Simple Gifts Fund
Simple Gifts Fund is a private foundation filing Form 990-PF and based in Williamsville, New York. In 2025, it reported 36 grants totaling $62,850, with nearly all grant dollars going to organizations in New York.
Simple Gifts Fund at a glance
In short: Simple Gifts Fund gave $63K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in New York. 53% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $62,850
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- Average grant
- $1,746
- Median grant
- $825
- Total assets
- $1,124,525
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (17 of 32, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (99% 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 Simple Gifts Fund
- How to Apply
The 2022 filing instructs applicants to contact Phyllis Wendt Pierce and submit a letter describing the agency’s purpose, the total project cost, the amount requested, and a copy of the organization’s IRS exemption…
The 2022 filing instructs applicants to contact Phyllis Wendt Pierce and submit a letter describing the agency’s purpose, the total project cost, the amount requested, and a copy of the organization’s IRS exemption letter. The filing’s application-policy field says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations; its restrictions field also says awards are limited to preselected organizations and must be for qualifying religious, charitable, scientific, literacy, or educational purposes permitted under New York law for charitable trusts.
- Contact
Application contact: Phyllis Wendt Pierce
Mailing address: 241 Main Street Suite 100, Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: (716) 852-2200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Simple Gifts Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Grassroots Gardens WNY ($7K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $44K.
Grant Size Distribution
248 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 248 grants of 248 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York; the filing also reports 1% each for Virginia and Massachusetts. New York grantees included organizations in Buffalo and other communities, including Tupper Lake and Lake Placid.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Simple Gifts Fund open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 17 of 32 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $1K repeat.
- Giving fell 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 77% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $63K (2025) to $87K (2023). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $63K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nusantara Arts Buffalo, NY | General Fund | $6,500 |
| Grassroots Gardens WNY Buffalo, NY | General Fund | $6,000 |
| Massachusetts Avenue Program Buffalo, NY | Growing Green Program | $6,000 |
| Pilgrim St Lukes Church Buffalo, NY | Brickwork | $5,000 |
| Tupper Arts Center Tupper Lake, NY | Capital Campaign | $5,000 |
| Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Buffalo, NY | Annual Campaign | $3,500 |
| Adirondack Community Foundation Lake Placid, NY | GAF | $2,500 |
| Assembly House 150 Buffalo, NY | Model City Builders Program | $2,500 |
| Jewish Family Services of WNY Buffalo, NY | Crisis Response Fund | $2,500 |
| Locust Street Neighborhood Buffalo, NY | General Fund | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Simple Gifts Fund?
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 | $1,124,525 | $85,687 | $81,968 | $62,850 | 36 | $65,827 | $69,546 | $85,142 |
| 2023 | $1,589,422 | $119,671 | $105,016 | $86,900 | 42 | $90,496 | $105,151 | $77,319 |
| 2022 | $1,595,466 | $54,863 | $107,608 | $85,400 | 53 | $89,069 | $39,379 | $83,678 |
| 2021 | $1,877,008 | $128,494 | $104,851 | $83,450 | 53 | — | $109,492 | $89,857 |
| 2020 | $1,707,571 | $15,845 | $83,214 | $64,550 | 64 | — | $17,730 | $75,815 |
| 2019 | $1,565,325 | $117,339 | $100,723 | $81,300 | 43 | — | $103,071 | $74,045 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Simple Gifts Fund reported a distributable amount of $85K 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
No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for arts and culture, community programs, food and agriculture, science and nature, and services for older residents. These are examples of the grantees’ work, not a stated mission or formal list of the funder’s focus areas.
For example, Nusantara Arts describes its mission as inviting the community to experience Indonesian music and art. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra says it produces symphonic music for the cultural benefit of the Buffalo area, including arts education for youth. Other 2025 grantees describe work in areas such as community gardening, crisis response, and neighborhood services.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the fund made 36 grants totaling $62,850. Awards ranged from $200 to $6,500, with a median grant of $825.
