The Link Foundation
THE LINK FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in Binghamton, New York. It supports community organizations and projects; its website identifies personal and professional development, developing future leaders, and financial literacy as three pillars of its work.
Key facts about The Link Foundation
In short: The Link Foundation gave $923K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), top state Florida. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 53-6011109
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $923,085
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- Average grant
- $41,958
- Median grant
- $22,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (4 of 22, 2025)
- Total assets
- $21,009,963
- Primary geography
- Florida (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.0M
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$923K
-9.3% YoY
Grant Count
22
+4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
-13.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Link Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Link Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 22 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 77% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says its three pillars are fortifying personal and professional development, developing future leaders, and promoting financial literacy. Its website also describes its broader aim as strengthening and uplifting communities.
The 2025 grants included educational purposes such as energy, marine sciences, ocean research and conservation, and sciences. Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of supported organizations: Johns Hopkins University says its mission includes education, independent research, and bringing the benefits of discovery to the world; Broome County Council of Churches says it provides ministries that individual churches may find difficult to offer alone; and United Way of Broome County says it works to address community needs by leveraging partners’ resources.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $923,085. Awards ranged from $250 to $311,501, with a median of $22,500. Among the largest were Florida Atlantic University Foundation ($311,501, education), Dartmouth College ($195,334, education and energy), the Smithsonian Institution ($77,500, education and marine sciences), Johns Hopkins University ($70,000, education), and Ocean Research Conservation Association ($40,000, education, ocean research, and conservation).
Review Cycle
** The 2024 filing lists January 15 within the fiscal year. That filing’s application cycle is past.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes an expansion into Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., alongside its initial footprint. Its contact page identifies grant-management regions in Delaware and Maryland, Virginia and D.C., and Pennsylvania. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (49%), New Hampshire (21%), New York (11%), Maryland (8%), and California (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 22 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University Foundat Boca Raton, FL | Education | $311,501 |
| Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | Education - Energy | $195,334 |
| Smithsonian Institution Fort Pierce, FL | Education - Marine Sciences | $77,500 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | EDUCATION | $70,000 |
| Ocean Research Conservation Assoc Fort Pierce, FL | Education - Ocean Research & Conservation | $40,000 |
| Binghamton University Foundation Binghamton, NY | Education | $35,350 |
| Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY | Educational | $35,000 |
| Stanford University Stanford, CA | Educational | $35,000 |
| Arizona State University tempe, AZ | educational | $35,000 |
| Georgia Research Corporation atlanta, GA | educational | $35,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,009,963 | $1,324,298 | $1,073,538 | $923,085 |
| 2024 | $19,572,724 | $2,467 | $1,149,690 | $1,017,310 |
| 2023 | $17,876,355 | $3,490,155 | $1,100,568 | $986,249 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,009,963 | $19,572,724 | $17,876,355 |
| Revenue | $1,324,298 | $2,467 | $3,490,155 |
| Expenses | $1,073,538 | $1,149,690 | $1,100,568 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $973,358 | $1,053,157 | $1,004,780 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,220,068 | $201,569 | $3,380,327 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,066,818 | $759,322 | $731,301 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dr Shelley D Dionne as chairman, James Morton as treasurer, Mr Lenny Genna and Dr ANDREW M CLARK as trustees, and Mr James R Van Voorst as secretary.
The foundation’s website lists regional boards. The Delaware and Maryland board is chaired by Sally Rankin; the Virginia and D.C. board by Robert Hyland; and the Pennsylvania board by Jewel Cooper.
The Link Foundation is led by Shelley D Dionne, Chairman since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shelley D Dionne
Chairman
Chair → Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
ANDREW M CLARK
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lenny Genna
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Edmond Morton IV
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James R Van Voorst
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Leonard Genna (2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Vicki Griffin
Mailing address: PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005
Phone: (607) 777-2210
Website: https://linkfound.org
Frequently asked questions about The Link Foundation
How much does The Link Foundation give each year?
The Link Foundation gave $923K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 21 grants.
What is The Link Foundation's typical grant size?
The Link Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $41,958, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Link Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does The Link Foundation give grants?
The Link Foundation's top state is Florida, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Hampshire (21%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Binghamton, NY (6 grants) and Fort Pierce, FL (3 grants).
Does The Link Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on The Link Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (7 grants), "Matching Grant" (6 grants) and "Education" (5 grants).
Who are The Link Foundation's largest grantees?
The Link Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Florida Atlantic University Foundat ($311,501), Dartmouth College ($195,334) and Smithsonian Institution ($77,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Link Foundation?
The Link Foundation reported $21.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $973K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Link Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website says its three pillars are fortifying personal and professional development, developing future leaders, and promoting financial literacy. Its website also describes its broader aim as strengthening and uplifting communities. The 2025 grants included educational purposes such as energy, marine sciences, ocean research and conservation, and sciences. Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of supported organizations: Johns Hopkins University says its mission inclu…
How do I apply for a grant from The Link Foundation?
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $923,085. Awards ranged from $250 to $311,501, with a median of $22,500. Among the largest were Florida Atlantic University Foundation ($311,501, education), Dartmouth College ($195,334, education and energy), the Smithsonian Institution ($77,500, education and marine sciences), Johns Hopkins University ($70,000, education), and Ocean Research Conservation Association ($40,000, education, ocean research, and conservation). The foundati…
What is The Link Foundation's EIN?
The Link Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-6011109. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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