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
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.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Protect Democracy Project ($10,000,000), William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice Inc ($10,000,000), States United Democracy Center Inc ($5,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT WASHINGTON, DC | DEMOCRACY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - GENERAL OPERATIONS | $825,000 |
| BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE BOSTON, MA | DEMOCRACY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - SUPPORT "ADVANCING ACHIEVEMENT & IMPACT" | $325,000 |
| CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAMBRIDGE, MA | MUSIC EDUCATION - MUSIC DEPARTMENT INITIATIVES - KODALY PROGRAM & MUSIC ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024 | $303,754 |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | DEMOCRACY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - COMBATING ELECTION SABOTAGE | $3,250,000 |
| EDVESTORS INC BOSTON, MA | MUSIC EDUCATION - SUPPORT MUSIC PROGRAM OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARTS EXPANSION | $550,000 |
| FAIR ELECTIONS CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | DEMOCRACY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - CAMPUS VOTE PROJECT | $650,000 |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT FUND CINCINNATI, OH | OTHER PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS | $150,000 |
| GENERATION CITIZEN NEW YORK, NY | DEMOCRACY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - HANDS-ON CIVICS EDUCATION | $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 |
| KEYS MUSIC BRIDGEPORT, CT | MUSIC EDUCATION - GENERAL SUPPORT PROVIDING FREE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR VOICE & INSTRUMENTS K-12 IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | $300,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Popplestone Foundation fund?
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 disclo…
How do I apply for a grant from Popplestone Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $50,000 to $12,500,000 • Median grant size: $2,000,000 • Average grant size varies by reporting period • Success rate: Approximately 10% of recent applicants were new grantees, indicating a very selective funding process **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Protect Democracy Project: $10,000,000 (Democracy & Civic Engagement — General Operating Support, Safeguarding Elections & Legal Accountability) • States United Democracy Center: $5,000,000 (Democracy…
Where does Popplestone Foundation make 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
What size grants does Popplestone Foundation award?
In 2024, Popplestone Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $51.3M — an average of about $2.1M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Popplestone Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Popplestone Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Popplestone Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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