The Links Foundation Incorporated
The Links Foundation, Incorporated is the philanthropic arm of The Links, Incorporated and is based in Washington, DC. Established in 1979, it supports charitable programs addressing issues affecting African-American communities through grants, chapter grants, and other philanthropic initiatives.
The Links Foundation Incorporated at a glance
In short: The Links Foundation Incorporated gave $8.1M across 133 grants in 2025 (avg $61K), top state Texas. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $8,077,642
- +6.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 133
- +17.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $60,734
- -9.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $31,965,155
- +15.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (19 of 133, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (12% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Links Foundation Incorporated
- Contact
Mailing address: 1200 Massachusetts Avenue Nw, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 842-0123
Website: https://linksinc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Links Foundation Incorporated funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greater New York Chapter ($367K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
520 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 363 grants of 520 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting programs of regional, national, or international significance. Its chapter-grant program supports innovative responses to changing needs in communities of African descent. Website examples include support for rebuilding homes in Haiti, maternal waiting homes and “Mama Kits” through Africare, and schools in Jamaica.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 133 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Links Foundation Incorporated open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 19 of 133 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $43K first-time, $40K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2021) to $8.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 133 grants totaling $8.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater New York Chapter New York, NY | Scholarship & Community Charitable and Educational Programs | $366,800 |
| Chicago Chapter Oak Park, IL | Community Scholarship & Programs | $358,683 |
| Arlington (Va) Chapter Fairfax Station, VA | Scholarship & Community Charitable and Educational Programs | $328,280 |
| Essex County Chapter South Orange, NJ | Scholarship & Community Charitable and Educational Programs | $216,184 |
| Greater Denton County (TX) Carrollton, TX | Chapter Educational Programs | $205,185 |
| Crown Jewels Chapter Charlotte, NC | Scholarship & Community Charitable and Educational Programs | $192,750 |
| Memphis Chapter Memphis, TN | Scholarship & Community Charitable and Educational Programs | $189,222 |
| Fort Worth Chapter Southlake, TX | Scholarship & Community Charitable and Educational Programs | $178,026 |
| West Palm Beach Chapter West Palm Beach, FL | Chapter Educational Programs | $177,407 |
| Buckheadcascade Chapter Atlanta, GA | Scholarship & Community Charitable and Educational Programs | $170,383 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation is listed as a Form 990 public charity.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,965,155 | $15,558,865 | $11,235,118 | $8,077,642 | 133 | $377,049 |
| 2024 | $27,646,397 | $13,309,575 | $10,062,152 | $7,566,078 | 113 | $145,025 |
| 2023 | $24,016,684 | $9,130,315 | $9,091,247 | $4,093,330 | 100 | $239,316 |
| 2022 | $23,252,589 | $7,772,032 | $5,746,291 | $3,114,535 | 79 | $114,315 |
| 2021 | $21,212,759 | $6,336,853 | $4,593,426 | $2,653,969 | 95 | $83,482 |
| 2020 | $19,105,697 | $8,297,917 | $7,159,915 | $5,131,176 | 122 | $-6,152 |
| 2019 | $17,926,597 | $9,342,111 | $8,268,480 | $5,860,921 | 123 | $68,872 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to promote and engage in educational, civic, and intercultural activities to enrich the lives of members of the larger community. Its program areas include healthy lifestyles, academic achievement, economic independence, international literacy, youth development, and cultural involvement and enrichment.
The Foundation says it provides grants to innovative programs addressing problems or opportunities of regional, national, or international significance. Its Grants-in-Aid program has supported nonprofit organizations, including the Children’s Defense Fund, Morgan State University Choir, and Hurley Medical Center, as well as schools in Jamaica and disaster relief efforts.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 113 grants totaling $7,566,078. In 2023, it reported 100 grants totaling $4,093,330. The available information does not establish a typical grant size. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 133 grants totaling $8.1 million.
The Foundation has named six $1 million Legacy Grant recipients. Those named include the Obama Presidential Center, the United Negro College Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the National Civil Rights Museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Obama Presidential Center was selected for a $1 million Legacy Grant in 2022.
The Foundation’s 2025 Links Black Woman Health Equity scholarship program offered six awards of $25,000 to medical students at Morehouse School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Howard University College of Medicine. Applications were due March 1, 2025; these awards are for students, not grants to outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ethel Isaacs Williams as National President; Shuana Tucker-Sims as National Vice President; Rhonda S. Crowder as National Recording Secretary; Marcia L. Page as National Treasurer; Tyna D. Davis as National Parliamentarian; Arelen Isaacs-Lowe as Financial Secretary; Esther Silver-Parker as Director of Philanthropy; Rosalind Hudnell as National Chair, Fund Development; Michele Hagans as National Chair, Building Operations; and Stephanie Mays Boyd as National Chair, Corporate Relations.
