The Bok Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2005 and based in Canaan, Connecticut. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.6M
+7.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+18.5% YoY
Grant Count
34
+112.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$115K
-44.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bok Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving spans education, environment, arts and culture, and health. The foundation maintains particular focus on the northeastern United States, including the Housatonic Valley region of Connecticut where the Boks maintain a 115-acre farm.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes approximately $3.9 million annually across 30-35 grants. Since 2015, it has awarded at least 87 individual grants totaling approximately $13.3 million.
Grant Range
** $5,000 to $1,070,000
How to Apply
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are made to preselected organizations through trustee discretion.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the Housatonic Valley region of Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023-2024:
- Total Assets: $45.6 million
- Total Annual Giving: $3.9 million
- Total Revenues (2023): $9.34 million
- Total Expenses (2023): $4.35 million
- Investment Income and Dividends (2023): $1,283,104
- Total Liabilities (2023): $50,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,634,977 | $42,478,488 | $37,431,884 |
| Revenue | $6,791,732 | $9,339,799 | $2,463,853 |
| Expenses | $4,957,162 | $4,347,044 | $4,561,729 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,921,445 | $3,299,630 | $3,565,725 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,750,020 | $8,302,655 | $1,563,154 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,597,441 | $2,117,460 | $2,433,139 |
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
98 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Museum of Natural History ($675,000), Care ($500,000), Success Academy ($450,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - HISTORICAL | $675,000 |
| CARE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - EDUCATION | $500,000 |
| HOTCHKISS SCHOOL LAKEVILLE, CT | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - EDUCATE FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS | $10,000 |
| HOUSATONIC VALLEY ASSOCIATION INC CORNWALL BRIDGE, CT | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - CONSERVATION | $25,000 |
| JOYFUL NOISE TORRINGTON, CT | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - EARLY CHILDCARE PROGRAMS | $30,000 |
| NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - EDUCATION | $334,000 |
| ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - NY THEATRE | $175,000 |
| SCENIC HUDSON POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - CONSERVATION | $100,000 |
| SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY LENOX, MA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - PRODUCTIONS AND CLASSICAL TRAINING | $60,000 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY GIFT NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION - ENVIRONMENTAL | $400,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Scott L. Bok – Trustee (former CEO of Greenhill & Co., current Chair of the American Museum of Natural History Board)
- Roxanne Bok – Trustee
- Elliot P. Bok – Trustee
- Seth Starr – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT L BOK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ROXANNE BOK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ELLIOT P BOK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 966, Canaan, CT 06018
Telephone: 516-874-8800
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bok Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving spans education, environment, arts and culture, and health. The foundation maintains particular focus on the northeastern United States, including the Housatonic Valley region of Connecticut where the Boks maintain a 115-acre farm.
How do I apply for a grant from The Bok Family Foundation?
The foundation distributes approximately $3.9 million annually across 30-35 grants. Since 2015, it has awarded at least 87 individual grants totaling approximately $13.3 million. **Grant Range:** $5,000 to $1,070,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • University of Pennsylvania: $1,070,000 • American Museum of Natural History: $625,000 • New York Public Library: $250,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are made to preselected o…
Where does The Bok Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the Housatonic Valley region of Connecticut.
What size grants does The Bok Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bok Family Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $3.9M — an average of about $115K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bok Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bok Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bok Family Foundation's EIN?
The Bok Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6872863. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bok Family 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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