Proteus Fund Inc is a public charity based in Waltham, Massachusetts. It connects philanthropy with social justice movements through donor collaboratives, fiscal sponsorship, and donor- and group-advised funds. Its work supports racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully representative democracy.
Key facts about Proteus Fund Inc
In short: Proteus Fund Inc gave $21.6M across 219 grants in 2024 (avg $99K), top state District of Columbia. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 04-3243004
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $21,592,984
- Grants made (2024)
- 219
- Average grant
- $98,598
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (71 of 219, 2024)
- Total assets
- $67,104,176
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (30% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- Proteus Fund does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- RISE Together Fund’s 2026 Small Grants applications are scheduled to be accepted from May 11, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$67.1M
-11.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$21.6M
+3.3% YoY
Grant Count
219
-24.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$99K
+37.3% YoY
Is Proteus Fund Inc open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 71 of 219 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $89K; repeat grants $103K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Proteus Fund’s mission is to connect philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice to advance racial, gender, queer, and disability justice, and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. Its stated program areas include donor collaboratives, fiscal sponsorship for social justice initiatives, and donor- and group-advised funds aligned with its mission and values.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in democracy, rights and justice, and general support. Among the grantees, UnidosUS describes its work as Latino civil rights and advocacy; the Voter Participation Center says it works to increase civic engagement among under-represented communities; and the Southern Poverty Law Center describes its work as advancing racial justice and human rights.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Proteus Fund reported 219 grants totaling $21,592,984. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $2,000,000, with a median grant of $50,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $2,000,000 to the Voter Registration Project Education Fund for general support and $2,000,000 to UnidosUS for democracy; $1,799,000 to Proteus Action League for rights and justice; and $1,000,000 to the Voter Participation Center for general support. Other reported awards included $750,000 to Reframe for rights and justice, $500,000 to the Southern Poverty Law Center for democracy, and $340,000 to ReThink Media for rights and justice.
Proteus says its grantmaking procedures include due diligence, grant agreements specifying charitable purposes, periodic grantee reporting, and other oversight as needed.
Review Cycle
RISE Together Fund’s 2026 Small Grants applications are scheduled to be accepted from May 11, 2026, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, through June 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Inquiries are reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are depleted.
How to Apply
Proteus Fund does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. Its website invites inquiries about fiscal sponsorship from projects aligned with its focus areas, fiscal guidelines, and vision for fiscal sponsorship. Separately, the RISE Together Fund’s 2026 Small Grants open call is for U.S. public charities or fiscally sponsored projects supporting BAMEMSA communities. The maximum inquiry request is $25,000; the stated historical average grant size is $20,000. Participation does not guarantee an award.
Ready to take the next step with Proteus Fund Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Proteus Fund describes itself as a national organization. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were directed to Washington, DC (30%), Massachusetts (11%), California (11%), New York (10%), and Virginia (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 219 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $19.0M (2021) to $29.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 219 grants totaling $21.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Voter Registration Project Education Fund ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $9.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,550 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,073 grants of 1,550 (69%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration Project Education Fund Washington, DC | General Support | $2,000,000 |
| Unidosus Washington, DC | Democracy | $2,000,000 |
| Proteus Action League Waltham, MA | Rights & Justice | $1,799,000 |
| The Voter Participation Center Washington, DC | General Support | $1,000,000 |
| Reframe Harrisburg, VA | Rights & Justice | $750,000 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, AL | Democracy | $500,000 |
| Rethink Media San Francisco, CA | Rights & Justice | $340,000 |
| Greater New Orleans Foundation New Orleans, LA | Rights & Justice | $305,000 |
| Nonprofit Vote Inc Cambridge, MA | General Support | $300,000 |
| Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Calabasas, CA | Rights & Justice | $276,250 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $67,104,176 | $43,200,431 | $50,856,079 | $21,592,984 |
| 2023 | $76,288,239 | $73,102,909 | $49,221,407 | $20,895,659 |
| 2022 | $54,254,399 | $62,955,408 | $59,655,544 | $29,274,327 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $67,104,176 | $75,407,064 | $54,254,399 |
| Revenue | $43,200,431 | $72,042,119 | $62,955,408 |
| Expenses | $50,856,079 | $49,172,889 | $59,655,544 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,822,910 | $1,970,516 | $474,402 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Paul Di Donato as president and CEO; Beery Jimenez as chief operating officer; Michael Jarvis as program director; and Sydney Henriques-Payne as director of people and culture. It lists Ryan Chavez as former chief financial officer. Directors and officers also include Nicole Campbell, chair; Nima Shirazi, vice chair; Rick Scott, treasurer; Desiree Flores, secretary; and Tammy Dowley-Blackman, director.
