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
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.
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:**
Ready to take the next step with Pinkerton Foundation?
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
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Good Shepherd Services ($850,000), Center for New York City Affairs at The New School ($600,000), Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation Inc ($425,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Culture For One New York, NY | After School & Summer Learning | $30,000 |
| Getting Out and Staying Out Inc New York, NY | Youth and Family Justice | $150,000 |
| Bronx Documentary Center Bronx, NY | Career Readiness | $50,000 |
| Breakthrough New York New York, NY | Education | $120,000 |
| BREATHE Circles Albany, NY | Youth and Family Justice | $100,000 |
| Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions Inc Brooklyn, NY | Youth and Family Justice | $200,000 |
| Life Camps Inc Jamaica, NY | Youth and Family Justice | $200,000 |
| America On Tech New York, NY | Career Readiness | $150,000 |
| BioBus Inc New York, NY | Career Readiness | $100,000 |
| Legal Outreach Inc Long Island City, NY | Education | $275,000 |
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 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Pinkerton Foundation fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from Pinkerton Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $400,000 to $850,000 • Total giving in 2023: $38,626,140 • Made 349+ grants in 2023 **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • Good Shepherd Services: $850,000 (After School & Summer Learning) • Tomorrows Leaders NYC: $500,000 (Youth and Family Justice) • Community Connections for Youth: $500,000 (Youth and Family Justice) • Friends of the Children NY: $1,500,000
Where does Pinkerton Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds programs in New York City, with some activity in Mississippi and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Pinkerton Foundation award?
In 2023, Pinkerton Foundation awarded 445 grants totaling $38.6M — an average of about $87K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Pinkerton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Pinkerton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pinkerton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Jewish Communal Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3.0B
Grants
4,673
Total Given
$953.3M
The Hyde and Watson Foundation
WARREN TOWNSHIP, NJ
Assets
$88.2M
Grants
611
Total Given
$6.1M
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
The New York Community Trust
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
The Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$518.0M
Grants
2,485
Total Given
$212.1M
American Express Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$48.9M
Grants
1,495
Total Given
$23.2M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Pinkerton Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Pinkerton Foundation to a real strategy.