The Graham Foundation
The Graham Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1986 and located in York, Pennsylvania. The foundation makes project-based grants to individuals and organizations and produces public programs to foster the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.8M
+6.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
-12.3% YoY
Grant Count
43
-2.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$74K
-10.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Graham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports community foundations and organizations involved with:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Land conservation
- Animals and wildlife
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation made approximately 30 grants totaling $2,766,150 in 2023, with total giving of $3,200,750 in 2024.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation directs grants as determined by trustees to charitable organizations throughout the United States, with demonstrated giving in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $32,768,412
- Total Revenue: $5,230,000
- Total Expenses: $3,250,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $30,786,541
- Total Revenue: $4,667,613
- Total Expenses: $3,660,556
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,768,412 | $30,786,541 | $29,780,224 |
| Revenue | $5,234,415 | $4,667,613 | $3,715,600 |
| Expenses | $3,252,544 | $3,660,556 | $3,310,512 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,235,486 | $3,655,389 | $3,204,468 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,796,610 | $1,002,072 | $649,577 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,656,798 | $1,436,425 | $1,433,643 |
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
223 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Trustees of Dartmouth College ($1,200,000), The Regents of the University of Michigan ($500,000), University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APPELL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS YORK, PW | CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN | $20,000 |
| BYRNES HEALTH EDUCATION YORK, PA | 25TH BIRTHDAY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $12,000 |
| CRISPUS ATTUCKS YORK YORK, PA | CULTURAL CENTER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $50,000 |
| CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF YORK COUNTY YORK, PA | GENERAL FUND | $14,500 |
| FAMILY FIRST HEALTH YORK, PA | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| KEYSTONE KIDSPACE YORK, PA | PLAY WITH PURPOSE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $5,000 |
| LEG UP FARM MT WOLF, PA | SECURING THE DREAM TOGETHER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $8,000 |
| LOGOS ACADEMY YORK, PA | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $10,000 |
| LOGOS ACADEMY YORK, PA | PA OSTC | $40,000 |
| LOGOS ACADEMY YORK, PA | PA OSTC | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
William H Kerlin - Trustee
The foundation is supported by Donald C Graham.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD C GRAHAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM H KERLIN JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| INGRID A GRAHAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KRISTIN R GRAHAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Graham Foundation revealed 2025 grants for 39 organizations worldwide and announced 2025 grants to individuals.
Graham Foundation Reveals 2025 Grants for 39 Organizations ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Graham Foundation fund?
The foundation supports community foundations and organizations involved with: • Arts and culture • Education • Land conservation • Animals and wildlife • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from The Graham Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $200 to $1,200,000. **Recent Grant Activity (2023):** • Dartmouth College: $1,000,000 (Field House) • University of Pennsylvania: $750,000 (Egypt Galleries) • York Jewish Community Center: $500,000 (Capital Campaign) The foundation made approximately 30 grants totaling $2,766,150 in 2023, with total giving of $3,200,750 in 2024.
Where does The Graham Foundation make grants?
The foundation directs grants as determined by trustees to charitable organizations throughout the United States, with demonstrated giving in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Michigan.
What size grants does The Graham Foundation award?
In 2024, The Graham Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $74K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Graham Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Graham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Graham Foundation's EIN?
The Graham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6805421. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Graham 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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