Pinkerton Foundation
The Pinkerton Foundation is an independent grantmaking organization based in New York, NY, established in 1966 by Robert Allan Pinkerton. It supports community-based programs for children, youth, and families in economically disadvantaged areas of New York City, with an emphasis on helping young people reach their full potential.
Key facts about Pinkerton Foundation
In short: Pinkerton Foundation gave $38.6M across 445 grants in 2023 (avg $87K), mostly in New York. 19% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-6206624
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023
- Annual giving (2023)
- $38,626,140
- Grants made (2023)
- 445
- Average grant
- $86,800
- Median grant
- $75,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (74 of 390, 2023)
- Total assets
- $689,062,497
- Primary geography
- New York (96% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Submit a brief letter of inquiry through the Grant Portal describing the organization and proposed project. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Letters of inquiry are welcome at any time.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pinkerton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32.3M for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Pinkerton Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 74 of 390 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $62K; repeat grants $108K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 72% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2020 to 2023 (+12%). Method
- In 2023 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs that provide young people with opportunities for academic development, career readiness, and cultural enrichment. Its stated interests also include programs offering a way forward for young people after an encounter with the criminal justice system or years in foster care. The foundation favors programs with engaging activities, supportive relationships with caring adults, high expectations, and opportunities for young people to learn, serve, and lead. It also supports internships and job-readiness programs, intergenerational programs, and hands-on STEM activities with career exploration.
Grants go to nonprofit public charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3). Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work: Community Connections for Youth describes its mission as creating community-led alternatives to incarceration and disrupting the youth prison pipeline; Friends of the Children–New York describes a focus on empowering youth facing significant obstacles through long-term professional mentoring; and The Door describes its work as providing comprehensive youth development services to help young people ages 12–24 reach their potential.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 445 grants totaling $38,626,140. Grants ranged from $500 to $850,000, with a median award of $75,000.
Among the largest 2023 awards were $850,000 to Good Shepherd Services for after-school and summer learning; $600,000 to the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School for youth and family justice; and $500,000 each to Community Connections for Youth and Tomorrow’s Leaders NYC for youth and family justice, and to Good Shepherd Services for after-school and summer learning. Other notable awards included $425,000 to Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation, $400,000 to Friends of the Children New York, and $350,000 to The Door – A Center of Alternatives, for after-school and summer learning or career readiness.
Review Cycle
Letters of inquiry are welcome at any time. The Board of Trustees meets twice a year, in May and December, and grant decisions are announced immediately after those meetings.
How to Apply
Submit a brief letter of inquiry through the Grant Portal describing the organization and proposed project. Applicants are asked to provide an organization budget, program budget, and board-member list. The foundation may request additional materials and arrange a site visit or meeting with senior staff if it decides to consider a formal proposal. It does not make grants to individuals or provide emergency assistance, and it does not support medical research, direct provision of health care, or religious education. It rarely funds conferences, publications, or media. Capital grants are rare and limited to organizations the foundation knows well, for projects that directly improve or expand supported programs.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Pinkerton Foundation
Ready to take the next step with Pinkerton Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on programs in New York City. In 2023, 96% of its grant dollars went to recipients in New York State; the remaining reported shares were California, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania at 1% each, and New Jersey at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 445 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $33.5M (2021) to $38.6M (2023). In 2023 it made 445 grants totaling $38.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Good Shepherd Services ($1.5M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,830 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 744 grants of 1,830 (41%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Good Shepherd Services New York, NY | After School & Summer Learning | $850,000 |
| Center for New York City Affairs at The New School New York, NY | Youth and Family Justice | $600,000 |
| Community Connections for Youth Inc Bronx, NY | Youth and Family Justice | $500,000 |
| Good Shepherd Services New York, NY | After school and summer learning | $500,000 |
| Tomorrow's Leaders NYC Inc Brooklyn, NY | Youth and Family Justice | $500,000 |
| Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation Inc New York, NY | After School & Summer Learning | $425,000 |
| Friends of the Children New York New York, NY | After School and Summer Learning | $400,000 |
| The Door - A Center of Alternatives Inc New York, NY | Career Readiness | $350,000 |
| Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation Inc Brooklyn, NY | Career Readiness | $340,000 |
| American Museum of Natural History New York, NY | Career Readiness || Career Readiness | $330,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $689,062,497 | $29,392,315 | $51,620,920 | $38,626,140 |
| 2022 | $649,124,106 | $13,020,940 | $50,193,972 | $37,711,417 |
| 2021 | $842,095,038 | $66,922,248 | $43,747,279 | $33,483,750 |
| 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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing listed Daniel L. Mosley as chairman; Richard M. Smith as president; Joan Colello as executive director emeritus; James Piereson as treasurer; and Marnie Pillsbury as secretary. Trustees listed were Robert Gould, Roy Weathers, and Heather A. Benjamin, along with Fatima Shama.
Pinkerton Foundation is led by Richard M. Smith, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 9 officers listed in 2023 are compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Richard M. Smith
President
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$427K (2020) → $469K (2023)
Daniel L. Mosley
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Gould
Trustee
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$200K (2020) → $250K (2023)
Fatima Shama
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roy Weathers
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather A. Benjamin
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Piereson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2023)
Joan Colello
Executive Director Emeritus
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marnie Pillsbury
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kenneth C. Halcom (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $469K, to Richard M Smith (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Grant Portal-Yvonne Schonborg
Mailing address: 610 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212) 332-3346
Website: https://thepinkertonfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Pinkerton Foundation
How much does Pinkerton Foundation give each year?
Pinkerton Foundation gave $38.6M across 445 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $37.7M across 462 grants.
What is Pinkerton Foundation's typical grant size?
Pinkerton Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $75,000, and its average grant was $86,800, across 445 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pinkerton Foundation that year got $62K on average.
Where does Pinkerton Foundation give grants?
Pinkerton Foundation gives mostly in New York: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (241 grants), Brooklyn, NY (60 grants), Bronx, NY (39 grants) and Washington, DC (9 grants).
Does Pinkerton Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 445 grants with a stated purpose on Pinkerton Foundation's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Career Readiness" (109 grants), "After School & Summer Learning" (104 grants) and "Trustee Discretionary" (59 grants).
Who are Pinkerton Foundation's largest grantees?
Pinkerton Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Good Shepherd Services ($1,451,000 across 4 grants), ExpandED Schools ($703,500 across 4 grants) and Friends of the Children New York ($650,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is Pinkerton Foundation?
Pinkerton Foundation reported $689.1M in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $42.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Pinkerton Foundation fund?
The foundation supports programs that provide young people with opportunities for academic development, career readiness, and cultural enrichment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pinkerton Foundation?
Submit a brief letter of inquiry through the Grant Portal describing the organization and proposed project. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Pinkerton Foundation's EIN?
Pinkerton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6206624. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Pinkerton Foundation by hand.
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