The Graham Foundation
The Graham Foundation is a private foundation based in York, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 filing says trustees direct awards to charitable organizations in the United States, not individuals; 2024 grants went to organizations in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Michigan.
The Graham Foundation at a glance
In short: The Graham Foundation gave $3.2M across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $74K), top state Pennsylvania. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,200,750
- -12.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- -2.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $74,436
- -10.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $32,768,412
- +6.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (10 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (44% 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 Graham Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Paul L. Rudy III as the contact, says there is no specific form, and states that trustees direct awards to charitable organizations in the United States, not individuals.
- Review Cycle
- None stated on the filing.
- Deadline
- None stated on the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Paul L Rudy Iii
Mailing address: 1420 Sixth Avenue, York, PA 17403
Phone: (717) 849-4001
Email: paul_rudy@grcap.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Graham Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Trustees of Dartmouth College ($1.2M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
223 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 188 grants of 223 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were reported as 44% to recipients in Pennsylvania, 39% in New Hampshire, 17% in Michigan, and 1% in PW. The filing also states that awards may be directed to charitable organizations anywhere in the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Graham Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 36 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $261K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 195% 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 $3.2M (2021) to $3.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $3.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Trustees of Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | Field House | $1,200,000 |
| The Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Graham Sustainability Institute Operating Support Fund | $500,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | The Egyptian Galleries Fund | $500,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | The Egyptian Galleries Fund | $250,000 |
| York College of Pennsylvania York, PA | Graham Collaborative Innovation Fellows Program | $150,000 |
| York College of Pennsylvania York, PA | Graham Center for Collaborative Innovations | $125,000 |
| YSC Academy Chester, PA | PA EITC | $85,000 |
| Crispus Attucks York York, PA | Cultural Center Capital Campaign | $50,000 |
| Logos Academy York, PA | PA OSTC | $40,000 |
| Silverback Educational Foundationfor the Arts Dance & Athletics Newtown Square, PA | PA EITC | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Graham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $32,768,412 | $5,234,415 | $3,252,544 | $3,200,750 | 43 | $3,235,486 | $1,796,610 | $1,656,798 |
| 2023 | $30,786,541 | $4,667,613 | $3,660,556 | $3,651,150 | 44 | $3,655,389 | $1,002,072 | $1,436,425 |
| 2022 | $29,780,224 | $3,715,600 | $3,310,512 | $3,195,075 | 40 | $3,204,468 | $649,577 | $1,433,643 |
| 2021 | $29,375,344 | $8,172,116 | $3,218,244 | $3,171,918 | 50 | $3,182,485 | $5,521,243 | $1,608,031 |
| 2020 | $24,421,472 | $4,812,518 | $3,900,097 | $3,868,105 | 46 | — | $2,325,312 | $1,366,234 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission or formal focus areas for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for a college field house, university programs and facilities, educational organizations, a cultural center capital campaign, and a conservation society.
Grantees describe their own work in varied ways. York College of Pennsylvania says it prepares graduates for fulfilling, productive, and purposeful lives through high-quality programs supported by real-world experiences. Squam Lakes Conservation Society says it works to preserve the unique quality and character of the Squam watershed by protecting land. Cultural Alliance of York County says it fuels community creativity and vibrancy through leadership, collaboration, and sustainability.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 43 grants totaling $3,200,750. Individual grants ranged from $250 to $1,200,000, with a median of $8,000. Among the largest awards were $1,200,000 to the Trustees of Dartmouth College for a field house; $500,000 to the Regents of the University of Michigan for the Graham Sustainability Institute Operating Support Fund; and two grants of $500,000 and $250,000 to the University of Pennsylvania for the Egyptian Galleries Fund. York College of Pennsylvania received $150,000 for its Graham Collaborative Innovation Fellows Program and $125,000 for its Graham Center for Collaborative Innovations.
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists no specific application form and no deadlines. Awards are directed by trustees to charitable organizations in the United States, and individuals are not eligible.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Donald C. Graham, William H. Kerlin Jr., Ingrid A. Graham, and Kristin R. Graham as trustees.
The Graham Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donald C. Graham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ingrid A. Graham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin R. Graham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William H. Kerlin Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Graham Foundation
How much does The Graham Foundation give each year?
The Graham Foundation gave $3.2M across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.7M across 44 grants.
What is The Graham Foundation's typical grant size?
The Graham Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $8,000, and its average grant was $74,436, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Graham Foundation that year got $261K on average.
Where does The Graham Foundation give grants?
The Graham Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Hampshire (39%) and Michigan (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were York, PA (29 grants), Hanover, NH (2 grants), Philadelphia, PA (2 grants) and Ann Arbor, MI (2 grants).
Does The Graham Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of The Graham Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Capital Campaign" (3 grants).
Who are The Graham Foundation's largest grantees?
The Graham Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Trustees of Dartmouth College ($1,220,000 across 2 grants), University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania ($750,000 across 2 grants) and The Regents of the University of Michigan ($535,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Graham Foundation?
The Graham Foundation reported $32.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Graham Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission or formal focus areas for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for a college field house, university programs and facilities, educational organizations, a cultural center capital campaign, and a conservation society. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Graham Foundation?
The filing lists Paul L. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 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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Browse active grant opportunities in The Graham Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Graham Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-graham-foundation-morg_b8125855d374407dbe9d7abd2fa28dc7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236805421_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Graham Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-graham-foundation-morg_b8125855d374407dbe9d7abd2fa28dc7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Graham 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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