Ponagansett Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Harrison, NY EIN: 23-7179101

Ponagansett Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Harrison, New York. Its 2023 filing is marked as the organization’s final return, so it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.

Key facts about Ponagansett Foundation Inc

In short: Ponagansett Foundation Inc gave $356K across 33 grants in 2023 (avg $11K), mostly in New York. 12% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
23-7179101
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2023
Annual giving (2023)
$355,635
Grants made (2023)
33
Average grant
$10,777
Median grant
$2,000
New grantees (estimate)
12% first-time grantees (4 of 33, 2023)
Primary geography
New York (73% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

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

—

Annual Giving

$356K

+63.6% YoY

Grant Count

33

-41.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$11K

+177.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ponagansett Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $11K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Ponagansett Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

12%

first-time grantees, 2023

In 2023, 4 of 33 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $8K. How we count

Medians: $7K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 79% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
  • Giving grew 65% from 2020 to 2023. Method
  • In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations with different missions. For example, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital says its mission is to advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Arkansas Children’s Hospital says it champions children by making them better today and healthier tomorrow. Habitat for Humanity says it seeks to eliminate poverty housing and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

Grantmaking

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2023, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York. Other reported recipient-state shares were Iowa, 6%; Oklahoma, 5%; Tennessee, 5%; and Oregon, 3%.

Grant Distribution by State

25states

Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkWashington DepotMerrifieldPhoenixWashingtonGreenwichTopekaClosterAlbert LeaChicagoAmericusClarksburgCresskillLittle RockBoynton BeachCambridgeCorvallisCos CobFort LauderdaleMemphis

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K49 grants2019 63 grants2020 63 grants2021 56 grants2022 33 grants2023

From 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $216K (2020) to $356K (2023). In 2023 it made 33 grants totaling $356K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2023

La Salle Academy: $120KLa Salle Academy$120KTunnel to Towers Foundation: $103KTunnel to Towers Foundation$103KNYU Langone Medical Center: $25KNYU Langone Medical Center$25KMarine Toys for Tots Foundation: $19KMarine Toys for TotsFoundation$19KFolds of Honor: $19KFolds of Honor$19KSt Jude Children's Research Hospital: $19KSt Jude Children's ResearchHospital$19KSaint John's Society: $10KSaint John's Society$10KSJE Olmc Church: $9KSJE Olmc Church$9KArkansas Children's Hospital: $5KArkansas Children's Hospital$5KColumbia University: $5KColumbia University$5K

The largest 2023 recipient was La Salle Academy ($120K). Together the top 10 received $332K.

Grant Size Distribution

264 grants across all recorded years

261<$50K1$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 261 grants of 264 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
La Salle Academy New Yok, NYGeneral Support$120,000
Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NYGeneral Support$102,500
NYU Langone Medical Center New York, NYGeneral Support$25,000
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Des Moines, IAGeneral Support$18,725
Folds of Honor Tulsa, OKGeneral Support$18,500
St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TNGeneral Support$18,500
Saint John's Society Corvallis, ORGeneral Support$10,000
SJE Olmc Church White Plains, NYGeneral Support$8,500
Arkansas Children's Hospital Little Rock, ARGeneral Support$5,000
Columbia University New York, NYGeneral Support$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2023 Not reported here $195,685 $379,411 $355,635
2022 $183,726 $253,006 $224,104 $217,400
2021 $154,824 $263,781 $277,527 $270,800
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Metric202320222021
Total Assets—$183,726$154,824
Revenue$195,685$253,006$263,781
Expenses$379,411$224,104$277,527
Qualifying Distributions$378,911$223,609$277,022
Net Investment Income$55,185$2,511$3,276
Distributable Amount$10,677$8,633$20,215

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 27, 2020)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2023 filing lists Mary B Shea as trustee, president, and assistant treasurer; Brian K Green as trustee and assistant secretary; Mary Ellen Leyden as trustee, secretary, and treasurer; and Eileen Caroline Dolan and John F Dolan as trustees.

Ponagansett Foundation Inc is led by Mary B. Shea, Trustee, President & Assistant Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.

Officers on the 2023 filing

  • Mary B. Shea

    Trustee, President & Assistant Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brian K. Green

    Trustee & Assistant Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eileen Caroline Dolan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • John F. Dolan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Ellen Leyden

    Trustee Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Michael S. Arlein (2019–2020) — Trustee & Vice President
  • Former: Mimi J. Kaplansky (2019) — Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
  • Former: Robert B. Shea (2019) — Trustee & Vice President · Filing note: Deceased on 81119

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 500 Mamaroneck Ave 301, Harrison, NY 10528
Phone: (212) 286-2600

Frequently asked questions about Ponagansett Foundation Inc

How much does Ponagansett Foundation Inc give each year?

Ponagansett Foundation Inc gave $356K across 33 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $217K across 56 grants.

What is Ponagansett Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Ponagansett Foundation Inc's median grant in 2023 was $2,000, and its average grant was $10,777, across 33 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ponagansett Foundation Inc that year got $30K on average.

Where does Ponagansett Foundation Inc give grants?

Ponagansett Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Iowa (6%) and Oklahoma (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Closter, NJ (2 grants) and Topeka, KS (2 grants).

Does Ponagansett Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Ponagansett Foundation Inc's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ponagansett Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Ponagansett Foundation Inc's largest 2023 grantees include La Salle Academy ($120,000), Tunnel to Towers Foundation ($102,500) and NYU Langone Medical Center ($25,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.

What does Ponagansett Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations with different missions. For example, St. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Ponagansett Foundation Inc?

The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

How much is Ponagansett Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Ponagansett Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $11K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Ponagansett Foundation Inc's EIN?

Ponagansett Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7179101. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.

Does Ponagansett Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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