Tern Foundation
Tern Foundation is a private foundation based in Eastham, Massachusetts. Founded in 2010, it supports Massachusetts nonprofits through its TernSOLAR challenge grant program, which helps fund solar panel installations and energy-efficient facility projects.
Tern Foundation at a glance
In short: Tern Foundation gave $251K across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Massachusetts. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $250,538
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- +16.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,826
- -7.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,057
- Total assets
- $2,322,884
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (15 of 42, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (97% 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 Tern Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 944, Eastham, MA 02642
Phone: (914) 381-8900
Website: https://www.ternfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tern Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Asociation to Preserve Cape Cod ($61K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $207K.
Grant Size Distribution
157 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 157 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes TernSOLAR as a program for Massachusetts nonprofits. In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, with 2% going to New York and reported shares of 0% each to Maine and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Tern Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 42 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 230% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $103K (2021) to $251K (2025). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $251K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage Museum and Gardens Inc Sandwich, MA | Ternsolar Grant in Support of Solar Array | $60,000 |
| Berkshire Botanical Gardens Stockbridge, MA | Ternsolar Grant in Support of Solar Array | $45,132 |
| Asociation to Preserve Cape Cod Dennis, MA | Ternsolar Grant in Support of Solar Array | $38,000 |
| Asociation to Preserve Cape Cod Dennis, MA | General Support | $23,000 |
| Summer of Sass Provincetown, MA | Ternsolar Grant in Support of Solar Array | $15,000 |
| Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation Brookline, MA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Hampshire College Amherst, MA | In Support of Change in the Making Campaign | $5,000 |
| Massachusetts Audubon Society Lincoln, MA | In Support of Cape Cod Sanctuaries/Boston Nature Center | $5,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) New York, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Third Sector New Englandfuture Chefs Boston, MA | In Support of Future Chefs | $3,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Tern 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 | $2,322,884 | $118,295 | $266,771 | $250,538 | 43 | $256,673 | $108,700 | $111,471 |
| 2024 | $2,267,777 | $85,914 | $243,942 | $231,898 | 37 | $237,009 | $78,981 | $83,623 |
| 2023 | $1,663,377 | $38,505 | $185,107 | $168,532 | 29 | $175,198 | $40,611 | $80,222 |
| 2022 | $1,642,757 | $139,648 | $237,354 | $216,006 | 25 | $225,178 | $203,662 | $87,413 |
| 2021 | $2,174,454 | $203,996 | $116,478 | $103,000 | 23 | $107,582 | $197,957 | $102,691 |
| 2020 | $2,041,719 | $172,921 | $243,357 | $223,559 | 22 | — | $72,049 | $89,440 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tern Foundation reported a distributable amount of $111K 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 says it responds to climate change by supporting nonprofits that engage creatively with their communities and consider the natural environment in their work. Its stated grantmaking priorities are Environment and Arts & Culture; it says it does not make grants outside these areas.
TernSOLAR is designed to help nonprofits install solar panels, support the transition to renewable energy and reduce utility expenses. The foundation describes eligible organizations as nonprofits that engage with environmental issues and include future generations and the natural environment in their planning. Its stated criteria include combining energy efficiency with solar technology; owning the installation site or having a long-term lease; researching feasibility and responsible siting that does not require forest destruction; purchasing and owning the system outright; and being the sole beneficiary of solar incentives. New capital projects and renovations are expected to center environmental responsibility and communicate it as a core campaign message. Organizations must be registered and in good standing as U.S. tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations in Massachusetts.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of grantees. Massachusetts Audubon Society describes its mission as protecting the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife through education, conservation, advocacy, research and habitat stewardship. Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation says it builds community through film culture. Summer of Sass describes a work program for LGBTQI young adults relocating to Provincetown from oppressive areas. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 43 grants totaling $250,538. Awards ranged from $500 to $60,000, with a median of $1,057. The TernSOLAR challenge grant supports solar installations; the foundation’s 2025 filing also lists grants for general support and other purposes.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $60,000 to Heritage Museums and Gardens and $45,132 to Berkshire Botanical Gardens, both for solar arrays; $38,000 to the Association to Preserve Cape Cod for a solar array and a separate $23,000 for general support; and $15,000 to Summer of Sass for a solar array. Other 2025 grants included $5,000 to Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation for general support and $5,000 to Hampshire College in support of its Change in the Making campaign.
The foundation states that TernSOLAR is a challenge grant. Its website describes eligible matching donations as part of the program, but the available program description does not provide further details.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Marianne Lampke as director and president and Elisa Linnehan as director and treasurer. The foundation’s website identifies Marianne Lampke and Lisa Linnehan as co-directors and says they co-founded the foundation in 2010.
Tern Foundation is led by Marianne Lampke, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marianne Lampke
Director & President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisa Linnehan
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Tern Foundation
How much does Tern Foundation give each year?
Tern Foundation gave $251K across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $232K across 37 grants.
What is Tern Foundation's typical grant size?
Tern Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,057, and its average grant was $5,826, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Tern Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does Tern Foundation give grants?
Tern Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Provincetown, MA (9 grants), Boston, MA (4 grants), Wellfleet, MA (4 grants) and Dennis, MA (2 grants).
Does Tern Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of Tern Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Ternsolar Grant in Support of Solar Array" (5 grants).
Who are Tern Foundation's largest grantees?
Tern Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Asociation to Preserve Cape Cod ($61,000 across 2 grants), Heritage Museum and Gardens Inc ($60,000) and Berkshire Botanical Gardens ($45,132), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Tern Foundation?
Tern Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $257K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $111K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Tern Foundation fund?
The foundation says it responds to climate change by supporting nonprofits that engage creatively with their communities and consider the natural environment in their work. Its stated grantmaking priorities are Environment and Arts & Culture; it says it does not make grants outside these areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tern Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Tern Foundation's EIN?
Tern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3987455. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Tern Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tern Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts
The Alvan G & Carol J Lampke Family Foundation
Eastham, MA
The foundation supported a varied range of charitable organizations, including community, emergency-service, arts, education, animal-welfare, and housing groups. In 2024, its 31 grants ranged from $1,500 to $250,000, with a median of $20,000, and went mainly to organizations in New York and Connecticut, followed by Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. It funded only preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
31
Total Given
$1.1M
Mutual Bancorp Foundation Inc
Hyannis, MA
Mutual Bancorp Foundation funds housing, health and wellness, education, and community services, primarily in Massachusetts, with nearly all 2024 grant dollars going to in-state recipients. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $100,000, with a median award of $2,500; it accepts applications online through Cape Cod Five’s community-support process.
Assets
$15.3M
Grants
202
Total Given
$1.0M
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Eastern Bank Foundation
Wakefield, MA
Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$266.7M
Grants
1,786
Total Given
$19.0M
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Tern Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tern-foundation-morg_fa67b91478ad4848ae0d1af54636fda1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263987455_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Tern Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/tern-foundation-morg_fa67b91478ad4848ae0d1af54636fda1},
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 Tern 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.
Tern Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?