Popplestone Foundation
The Popplestone Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants supported work in democracy and civic engagement, early childhood development, music education, and investigative journalism, with the largest shares of grant dollars going to recipients in New York and Washington, DC.
Popplestone Foundation at a glance
In short: Popplestone Foundation gave $51.3M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $2.1M), top state New York. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $51,278,754
- -64.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- -54.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,136,615
- -22.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $737,500
- Total assets
- $27,572,559
- -64.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (8 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Popplestone Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 338-2839
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Popplestone Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Protect Democracy Project ($10.0M). Together the top 10 received $42.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($2,500,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
134 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 46 grants of 134 (34%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 47% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 45% to recipients in Washington, DC. Massachusetts received 7%, Connecticut 1%, and Ohio 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Popplestone Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 24 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $3.7M; repeat grants $1.4M. How we count
Medians: $2.8M first-time, $500K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 790% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.8M (2021) to $145.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $51.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Protect Democracy Project Washington, DC | Democracy & civic engagement - general operating support, safebuarding elections & legal accountability for 03/15/2024-03/15/2026 | $10,000,000 |
| William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice Inc New York, NY | Democracy & civic engagement - advance projects focusing on state & federal courts and constitutions | $10,000,000 |
| States United Democracy Center Inc Washington, DC | Democracy & civic engagement - general operating support, safebuarding elections & legal accountability for 03/15/2024-03/15/2026 | $5,000,000 |
| Campaign Legal Center Washington, DC | Democracy & Civic Engagement - Combating Election Sabotage | $3,250,000 |
| Parentcorps New York, NY | Early childhood development - general operating support, expansion of pre-k for all for 03/15/2024-08/14/2026 | $3,000,000 |
| Young People's Chorus of New York City New York, NY | Music education - general support, serving ages 8-18 in various choruses for 03/15/2024-09/15/2027 | $3,000,000 |
| Pro Publica New York, NY | Democracy & civic engagement - general operating support, five-year plan - investigative reporting for 03/15/2024-03/05/2029 | $2,500,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $2,500,000 |
| The Reading League Inc Syracuse, NY | Early childhood development - general operating support, further the science of reading movement for 03/15/2024-03/15/2026 | $2,500,000 |
| Harmony Program New York, NY | Music education - project support for development of a comprehensive youth orchestra system nyc for 03/25/2024-07/14/2026 | $2,000,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $27,572,559 | $1,196,573 | $51,788,482 | $51,278,754 | 24 | $51,580,014 | $1,441,156 | $1,640,944 |
| 2023 | $78,164,469 | $194,570,556 | $145,752,029 | $145,306,337 | 53 | $145,377,965 | $3,876,536 | $5,943,289 |
| 2022 | $29,345,940 | $32,729,756 | $23,656,638 | $23,519,394 | 32 | $23,597,314 | $12,716,120 | $1,381,101 |
| 2021 | $20,269,936 | $606,521 | $5,924,359 | $5,763,299 | 10 | $5,789,736 | $565,024 | $1,665,707 |
| 2020 | $25,553,826 | $3,797,304 | $18,054,650 | $17,976,407 | 15 | — | $3,731,836 | $1,702,482 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Popplestone Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for democracy and civic engagement, early childhood development, and music education, as well as investigative journalism.
Among its grantees, the William J. Brennan Jr. Center for Justice describes itself as a nonpartisan law and policy institute working to improve American systems of democracy and justice. Protect Democracy Project says it works to prevent democratic decline by strengthening checks and balances on the executive branch. States United Democracy Center describes its work as advancing free, fair, and secure elections. The Campaign Legal Center says it advances democracy through law and seeks to protect participation in the democratic process.
The foundation also supported organizations working in education and the arts. The Reading League says it advances awareness and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction. The Young People’s Chorus of New York describes its program as developing children’s musical potential through music appreciation and choral performance. The Harmony Program says it provides students in underserved communities with instruments, music instruction, and orchestral and choral training.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $51,278,754. Grants ranged from $150,000 to $10,000,000, with a median grant of $737,500.
The largest grants included $10,000,000 to Protect Democracy Project for democracy and civic engagement work, including election safeguards and legal accountability, and $10,000,000 to the William J. Brennan Jr. Center for Justice for projects focused on state and federal courts and constitutions. Other major grants included $5,000,000 to States United Democracy Center, $3,250,000 to Campaign Legal Center, $3,000,000 each to ParentCorps and Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and $2,500,000 each to ProPublica, SD Foundation for an individual recipient, and The Reading League.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Suzanne E. Werber Dworsky, marked deceased, and Sally L. Rubin as trustees.
Popplestone Foundation is led by Sally L. Rubin, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sally L. Rubin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Suzanne E. Werber Dworsky (2021–2024) — Trustee · Filing note: Deceased
- Former: Alan J. Dworsky (2020–2021) — Trustee · Filing note: Deceased 1/19/2021
- Former: Suzanne E. Werber (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Popplestone Foundation
How much does Popplestone Foundation give each year?
Popplestone Foundation gave $51.3M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $145.3M across 53 grants.
What is Popplestone Foundation's typical grant size?
Popplestone Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $737,500, and its average grant was $2,136,615, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Popplestone Foundation that year got $3.7M on average.
Where does Popplestone Foundation give grants?
Popplestone Foundation's top state is New York, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (45%) and Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants) and Boston, MA (4 grants).
Does Popplestone Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 38% of Popplestone Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Popplestone Foundation's largest grantees?
Popplestone Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Protect Democracy Project ($10,000,000), William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice Inc ($10,000,000) and States United Democracy Center Inc ($5,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($2,500,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Popplestone Foundation?
Popplestone Foundation reported $27.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Popplestone Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for democracy and civic engagement, early childhood development, and music education, as well as investigative journalism. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Popplestone Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes 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 ↑
What is Popplestone Foundation's EIN?
Popplestone Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3528004. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Popplestone Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Popplestone Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/popplestone-foundation-morg_0c02927c6505429d832efc1d6408b930
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043528004_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Popplestone Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/popplestone-foundation-morg_0c02927c6505429d832efc1d6408b930},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Popplestone Foundation'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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