Pioneer Institute Inc
Pioneer Institute empowers americans with choices and opportunities to live freely and thrive. Through expert research, educational initiatives, legal action, and coalition-building, we advance human potential in four critical areas: k-12 education, health, economic opportunity and American civic values.
Pioneer Institute Inc at a glance
In short: Pioneer Institute Inc gave $886K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $443K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $885,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- Average grant
- $442,750
- Median grant
- $442,750
- Total assets
- $11,078,748
- +17.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Pioneer Institute Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Massvision Foundation ($811K). Together the top 2 received $886K.
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 1 grant of 2 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $886K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massvision Foundation Burlington, MA | Conducting research and promotion activities related to the advancement of Massachusetts' economic competitiveness. | $810,500 |
| Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance Burlington, MA | Conducting research and promotion activities related to the advancement of Massachusetts' economic competitiveness. | $75,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,078,748 | $7,314,648 | $5,827,893 | $885,500 | 2 | $188,035 |
| 2024 | $9,427,349 | $5,946,434 | $4,694,380 | — | — | $229,205 |
| 2023 | $7,478,638 | $4,549,833 | $4,064,353 | — | — | $114,703 |
| 2022 | $6,530,222 | $4,174,169 | $3,227,857 | — | — | $-12,182 |
| 2021 | $5,985,831 | $3,775,332 | $2,675,335 | — | — | $404,610 |
| 2020 | $4,714,535 | $3,377,287 | $2,384,435 | — | — | $103,556 |
About Pioneer Institute Inc
Based on IRS filings
Pioneer Institute Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Boston, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $11.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $886K. Net investment income was $188K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Pioneer Institute Inc is led by James Stergios, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 8 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Stergios
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$314K (2020) → $379K (2025)
Frank Bailey
President of Pioneerlegal
President of Pioneer Legal → President of Pioneerlegal, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$50K (2022) → $150K (2025)
Adam Portnoy
Director - Chairperson
Director-Chairperson → Director - Chairman, 2022
Director - Chairman → Director - Chairperson, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Gass
Director of Pioneereducati
Director of Pioneer Education → Director of Pioneereducation, 2023
Director of Pioneereducation → Director of Pioneereducati, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$138K (2020) → $172K (2025)
William Smith
Director Life Sciences
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$210K (2023) → $197K (2025)
Catherine Castellano
Director of Individual Giving
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$159K (2025)
Andrew Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brackett Denniston
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Broderick
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Hewitt III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary Campbell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Rickabaugh
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Myers Kauppila
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger Servison
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Drew Davis
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Johnson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Brown
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kyla De Asla
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Cohen
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Di Bonaventura
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Glaeser
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Clifford
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Holt Massey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jake Jacobson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rober Mashal
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Z. Conaughton
Chief Operating Officer & Clerk
Chief Operating Officer → COO & Clerk, 2024
COO & Clerk → Chief Operating Officer & Clerk, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$180K (2020) → $243K (2025)
Andrew Horgan
Chief Development Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$301K (2024) → $293K (2025)
John Laliberte
Staff Attorney - Pioneer Legal
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Jim Joslin
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: C. Bruce Johnstone (2020–2024) — Vice Chairperson
- Former: Ellen Roy Herzfelder (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Frederick Clifford (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: M. Holt Massey (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Peter Wilde (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Brian Shortsleeve (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Chris Dibonaventura (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Ed Glaeser (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Michael Kennealy (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Pamela Layton (2020–2023) — Director - Clerk
- Former: James Joslin (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Lucile Hicks (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Micaela Dawson (2020–2022) — Director of Communications
- Former: Matthew Toyer (2022) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Greg Sullivan (2020–2021) — Director Or Research
- Former: Nancy Anthony (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Peter Smyth (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Boit (2020) — Director
- Former: Eileen Shapiro (2020) — Director
- Former: Stephen Fantone (2020) — Director - Chairperson
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $379K, to James Stergios (Executive Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Pioneer Institute Inc
How much does Pioneer Institute Inc give each year?
Pioneer Institute Inc gave $886K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Pioneer Institute Inc?
Pioneer Institute Inc reported $11.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.3M.
What is Pioneer Institute Inc?
Pioneer Institute Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Boston, MA. It holds $11.1M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Pioneer Institute Inc operate?
Pioneer Institute Inc has awarded grants in Massachusetts.
What is Pioneer Institute Inc's EIN?
Pioneer Institute Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2632081. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
Live grants for the work Pioneer Institute Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pioneer Institute Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Pioneer Institute Inc'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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