Spero Charitable Foundation
Spero Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. The organization has been tax-exempt since April 1968 and operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
+36.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$163K
+45.1% YoY
Grant Count
33
+37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+5.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Spero Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Massachusetts
- California
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,050,968
- Total Giving: $163,081
- Revenue: $989,000
- Expenses: $168,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,050,968 | $2,229,842 | $2,258,668 |
| Revenue | $989,402 | $96,949 | $837,368 |
| Expenses | $168,276 | $125,775 | $79,401 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $163,081 | $112,411 | $70,872 |
| Net Investment Income | $989,402 | $96,949 | $837,368 |
| Distributable Amount | $163,577 | $1,514,561 | $133,430 |
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
137 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Toys for Tots ($66,121), The Woodstock Museum ($16,000), Bowdoin College ($11,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS TRIANGLE, VA | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $500 |
| GOODFELLOWS TOY DRIVE DETROIT, MI | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATIONSUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| HOME ASSOCIATION TRINITY SCHOOL ELLICOTT CITY, MD | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $500 |
| NORTHAMPTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS NORTHAMPTON, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $2,000 |
| BERKLEY COLLEGE OF MUSIC BOSTON, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| CLERGY BENEFIT TRUST BRAINTREE, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $3,000 |
| HAPPY JACK FOUNDATION NANUET, NY | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| PLAYING FOR A FOUNDATION (FRANCES) W HOLLYWOOD, CA | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $4,500 |
| TOYS FOR HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN BROOKLYN, NY | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| MARCH OF DIMES ARLINGTON, VA | SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION | $150 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Janet Kouroubacalis - Trustee
- Shirley Spero - Trustee (Peabody, MA)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANET KOUROUBACALIS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Spero Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Spero Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $100 to $66,121 • Total giving in 2024: $163,081 **Recent Grant Recipients (2020):** • The Empty Stocking Fund News Sentinel (Knoxville, TN): $300 • Boston Landmarks Orchestra (Boston, MA): $100 • Brigham & Women's Hospital (Boston, MA): $1,000 • ACLU of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA): $5,000 • Grammy Music Education Coalition (Brookline, MA): $3,300 • Temple Tieferet Shalom (Peabody, MA): Support for the organization
Where does Spero Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Massachusetts • California • New York
What size grants does Spero Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Spero Charitable Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $163K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Spero Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Spero Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $164K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Spero Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Spero Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6183682. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Spero Charitable 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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