The Popplestone Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2000 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and serves as a significant philanthropic institution with substantial financial resources dedicated to supporting various causes across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.6M
-64.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$51.3M
-64.7% YoY
Grant Count
24
-54.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.1M
-22.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation funds across multiple strategic areas, with documented support for:
- Democracy & Civic Engagement — Including general operating support, safeguarding elections, and legal accountability initiatives
- Music Education — Including choral singing initiatives and support for music conservatories
- Education — Broader educational initiatives
- Human Services — Various human services programs
The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not publicly disclose a formal mission statement or detailed funding priorities.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded 32 grants in the most recent reporting period.
Grant Range
$50,000 to $12,500,000
Average Grant
varies by reporting period
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and regions, with particular concentration in:
- Massachusetts (60% of funding)
- Washington, D.C.
- New York
- Alabama
- California
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Maryland
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- Illinois
- Rhode Island
- Colorado
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total assets: $27,572,559
- Total revenues: $1,196,573
- Total expenses: $51,788,482
- Total giving: $51,278,754
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total assets: $78,164,469
- Total revenues: $195,000,000
- Total expenses: $146,000,000
- Annual giving: $145,306,337
Historical Context: The foundation experienced dramatic growth in 2023, distributing over $145 million in grants compared to an average of approximately $5 million annually from 2011-2022. Between 2017 and 2022, the foundation made $56 million in total contributions. The foundation's assets are substantially funded through contributions from the Alan J. Dworsky Irrevocable Trust, which contributed $20 million in 2022 alone.
Tax Status:
- EIN: 04-3528004
- Tax-exempt since December 2001
- Designated as 501(c)(3)
- Private non-operating foundation
- Organized as a trust
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,572,559 | $78,164,469 | $29,345,940 |
| Revenue | $1,196,573 | $194,570,556 | $32,729,756 |
| Expenses | $51,788,482 | $145,752,029 | $23,656,638 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $51,580,014 | $145,377,965 | $23,597,314 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,441,156 | $3,876,536 | $12,716,120 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,640,944 | $5,943,289 | $1,381,101 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders & Trustees:
- Alan Dworsky (founder, former mutual fund portfolio manager at Putnam Investments and founder of Mt. Auburn Management; deceased January 2021)
- Suzanne Werber Dworsky (co-founder, career in urban design and landscape architecture; current trustee)
- Sally Rubin (co-trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUZANNE E WERBER DWORSKY DECEASED | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| SALLY L RUBIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation significantly increased its grantmaking activity in 2023-2024, with major commitments to democracy and civic engagement initiatives. Notable 2024 grants demonstrate a strategic focus on election safeguarding and legal accountability, with multi-year funding commitments extending through 2026 for several major recipients.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Total Given
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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