Put God First Foundation
Put God First Foundation is a private foundation based in Vestal, New York. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in healthcare, food assistance, services for people experiencing homelessness, community support, and faith-related activities.
Put God First Foundation at a glance
In short: Put God First Foundation gave $3.0M across 63 grants in 2025 (avg $48K), mostly in New York. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,011,338
- -12.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 63
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $47,799
- -20.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $52,760,322
- +5.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (11 of 61, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Put God First Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants should contact David Emily Culbertson with a written request. There are no deadlines, and the purpose must fit the foundation’s mission.
- Contact
Application contact: David Emily Culbertson
Mailing address: 2006 Cambridge Place, Vestal, NY 13850
Phone: (607) 759-8006
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Put God First Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lourdes Hospital Foundation ($615K). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($35,138), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
216 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 182 grants of 216 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York. The reported shares for California, the District of Columbia, Florida, and Iowa were 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 63 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Put God First Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 61 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $56K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 278% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $797K (2022) to $3.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 63 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lourdes Hospital Foundation Binghamton, NY | Improve care for patients in our community | $615,000 |
| Addiction Center of Broome County Binghamton, NY | Run comfort center for homeless individuals in Binghamton, NY | $450,000 |
| Broome County Council of Churches Binghamton, NY | Feed Gods Sheep | $400,000 |
| Food Bank of the Southern Tier Elmira, NY | Feed God's Sheep | $300,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Broome County Binghamton, NY | Support Underprivileged Individuals in Our Community | $200,000 |
| Church of the Holy Family Endwell, NY | Spread the Gospel and fill the churches | $160,000 |
| Mercy House of the Southern Tier Endicott, NY | Support Underprivileged Individuals in Our Community | $105,000 |
| UHS Foundation Inc Binghamton, NY | Improve care for patients in our community | $100,000 |
| Most Holy Rosary Church Maine, NY | Spread the Gospel and Fill the Churches | $85,000 |
| Mental Health Assoc of the Southern Binghamton, NY | Support underprivileged individuals in our community | $51,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Put God First Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,760,322 | $2,798,710 | $3,314,037 | $3,011,338 | 63 | $3,011,338 | $2,557,292 | $2,482,532 |
| 2024 | $50,172,669 | $2,509,307 | $3,682,328 | $3,444,001 | 57 | $3,444,001 | $2,281,269 | $2,446,786 |
| 2023 | $48,254,537 | $-554,702 | $2,603,375 | $2,421,200 | 51 | $2,421,200 | $900,328 | $2,262,758 |
| 2022 | $44,063,768 | $556,970 | $1,030,448 | $796,500 | 45 | $796,500 | $824,066 | $2,268,798 |
| 2021 | $50,000,000 | $50,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | $205,208 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Put God First Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s grant purposes in 2025 included improving patient care, feeding people, supporting underprivileged individuals, operating a comfort center for homeless people, spreading the Gospel, and conducting community mission work.
Recipients describe a range of activities. Broome County Council of Churches says it provides ministries that individual churches may find difficult to offer alone. Mercy House of the Southern Tier says it provides a home and extended family for people with terminal illnesses. United Way of Broome County describes its work as addressing critical community needs by leveraging partner resources. Other supported organizations include Lourdes Hospital Foundation, which solicits contributions for Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, and Good Neighbors, which connects food with people in need.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 63 grants totaling $3,011,338. Grants ranged from $200 to $615,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest 2025 grants included $615,000 to Lourdes Hospital Foundation for patient care; $450,000 to Addiction Center of Broome County for a comfort center for homeless individuals in Binghamton; $400,000 to Broome County Council of Churches to “Feed Gods Sheep”; and $300,000 to Food Bank of the Southern Tier to “Feed God’s Sheep.” Other grants included $200,000 to Catholic Charities of Broome County for underprivileged individuals, $160,000 to Church of the Holy Family to spread the Gospel and fill churches, and $105,000 to Mercy House of the Southern Tier for underprivileged individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David Culbertson and Emily Culbertson as trustees.
Put God First Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Culbertson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Culbertson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Put God First Foundation
How much does Put God First Foundation give each year?
Put God First Foundation gave $3.0M across 63 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.4M across 57 grants.
What is Put God First Foundation's typical grant size?
Put God First Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $47,799, across 63 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Put God First Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does Put God First Foundation give grants?
Put God First Foundation gives mostly in New York: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Binghamton, NY (16 grants), Johnson City, NY (5 grants), Endicott, NY (4 grants) and Vestal, NY (3 grants).
Does Put God First Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 63 grants with a stated purpose on Put God First Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Underprivileged Individuals in Our Community" (13 grants), "Feed God's Sheep" (4 grants) and "Spread the Gospel and fill the churches" (4 grants).
Who are Put God First Foundation's largest grantees?
Put God First Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lourdes Hospital Foundation ($615,000), Addiction Center of Broome County ($450,000) and Broome County Council of Churches ($400,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($35,138), which are not listed by name. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Put God First Foundation?
Put God First Foundation reported $52.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Put God First Foundation fund?
The foundation’s grant purposes in 2025 included improving patient care, feeding people, supporting underprivileged individuals, operating a comfort center for homeless people, spreading the Gospel, and conducting community mission work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Put God First Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Put God First Foundation's EIN?
Put God First Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4064687. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Put God First Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in New York
Christian Community Foundation Inc
Colorado Springs, CO
WaterStone supports domestic and international nonprofits, including Christian ministries and charitable and educational organizations, through donor-directed grants; eligible organizations must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3)s whose mission aligns with its Statement of Faith. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, with awards ranging from $5,028 to $11 million, and were concentrated in Texas and Colorado. Grant recommendations come from donor-advised fund holders; the profile does not state that it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$746.4M
Grants
1,651
Total Given
$161.8M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
New York, NY
LISC funds affordable housing, community development, small businesses, and related efforts that strengthen inclusive communities, providing grants as well as loans, equity, and technical assistance across the country. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $40,000, though amounts varied widely. Application access is program-specific: for its Rhode Island child care facilities planning grants, applicants are instructed to consult program staff before submitting a request.
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
1,119
Total Given
$102.8M
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Inc
New York, NY
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund supports human rights and social and economic justice, including work on climate, the environment, civic engagement, and Jewish causes, in the United States and internationally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $200,000, with amounts ranging from $500 to $9.75 million. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests; it plans to end grantmaking by the end of 2028.
Assets
$134.4M
Grants
1,101
Total Given
$326.0M
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Put God First Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/put-god-first-foundation-morg_d0e26445dea64e539529969027f1ebbb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_874064687_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Put God First Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/put-god-first-foundation-morg_d0e26445dea64e539529969027f1ebbb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Put God First 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.
Put God First Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?