Among the larger 2025 grants were $6,500 to Nusantara Arts for its general fund; $6,000 each to Grassroots Gardens WNY for its general fund and Massachusetts Avenue Program for its Growing Green Program; and $5,000 each to Pilgrim St Lukes Church for brickwork and Tupper Arts Center for its capital campaign. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra received $3,500 for its annual campaign. Other $2,500 awards included grants to Adirondack Community Foundation, Assembly House 150, Jewish Family Services of WNY, Locust Street Neighborhood, Our City Buffalo, and Visually Impaired Advancement.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Phyllis Wendt Pierce is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
Simple Gifts Fund is led by Phyllis Wendt Pierce, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Phyllis Wendt Pierce
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Emily M. Pierce-Delaney (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Meaghan E. Pierce-Delaney-Lynch (2019–2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Simple Gifts Fund
How much does Simple Gifts Fund give each year?
Simple Gifts Fund gave $63K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Simple Gifts Fund's typical grant size?
Simple Gifts Fund's median grant in 2025 was $825, and its average grant was $1,746, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Simple Gifts Fund that year got $2K on average.
Where does Simple Gifts Fund give grants?
Simple Gifts Fund gives mostly in New York: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (24 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Tupper Lake, NY (2 grants).
Does Simple Gifts Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Simple Gifts Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Simple Gifts Fund's largest grantees?
Simple Gifts Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Grassroots Gardens WNY ($6,900 across 2 grants), Nusantara Arts ($6,500) and Massachusetts Avenue Program ($6,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Simple Gifts Fund?
Simple Gifts Fund reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $66K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $85K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Simple Gifts Fund fund?
No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for arts and culture, community programs, food and agriculture, science and nature, and services for older residents. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Simple Gifts Fund?
The 2022 filing instructs applicants to contact Phyllis Wendt Pierce and submit a letter describing the agency’s purpose, the total project cost, the amount requested, and a copy of the organization’s IRS exemption… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Simple Gifts Fund's EIN?
Simple Gifts Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1512132. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Simple Gifts Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Frank G Raichle Foundation
Williamsville, NY
The Frank G Raichle Foundation’s 2025 grants supported New York charities working in areas such as education, health, food and nutrition, arts, broadcasting, and disability services. It awarded $1,000–$10,000 per grant, with a median of $5,000, and gives only to preselected organizations; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
19
Total Given
$118K
The Marks Family Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The Marks Family Foundation supports education, arts, health, and environmental sustainability programs that expand access and opportunity for under-represented, minority, and low-income communities, especially young people. It focuses on Western New York, particularly Erie and Niagara Counties, with preference also given to Vermont; 2025 grants ranged from $150 to $40,000, with a $5,000 median. It funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
27
Total Given
$179K
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation supports a broad range of charitable and public-service work in Western New York, with no single focus area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,400 to $779,306, with a median of $30,000. It accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations; applicants may request an application, and the foundation does not accept letters of intent.
Assets
$75.5M
Grants
44
Total Given
$2.9M
The Richard W Rupp Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The foundation supports organizations working in areas such as agriculture, arts, journalism, emergency food, reproductive health, and environmental protection, with most 2024 funding going to New York recipients. Its 46 grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $7,750. It gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$11.8M
Grants
46
Total Given
$470K
The Western New York Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The Western New York Foundation supports nonprofits strengthening the regional food system, especially through capacity building, collaboration, and equitable solutions for underserved communities in Western New York. Its 2026 median grant was $3,500, though awards ranged widely; it invites eligible organizations to submit Letters of Intent, and its Small Grant Program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Assets
$25.8M
Grants
127
Total Given
$1.5M
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
Buffalo, NY
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo funds racial and ethnic equity, education and economic mobility, environmental stewardship and climate resilience, and regional arts and culture, primarily in Western New York; its donor-directed funds may also support organizations nationally. Its 2026 competitive grants were expected to average $18,000–$20,000, with a maximum of $50,000; the listed application process is closed, and the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$944.0M
Grants
562
Total Given
$33.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Simple Gifts Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/simple-gifts-fund-morg_c57136fb1ca44386a0d35867e6f7c777
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_161512132_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Simple Gifts Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/simple-gifts-fund-morg_c57136fb1ca44386a0d35867e6f7c777},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Simple Gifts Fund'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.
Simple Gifts Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?