Proteus Fund Inc is led by Paul Di Donato, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 5 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Paul Di Donato
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$273K (2020) → $369K (2024)
Nicole Campbell
Chair
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Jarvis
Program Director
Program Director-Tai → Director Tai, 2023
Director Tai → Program Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$208K (2020) → $198K (2024)
Sydney Henriques-Payne
Director of People & Culture
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$195K (2024)
Eric Ward
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Eng
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tia Oros Peters
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Betsy Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tammy Dowley-Blackman
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Everette Thompson-Francois
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Teresa Rojas
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Risa Rifkind
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beery Jimenez
Chief Operating Officer
Director of Philanthropy & Fiscal Spons. → Director of Philanthropy, 2021
Director of Philanthropy → Chief Operating Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$146K (2020) → $226K (2024)
Ryan Chavez
Former Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer → Former Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$179K (2020) → $176K (2024)
Nima Shirazi
Vice Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Scott
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Desiree Flores
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Mai-Anh Tran (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Odell Mays (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Richard Burns (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ryan Alexander (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Amardeep Singh Bhalla (2021–2023) — Vice President of Programming
- Former: Natasha Minsker (2021–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Emily Harris (2022–2023) — Director Dpf
- Former: Jill Price Marshall (2020–2022) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Andrew Grant-Thomas (2022) — Co-Director Embrace Race
- Former: Gail Fuller (2022) — Program Manager Dpf
- Former: La Tonya Green (2022) — Director Weavers Program
- Former: Lauren Bence (2020–2021) — Proteus Hr Director
- Former: Melissa S. Spatz (2020–2021) — Executive Director-Piper
- Former: Ana Conner (2021) — Program Co-Director Thirdwave
- Former: Kiyomi Fujikawa (2021) — Program Director Src
- Former: Elizabeth Schmidt (2020) — Director
- Former: Jason Franklin (2020) — Chair & Secretary
- Former: Sara Gould (2020) — Director
- Former: Shireen Zaman (2020) — Program Director Src
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $369K, to Paul Di Donato (President & CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 303 Wyman Street 300, Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: (413) 256-0349
Website: https://proteusfund.org
Frequently asked questions about Proteus Fund Inc
How much does Proteus Fund Inc give each year?
Proteus Fund Inc gave $21.6M across 219 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $20.9M across 291 grants.
What is Proteus Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Proteus Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $98,598, across 219 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Proteus Fund Inc that year got $89K on average.
Where does Proteus Fund Inc give grants?
Proteus Fund Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Massachusetts (11%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (22 grants), New York, NY (15 grants), Chicago, IL (9 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (7 grants).
Does Proteus Fund Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of Proteus Fund Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 219) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Rights & Justice" (138 grants) and "Democracy" (41 grants).
Who are Proteus Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Proteus Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Voter Registration Project Education Fund ($2,000,000), Unidosus ($2,000,000) and Proteus Action League ($1,799,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Proteus Fund Inc?
Proteus Fund Inc reported $67.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $43.2M.
What does Proteus Fund Inc fund?
Proteus Fund’s mission is to connect philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice to advance racial, gender, queer, and disability justice, and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Proteus Fund Inc?
Proteus Fund does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Proteus Fund Inc's EIN?
Proteus Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3243004. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Proteus Fund 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 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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