The Fine Fund is a private family foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 2007. Founded by Milton Fine, co-founder of Interstate Hotels Corporation, the foundation operates through FFC Capital Corporation for investment management and philanthropic purposes. The Fine Fund is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since August 2008.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
+308.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$282K
+13.1% YoY
Grant Count
25
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+13.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fine Fund reported a distributable amount of $87K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fine Fund gives primarily to the environment and visual arts. The foundation supports a broad geographic reach across the United States without narrowly defined subject area restrictions, though environmental and visual arts initiatives represent its primary philanthropic interests.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry. Applicants should note geographic restrictions focusing on the Boston area and funding interests in environmental and visual arts fields.
Average Grant
amount: approximately $10,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fine Fund supports a wide range of cities and communities across the United States, including major urban centers such as New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as smaller communities like Bozeman and Hardwick. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 13 states, with primary concentration in Massachusetts, New York, and California, which account for 42% of all grants. Additional funding regions include the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $797,722 (2023)
- Annual Revenue: $276,253 (2023)
- Annual Expenses: $301,938 (2023)
- Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,254,986 | $797,722 | $823,407 |
| Revenue | $2,812,107 | $276,253 | $282,811 |
| Expenses | $354,843 | $301,938 | $335,673 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $349,451 | $291,161 | $333,457 |
| Net Investment Income | $57,136 | $15,981 | $30,495 |
| Distributable Amount | $86,714 | $53,371 | $55,788 |
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
139 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Fine Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New World Foundation ($30,000), Sustainable Markets Foundation ($30,000), Court Accountability ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTER FOR POLITICAL ECOLOGY SANTA CRUZ, CA | GLOBAL CENTER FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE | $15,000 |
| COMING CLEAN BRATTLEBORO, VT | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | SLINGSHOT | $2,500 |
| COURT ACCOUNTABILITY ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| DEPLOYUS BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TRUST TETON VILLAGE, WY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,500 |
| GENERATION COMMON GOOD WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $13,000 |
| HABITABLE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| HEALTH CARE WITHOUT HARM RESTON, VA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| JUST TRANSITION ALLIANCE SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Carolyn Fine Friedman — Director, Chair, and CEO (serves on a voluntary basis without compensation)
- Thomas J. Lavelle — Director and Treasurer (serves on a voluntary basis without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROLYN FINE FRIEDMAN | DIRECTOR, CHAIR, & CEO | 3 | — |
| THOMAS J LAVELLE | DIRECTOR & TREASURER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1 PPG Place, Suite 1670, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5401
Telephone: 412-444-3500
EIN: 26-0697144
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Fine Fund fund?
The Fine Fund gives primarily to the environment and visual arts. The foundation supports a broad geographic reach across the United States without narrowly defined subject area restrictions, though environmental and visual arts initiatives represent its primary philanthropic interests.
How do I apply for a grant from The Fine Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $249,500 (based on 2023 filings) • Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $30,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $10,000 • Median grant: $10,000 • The foundation has made 31 grants totaling $295,000 and supported 28 unique organizations **Application Process:** The foundation accepts letters of inquiry. Applicants should note geographic restrictions focusing on the Boston area and funding interests in environmental and visual arts fields.
Where does The Fine Fund make grants?
The Fine Fund supports a wide range of cities and communities across the United States, including major urban centers such as New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as smaller communities like Bozeman and Hardwick. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 13 states, with primary concentration in Massachusetts, New York, and California, which account for 42% of all grants. Additional funding regions include the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Fine Fund award?
In 2024, The Fine Fund awarded 25 grants totaling $282K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Fine Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Fine Fund reported a distributable amount of $87K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Fine Fund's EIN?
The Fine Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0697144. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Fine 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.
What could you do with The Fine Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
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