIN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| FATIMA SHAMA | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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