The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Agawam, Massachusetts. Established in 1986, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to supporting education, local agriculture, energy efficiency, and early childhood literacy in Western Massachusetts and surrounding regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.5M
+17.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+54.6% YoY
Grant Count
215
-20.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+94.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Harold Grinspoon Charitable reported a distributable amount of $817K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to recognize and reward excellence in education, support local farmers who nourish Western Massachusetts communities, promote learning in energy and environmental stewardship, and advance literacy and early childhood education to build a stronger, more sustainable future.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education Excellence: Recognition and support for distinguished educators through teaching awards and excellence in education initiatives
- Early Childhood Literacy: Support for programs including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and the Starlight program, which provides books to preschool children in Western Massachusetts
- Local Agriculture: Farm awards and farmer appreciation programs that encourage and support local farming practices
- Energy and Environmental Stewardship: The Ener-G-Save program, which works with towns, grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and schools to lower carbon pollution and help residents make smart energy choices
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: Awards that acknowledge students' entrepreneurial actions and encourage pursuit of entrepreneurial dreams
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on Western Massachusetts. Secondary funding regions include Connecticut and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $18,458,358 (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $1,474,579 (2024)
Total Revenues: $2,781,055 (2024)
Total Expenses: $2,058,629 (2024)
Historical Asset Growth: Assets have grown from $7.2 million in 2010 to $15.7 million in 2023
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee and is governed by 6 officers and trustees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,458,358 | $15,673,879 | $14,184,875 |
| Revenue | $2,781,055 | $1,854,740 | $2,200,789 |
| Expenses | $2,058,629 | $2,464,720 | $2,116,477 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,139,993 | $1,364,896 | $1,891,179 |
| Net Investment Income | $427,329 | $331,909 | $373,018 |
| Distributable Amount | $816,822 | $741,319 | $768,069 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include David Halley ($2,500), Evelyn Hatch ($2,500), Jared Duval ($2,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DAVID HALLEY PITTSFIELD, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $2,500 |
| EVELYN HATCH GRANBY, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $2,500 |
| DAVID DRUGAN WESTFIELD, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $1,800 |
| JARED DUVAL NEW SALEM, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $2,500 |
| ERICA GOULDING ORANGE, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $1,300 |
| DANIEL SMIAROWSKI SUNDERLAND, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $2,500 |
| HANNAH R SOL GILL, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $2,500 |
| ANTHONY QUINTO PITTSFIELD, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $2,500 |
| DANIEL GREENE SHELBURNE FALLS, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $2,052 |
| PAUL SENA WORTHINGTON, MA | LOCAL FARMERS AWARDS | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANE TRODERMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| HAROLD GRINSPOON | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JEREMY PAVA | TRUSTEE THROUGH 11/13/23 | 0.5 | — |
| WINIFRED SANDLER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| PATRICK GERYK | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 2 | $13,900 |
| STEVEN GRINSPOON | TRUSTEE AS OF 11/14/23 | 0.5 | — |
| ADRIAN DION | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to actively administer its flagship programs:
The **Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards** program recognizes distinguished educators and motivates teachers at all stages of their careers. Award winners are celebrated at spring events, with 21 Springfield educators honored in 2026.
21 Springfield educators honored with 2026 Teaching Award - Yahoo**Local Farmer Awards** applications are regularly opened to support necessary farm improvements on local farms, with annual farmer appreciation events held to honor and recognize farmers and promote the importance of local farming.
Applications open for Local Farmer Awards in Western MassachusettsThe foundation maintains ongoing support for **Dolly Parton's Imagination Library** and the **Starlight program**, both focused on fostering early childhood literacy in Western Massachusetts.
The **Ener-G-Save program** continues community outreach efforts promoting home and family energy efficiency throughout Western Massachusetts.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Harold Grinspoon Charitable fund?
The foundation's mission is to recognize and reward excellence in education, support local farmers who nourish Western Massachusetts communities, promote learning in energy and environmental stewardship, and advance literacy and early childhood education to build a stronger, more sustainable future. Primary funding focus areas include: • **Education Excellence**: Recognition and support for distinguished educators through teaching awards and excellence in education initiatives • **Early Childho…
How do I apply for a grant from The Harold Grinspoon Charitable?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics: **Grant Amounts**: Typical awards range from $50,000 to $400,000, though individual grants have ranged from $500 to $200,000, with an average award of approximately $4,000. **Grant Activity**: The foundation has made 1,123 grants totaling $4.9 million, with a median grant of $500. Annual distribution has ranged between $865,000 and $3.1 million, with the highest grantmaking activity occurring in 2022 when…
Where does The Harold Grinspoon Charitable make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on Western Massachusetts. Secondary funding regions include Connecticut and Tennessee.
What size grants does The Harold Grinspoon Charitable award?
In 2024, The Harold Grinspoon Charitable awarded 215 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Harold Grinspoon Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Harold Grinspoon Charitable reported a distributable amount of $817K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Harold Grinspoon Charitable's EIN?
The Harold Grinspoon Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2738277. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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