The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation
The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation is a private foundation based in Princeton, an individual recipient Established in 1979, it has awarded grants for higher-education scholarships and fellowships since 1981.
The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation at a glance
In short: The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation gave $2.1M across 40 grants in 2024 (avg $53K), mostly in New Jersey. 3% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,111,799
- -9.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $52,795
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $51,316,518
- +5.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
Scholarship-seeking students apply through their college or university, not directly to the Foundation. Institutions may inquire about eligibility and request guidelines; formal applications are by invitation. Doctoral fellowship candidates apply through the fellowship program.
- Contact
Application contact: Gianna Durso-Finley
Mailing address: 35 Park Pl, Princeton, NJ 08542
Phone: (609) 924-7022
Email: info@newcombefoundation.org
Website: https://newcombefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation
Who The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Institute for Citizens and Scholars ($986K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($105,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
211 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 160 grants of 211 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says it funds almost exclusively in the Mid-Atlantic region. In 2024, 62% of grant dollars went to an individual recipient recipients, 18% to Pennsylvania, 9% to Maryland, 4% to New York, and 4% to Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 38 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $720; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $720 first-time, $25K repeat.
- 97% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−20%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2020) to $2.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 40 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Institute for Citizens and Scholars Princeton, NJ | Doctoral Fellowships and Scholarships | $986,079 |
| Georgia State University Atlanta, GA | Mature Students Scholarships | $75,000 |
| CUNY School of Professional Studies New York, NY | Mature Students Scholarships | $50,000 |
| Morgan State University Baltimore, MD | Mature Students Scholarships | $50,000 |
| Penn State University University Park, PA | Scholarships for Students with Disabilities | $50,000 |
| 3 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $105,000 |
| Penn College of Technology Williamsport, PA | Mature Students Scholarships | $50,000 |
| Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJ | Mature Students Scholarships | $45,000 |
| Towson University Foundation Towson, MD | Mature Students Scholarships | $40,000 |
| Montclair State Montclair, NJ | Scholarships for Students with Disabilities | $40,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $51,316,518 | $5,931,901 | $3,166,693 | $2,111,799 | 40 | $2,567,465 | $4,318,571 | $2,503,319 |
| 2023 | $48,556,596 | $6,095,585 | $3,317,650 | $2,322,616 | 42 | $2,758,413 | $2,359,733 | $2,337,561 |
| 2022 | $45,808,345 | $-4,706,970 | $3,184,426 | $2,338,275 | 43 | $2,710,841 | $1,223,818 | $2,356,474 |
| 2021 | $53,793,774 | $6,403,978 | $3,572,790 | $2,627,986 | 43 | $2,984,650 | $3,496,050 | $2,495,092 |
| 2020 | $51,163,519 | $5,026,351 | $2,718,766 | $1,887,521 | 43 | — | $1,131,448 | $2,248,592 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — 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’s scholarship programs support students completing bachelor’s degrees: mature students age 25 or older who need financial assistance, students with disabilities who need financial assistance, and selected students with financial need through special scholarship endowments. Its Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship supports doctoral candidates in the final year of dissertation writing whose work engages significant questions of religion, ethics, morals, or values.
Scholarship awards go to selected U.S.-based nonprofit colleges and universities, not directly to individual students. The Foundation states that it concentrates scholarships on students seeking baccalaureate degrees and makes no grants to two-year colleges or professional schools.
Examples of supported organizations include the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, which describes its mission as preparing leaders and engaging networks to develop young people as informed, productively engaged, and hopeful citizens. The Pennsylvania College of Technology Foundation says it secures support for hands-on technical education. An individual recipient State University Foundation describes its work as inspiring investment in the university’s efforts to help adults attain educational goals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 40 grants totaling $2,111,799. Grant amounts ranged from $720 to $986,079, with a median grant of $25,000. Its largest reported award was $986,079 to the Institute for Citizens and Scholars for doctoral fellowships and scholarships. Other notable awards included $75,000 to Georgia State University for mature-student scholarships; $50,000 each to CUNY School of Professional Studies, Morgan State University, Penn State University, an individual recipient State University Foundation, and Penn College of Technology; and $45,000 to Rutgers University–Newark. These awards supported mature-student scholarships or scholarships for students with disabilities, as specified in the filing.
For scholarships, students should contact their institution’s financial-aid or scholarship office; they cannot apply directly to the Foundation. Institutions may inquire about eligibility and request application guidelines. Formal scholarship applications are accepted only by invitation following an initial institutional inquiry. The Foundation’s 2024 filing directs applicants to statements 14, 15, and 16 for application materials, deadlines, and award restrictions, respectively.
The Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship is for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences at accredited U.S. graduate schools who are at the dissertation-writing stage. Candidates must have completed pre-dissertation requirements, including approval of the dissertation proposal, by the application deadline. Fellowship applications open August 1, with a November 1 deadline listed on the Foundation’s fellowship page.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gianna Durso-Finley as executive director and Dale R. Anglin, Elizabeth T. Frank, Louise U. Johnson, Damian J. Fernandez, and John Bowlin as trustees.
The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation is led by Gianna Durso-Finley, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gianna Durso-Finley
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$156K (2020) → $189K (2024)
Dale R. Anglin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $8K (2024)
Elizabeth T. Frank
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $8K (2024)
Louise U. Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $8K (2024)
John Bowlin
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $8K (2024)
Damian J. Fernandez
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$8K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: J. Barton Luedeke (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Robert M. Adams (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $189K, to Gianna Durso-Finley (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation
How much does The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation give each year?
The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation gave $2.1M across 40 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 42 grants.
What is The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation's typical grant size?
The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $52,795, across 40 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation that year got $720 on average.
Where does The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation give grants?
The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (18%) and Maryland (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (3 grants), Philadelphia, PA (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 40 grants with a stated purpose on The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Mature Students Scholarships" (28 grants) and "Scholarships for Students with Disabilities" (10 grants).
Who are The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation's largest grantees?
The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Institute for Citizens and Scholars ($986,079), Georgia State University ($75,000) and CUNY School of Professional Studies ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($105,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation?
The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation reported $51.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s scholarship programs support students completing bachelor’s degrees: mature students age 25 or older who need financial assistance, students with disabilities who need financial assistance, and selected students with financial need through special scholarship endowments. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation?
Scholarship-seeking students apply through their college or university, not directly to the Foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation's EIN?
The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2120614. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-charlotte-w-newcombe-foundation-morg_363cf44168ae41b1846609d9f7982533
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_232120614_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-charlotte-w-newcombe-foundation-morg_363cf44168ae41b1846609d9f7982533},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Charlotte W Newcombe 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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