Roaring Brook Family Foundation
Roaring Brook Family Foundation is an independent private foundation based in Lenox, Massachusetts. Also known as The Whitehead Foundation, it is supported by the John C. Whitehead Estate and was established in 2015. The foundation is named after Roaring Brook on the western slope of Mt. Greylock in the Berkshires, reflecting its commitment to being "brave in the face of climate breakdown and other challenges" while recognizing itself as "just one tributary among countless others, flowing towards a more viable future."
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48.9M
+12.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+2.7% YoY
Grant Count
62
-1.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+4.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Roaring Brook Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports mission-driven nonprofits working within four interwoven areas of focus:
- Rivers, Coasts & Oceans
- Resilient Communities
- Youth Leadership & Education
- Healthy Foodsheds
The foundation seeks organizations with clear and concise mission statements; creative, experienced, and stable leadership; sound strategic plans; substantive evidence of program impacts; demonstrated capacity to collaborate across all boundaries; high standards of governance; strong balance sheets with diverse revenue streams; and informative periodic updates including annual reports.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Grants are by invitation only, though the foundation welcomes dialogue and potential collaboration regarding areas of shared concern.
Grant Range
$25,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Though based in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the foundation supports projects across a wide geographic range, including areas from as far north as Rockland, Maine; as far south as the South Carolina lowlands; and as far west as Albuquerque, New Mexico. The foundation engages with issues and areas of the country wherein it has direct experience.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
- Total assets: $48,938,848
- Total revenues: $7,970,915
- Total expenses: $2,607,746
- Investment income and dividends: $1,142,603
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total assets: $43,646,806
- Total revenues: $3,370,934
- Total expenses: $2,490,952
- Investment income and dividends: $733,247
The foundation works to align investment assets with programmatic values and objectives.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,938,848 | $43,646,806 | $42,848,265 |
| Revenue | $7,970,915 | $3,370,934 | $1,175,473 |
| Expenses | $2,607,746 | $2,490,952 | $1,794,715 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,264,389 | $2,224,773 | $1,601,348 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,089,586 | $3,365,405 | $1,465,372 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,241,111 | $2,092,681 | $1,960,811 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Shelburne Farms ($125,000), Greenagers ($125,000), Coastal Conservation League ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AUTHORS GUILD NEW YORK, NY | BERKSHIRE EVENT | $10,000 |
| BOSTON CAMERATA BOSTON, MA | SPONSORSHIP FOR PRODUCTION OF DANIEL | $10,000 |
| COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS | $100,000 |
| FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE LONGMONT, CO | NOURISHING NATIVE FOODS + NUTRITION | $50,000 |
| HOPEFUL HORIZONS BEAUFORT, SC | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS | $25,000 |
| LATIN AMERICAN YOUTH CENTER INC WASHINGTON, DC | W-LAYC & NUTRITION PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND BOULDER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS | $25,000 |
| OCEAN CONSERVANCY WASHINGTON, DC | TRASH-FREE SEAS PROGRAM + GHOST GEAR INITIATIVE + DSM | $100,000 |
| POTOMAC CONSERVANCY INC SILVER SPRING, MD | RIPARIAN FOREST RESTORATION | $25,000 |
| ROOTS RISING PITTSFIELD, MA | MATCHING CHALLENGE GRANT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- J. Gregory Whitehead – President, Director (10 hours/week)
- Timothy P. Maloney – Treasurer, Director (5 hours/week)
- Susan Ginsburg – Vice President, Director (1 hour/week)
- Lillian Lennox Whitehead – Secretary, Director (1 hour/week)
The foundation operates with limited staffing and no paid employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| J GREGORY WHITEHEAD | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| TIMOTHY P MALONEY | TREASURER, DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| SUSAN GINSBURG | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LILLIAN LENNOX WHITEHEAD | SECRETARY, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: roaringbrookfoundation.org
- Phone: 617-630-6900
- Email: info@roaringbrookfoundation.org
- Address: PO Box 963, Lenox, MA 01240-0963
- EIN: 47-4303914
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Roaring Brook Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports mission-driven nonprofits working within four interwoven areas of focus: • **Rivers, Coasts & Oceans** • **Resilient Communities** • **Youth Leadership & Education** • **Healthy Foodsheds** The foundation seeks organizations with clear and concise mission statements; creative, experienced, and stable leadership; sound strategic plans; substantive evidence of program impacts; demonstrated capacity to collaborate across all boundaries; high standards of governance; strong …
How do I apply for a grant from Roaring Brook Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $2.1–$2.2 million • Number of grants: 62–78 grants annually • Median grant size: $25,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$150,000 • Giving rate: approximately 4.9–5.1% of assets **Grant Programs:** • General Operating Funds (average $14,551; 31 recipients) • Capital Campaign (average $70,000; 3 recipients) • Farmacy (average $41,667; 2 recipients) • Community Resilience (average $62,500; 2 recipients) • Youth Programs (average $10,000; 1 recipient) • You…
Where does Roaring Brook Family Foundation make grants?
Though based in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the foundation supports projects across a wide geographic range, including areas from as far north as Rockland, Maine; as far south as the South Carolina lowlands; and as far west as Albuquerque, New Mexico. The foundation engages with issues and areas of the country wherein it has direct experience.
What size grants does Roaring Brook Family Foundation award?
In 2025, Roaring Brook Family Foundation awarded 62 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Roaring Brook Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Roaring Brook Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Roaring Brook Family Foundation's EIN?
Roaring Brook Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4303914. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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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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