Telescope Fund
Telescope Fund is a 501(c)(3) public charity and grantmaking foundation based in Washington, DC. Established in 2021, it was initially launched as a subsidiary of the New Venture Fund and managed by Arabella Advisors before being reclassified as a traditional 501(c)(3) public charity by the IRS in May 2023. The organization partners with donors to expand their philanthropic giving by providing tools and infrastructure to support strategic grantmaking and innovative problem-solving.
Key facts about Telescope Fund
- EIN
- 86-2577635
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,260,719
- Grants made (2024)
- 35
- Average grant
- $293,163
- Median grant
- $150,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 66% first-time grantees (23 of 35, 2024)
- Total assets
- $28,215,070
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Not publicly available. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 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.
Who Telescope Fund funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Telescope Fund's 35 itemized 2024 grants were District of Columbia (33%), New York (12%) and New Jersey (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Saint Paul, MN (2 grants). 51% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (17 grants).
Is Telescope Fund open to new grantees?
66%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 35 grantees (66%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $262K; repeat grants $353K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Telescope Fund
- How to evaluate Telescope Fund as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Telescope Fund with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.2M
-26.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.3M
-71.2% YoY
Grant Count
35
-56.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$293K
-34.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Telescope Fund partners with donors to expand their philanthropic giving by providing them with the tools needed to catalyze their vision for change. The organization provides support for:
- Strategic grantmaking
- Efficient operations
- Expert advising
- Innovative problem-solving
The organization operates through donor-advised funds (DAFs) that support specific thematic areas, including:
- Racial Equity and DEI Fund: Supports diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
- Global Land Conservation Fund: Supports environmental conservation initiatives
- State-Based Civic Engagement Fund: Supports grassroots organizing and voter engagement organizations
During the 2022 tax year, the organization made general and project support grants to organizations supporting global health, conservation, social justice, alleviation of poverty, scientific research, disaster recovery, education, and the arts.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s**: $300,000 - $1,700,000+ (based on 2022-2023 data)
How to Apply
**: Not publicly available
Ready to take the next step with Telescope Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United States, with emphasis on state-based civic engagement initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 35 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $69,446,551
- Total Expenses: $37,206,092
- Total Assets: $38,127,793
- Total Liabilities: $5,310,000
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $5,536,429
- Total Expenses: $10,788,449
- Total Assets: $28,215,070
Annual Giving: $35,590,849 (2023)
Rating: Telescope Fund received an 85% score and Three-Star rating, with an overall score calculated entirely from accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,215,070 | $38,127,793 | $2,367,892 |
| Revenue | $5,536,429 | $69,446,551 | $30,475,057 |
| Expenses | $10,788,449 | $37,206,092 | $30,044,973 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,514,546 | $1,432,069 | $109,824 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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
167 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include The Recycling Partnership Inc ($2,200,000), Dreaming Out Loud Inc ($1,000,000), Save Ukraine Inc ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP INC Washington, DC | PROJECT SUPPORT | $2,200,000 |
| DREAMING OUT LOUD INC Washington, DC | PROJECT SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| SAVE UKRAINE INC New York, NY | PROJECT SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| SUPERHUMANS UKRAINE INC Jersey City, NJ | PROJECT SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| FEED THE CHILDREN Oklahoma City, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $700,000 |
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC Boca Raton, FL | PROJECT SUPPORT | $680,000 |
| DIONS CHICAGO DREAM INC NFP Chicago, IL | PROJECT SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION Lincoln, NE | PROJECT SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND Westlake, TX | PROJECT SUPPORT | $266,046 |
| GLOBALGIVING FOUNDATION Washington, DC | PROJECT SUPPORT | $237,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Leslie Payne is listed as President (as of 2023).
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie Payne | President | 1 | — |
| Ben Mangan | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Marla Blow | Treasurer (Through 7/2024) | 1 | — |
| Dori Kreiger | Director | 1 | — |
| Andrew Schulz | General Counsel | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: telescopefund.org
- Email: info@telescopefund.org
- Address: 1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036-5304
- Phone: 202-971-1471
- EIN: 86-2577635
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Telescope Fund fund?
Telescope Fund partners with donors to expand their philanthropic giving by providing them with the tools needed to catalyze their vision for change. The organization provides support for: • Strategic grantmaking • Efficient operations • Expert advising • Innovative problem-solving The organization operates through donor-advised funds (DAFs) that support specific thematic areas, including: • **Racial Equity and DEI Fund**: Supports diversity, equity, and inclusion programs • **Global Land Conse…
How do I apply for a grant from Telescope Fund?
Not publicly available. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Telescope Fund make grants?
United States, with emphasis on state-based civic engagement initiatives.
What size grants does Telescope Fund award?
In 2024, Telescope Fund awarded 35 grants totaling $10.3M — an average of about $293K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Telescope Fund's EIN?
Telescope Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-2577635. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Telescope Fund'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.