The Foreside Foundation
The Foreside Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports $58,211 in grants to 28 organizations, including recipients in Maine, Washington, DC, New Hampshire, Arizona, and Rhode Island.
The Foreside Foundation at a glance
In short: The Foreside Foundation gave $58K across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Maine. 35% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $58,211
- +140.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- +75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,079
- +37.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $344,524
- -16.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (9 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maine (56% 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 Foreside 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: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Foreside Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hurricane Island Outward Bound School ($25K). Together the top 10 received $50K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 85 grants of 85 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in several states and Washington, DC. By recipient state, the largest shares were Maine (56%), DC (13%), New Hampshire (10%), Arizona (9%), and Rhode Island (9%). These figures describe the locations of 2025 recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Foreside Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 26 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $800 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 62% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 199% 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 $15K (2020) to $63K (2022). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $58K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Island Outward Bound School Camden, ME | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Issue One Washington, DC | The Council for American Democracy | $7,500 |
| Aspire Scholarship Tumacacori, AZ | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Bermuda Race Foundation Inc Newport, RI | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Hurricane Island Foundation Rockland, ME | General & Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Legado Inc Jackson, NH | General & Unrestricted | $1,250 |
| Appalachian Mountain Club Charlestown, MA | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences East Boothbay, ME | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust Topsham, ME | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Maine Island Trail Association Portland, ME | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Foreside 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 | $344,524 | $-1,153 | $66,461 | $58,211 | 28 | $65,961 | $15,262 | $33,174 |
| 2024 | $412,138 | $18,080 | $31,986 | $24,161 | 16 | $31,686 | $18,080 | $31,704 |
| 2023 | $426,044 | $18,307 | $43,688 | $21,911 | 19 | $34,111 | $18,315 | $29,914 |
| 2022 | $451,425 | $75,951 | $72,877 | $62,500 | 11 | $72,113 | $77,352 | $31,214 |
| 2021 | $448,351 | $4,935 | $52,388 | $47,200 | 11 | $52,225 | $11,789 | $31,716 |
| 2020 | $495,804 | $11,694 | $21,083 | $14,900 | 7 | — | $11,694 | $27,386 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Foreside Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include outdoor education, political reform, sailing, Indigenous-led conservation, land and water conservation, community music, and youth sports. For example, Hurricane Island Outward Bound School says its mission is to change lives through challenge and discovery; Maine Coast Heritage Trust says it advances conservation of lands and waters in Maine; and Palaver Strings says it works to strengthen and inspire community through music. These are the grantees’ missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave 28 grants totaling $58,211. Grant amounts ranged from $111 to $25,000, with a median grant of $500.
The largest reported awards included $25,000 to Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, $7,500 to Issue One, $5,000 to Aspire Scholarship, and $5,000 to Bermuda Race Foundation. Other reported grants included $1,500 to Hurricane Island Foundation, $1,250 to Legado, and $1,000 each to Appalachian Mountain Club, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine Island Trail Association, Palaver Strings, and West River Sports Association.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Caroline S Marston as president, director, and secretary. It lists Chase Marston, Gregg Marston, John Marston, and Sarah Marston as vice presidents.
The Foreside Foundation is led by Caroline S Marston, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Caroline S Marston
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chase Marston
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregg Marston
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Marston
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Marston
Vice President
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Foreside Foundation
How much does The Foreside Foundation give each year?
The Foreside Foundation gave $58K across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $24K across 16 grants.
What is The Foreside Foundation's typical grant size?
The Foreside Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $2,079, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Foreside Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Foreside Foundation give grants?
The Foreside Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (13%) and New Hampshire (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (5 grants), Freedom, NH (4 grants) and Concord, NH (2 grants).
Does The Foreside Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 82% of The Foreside Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Foreside Foundation's largest grantees?
The Foreside Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hurricane Island Outward Bound School ($25,000), Issue One ($7,500) and Aspire Scholarship ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Foreside Foundation?
The Foreside Foundation reported $345K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $66K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $33K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Foreside Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include outdoor education, political reform, sailing, Indigenous-led conservation, land and water conservation, community music, and youth sports. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Foreside 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 Foreside Foundation's EIN?
The Foreside Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1588930. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Foreside 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 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 31, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Foreside 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 Foreside Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Foreside Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-foreside-foundation-morg_27db54b74414493bb5fb95b0864cc468
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461588930_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Foreside Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-foreside-foundation-morg_27db54b74414493bb5fb95b0864cc468},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Foreside 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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