The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Pawling, New York. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including public media, journalism, early childhood education, science, and human services.
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation gave $680K across 40 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in New York. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $680,000
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 40
- -4.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,000
- +11.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,835,346
- -4.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (8 of 40, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (54% 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 The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 540, Pawling, NY 12564
Phone: (212) 228-1994
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wnyc-NY Public Radio ($100K). Together the top 10 received $370K.
Grant Size Distribution
189 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 181 grants of 189 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 54% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 8% to Connecticut, 7% each to Massachusetts and California, and 4% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 40 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 57% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% 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 $381K (2020) to $680K (2025). In 2025 it made 40 grants totaling $680K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wnyc-NY Public Radio New York, NY | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Wnet New York, NY | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Childrens Center of New Milford New Milford, CT | Charitable | $40,000 |
| Pro Publica New York, NY | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Institute for Non Profit Practice Boston, MA | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting New York, NY | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Public Media Bridge Fund Boulder, CO | Charitable | $30,000 |
| ACLU Foundation New York, NY | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Food Bank of NYC Bronx, NY | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Arlington, VA | Charitable | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Charles Spear Charitable 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 | $9,835,346 | $336,731 | $808,603 | $680,000 | 40 | $680,000 | $211,092 | $647,179 |
| 2024 | $10,308,864 | $685,033 | $772,152 | $639,500 | 42 | $639,500 | $563,197 | $606,675 |
| 2023 | $10,414,367 | $328,161 | $539,721 | $417,500 | 39 | $417,500 | $214,934 | $517,272 |
| 2022 | $10,625,927 | $763,911 | $556,423 | $434,500 | 32 | $434,500 | $647,075 | $486,008 |
| 2021 | $9,502,465 | $481,095 | $532,945 | $409,000 | 36 | $409,000 | $365,956 | $412,133 |
| 2020 | $9,535,433 | $928,388 | $504,871 | $381,000 | 35 | — | $806,186 | $381,401 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $647K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grantees describe a range of work: WNET says it delivers public-service media and lifelong learning; The Children’s Center of New Milford provides early childhood education and childcare; and Pro Publica produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Other grantees describe work in areas such as biological research, homelessness services, environmental protection, and racial justice.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 40 grants totaling $680,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000.
The largest reported grants included $100,000 to WNYC-NY Public Radio, $50,000 to WNET, $40,000 to the Children’s Center of New Milford, and $30,000 each to Pro Publica, the Institute for Non Profit Practice, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, and Public Media Bridge Fund. Other recipients included the ACLU Foundation, Food Bank of NYC, Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Planned Parenthood, and Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Caroline M. Barrett as president, director, and treasurer; Barbara Solomon as director; and James Galvin as director, vice president, and secretary.
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation is led by Caroline M. Barrett, President, Director & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Caroline M. Barrett
President, Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $50K (2025)
Barbara Solomon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Galvin
Director, Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $50K, to Caroline M Barrett (PRESIDENT,DIRECTOR,TREASUR).
Frequently asked questions about The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation
How much does The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation gave $680K across 40 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $640K across 42 grants.
What is The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,000, across 40 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation that year got $33K on average.
Where does The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation gives mostly in New York: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (8%) and Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (11 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants).
Does The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 40 grants with a stated purpose on The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (40 grants).
Who are The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Wnyc-NY Public Radio ($100,000), Wnet ($50,000) and Childrens Center of New Milford ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation?
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $680K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $647K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1612539. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Charles Spear Charitable 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-charles-spear-charitable-foundation-morg_d0755695040f49b1bfaa37333528a0cc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_271612539_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Charles Spear Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-charles-spear-charitable-foundation-morg_d0755695040f49b1bfaa37333528a0cc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 The Charles Spear Charitable 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.
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