The Links Foundation Incorporated is led by Ethel Isaacs Williams, National President since 2023 (on filings since 2019); none of the 20 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ethel Isaacs Williams
National President
National Vice President → National President, 2023
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gwendolyn E. Boyd
Executive Director
Interim Executive Director → Int. Executive Director, 2020
Int. Executive Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Hagans
Natl Chair & Bld Operations
Chair & Building Operations → National Chair & Building Operations, 2023
National Chair & Building Operations → Natl Chair & Bld Operations, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosalind Hudnell
Natl Chair & Fund Development
Director, Philanthropy & Fund Development → National Chair & Fund Development, 2023
National Chair & Fund Development → Natl Chair & Fund Development, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Mays Boyd
Natl Chair & Corp Relations
Chair & Strategic Partnership → National Chair & Corporate Relations, 2023
National Chair & Corporate Relations → Natl Chair & Corp Relations, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Lewis
National Audit Chair
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen J. Morrison
Natl Chair & Global Leaders Circle
Nat'l Chair & Global Leaders Circle → National Chair & Global Leaders Circle, 2024
National Chair & Global Leaders Circle → Natl Chair & Global Leaders Circle, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Keenan
Natl Chair & Legal Affairs
National Chair & Legal Affairs → Natl Chair & Legal Affairs, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tysus Jackson
Natl Chair & Strategic Partnership
National Chair & Strat. Partnership → National Chair & Strategic Partnership, 2024
National Chair & Strategic Partnership → Natl Chair & Strategic Partnership, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mehari R. Debas
Director of Finance
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Esther Silver-Parker
Director of Philanthropy
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tyna D. Davis
National Parliamentarian
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arelen Isaacs-Lowe
Financial Secretary
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcia L. Page
National Treasurer
On filings since 2023
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shuana Tucker-Sims
National Vice President
On filings since 2023
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alane Lillie
Western Area Representative
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beverly Roberts-Atwater
Eastern Area Representative
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Cameron
Southrtn Area Representative
Southern Area Representative → Southrtn Area Representative, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha Robinson
Central Area Representative
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rhonda S. Crowder
National Rec Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Sharon Dixon Gentry (2021–2024) — National Recording Secretary
- Former: Chalon Anderson (2019–2023) — Central Area Representative
- Former: Lolita Browning Jackson (2019–2023) — Southern Area Representative
- Former: Sherita Thomas (2019–2023) — Eastern Area Representative
- Former: Wendolyn Washington (2019–2023) — Western Area Representative
- Former: Kristie Patton Foster (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Jennifer Hudnell (2022–2023) — Manager, Communications & Partnership
- Former: Nakeisha Brownlee (2022–2023) — Manager, Meetings & Conferences
- Former: Ethelyn S. Bowers (2019–2022) — National Treasurer
- Former: Evelyn Rose Coker (2019–2022) — Financial Secretary
- Former: Glenda Masingale Manson (2019–2022) — Chair & Organizational Alignment
- Former: Kimberly Jeffries Leonard (2019–2022) — National President
- Former: Vivian Pickard (2019–2022) — Chair & Corporate Linages
- Former: Crystal L. Kendrick (2019–2020) — National Recording Secretary
- Former: Madeline Y. Lawson (2019) — Interim Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Links Foundation Incorporated
How much does The Links Foundation Incorporated give each year?
The Links Foundation Incorporated gave $8.1M across 133 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.6M across 113 grants.
What is The Links Foundation Incorporated's typical grant size?
The Links Foundation Incorporated's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $60,734, across 133 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Links Foundation Incorporated that year got $50K on average.
Where does The Links Foundation Incorporated give grants?
The Links Foundation Incorporated's top state is Texas, with 12% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Florida (9%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (4 grants), Charlotte, NC (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Dallas, TX (2 grants).
Does The Links Foundation Incorporated give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 133 grants with a stated purpose on The Links Foundation Incorporated's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship & Community Charitable and Educational Programs" (48 grants), "Community Scholarship & Programs" (48 grants) and "Chapter Educational Programs" (36 grants).
Who are The Links Foundation Incorporated's largest grantees?
The Links Foundation Incorporated's largest 2025 grantees include Greater New York Chapter ($366,800), Chicago Chapter ($358,683) and Arlington (Va) Chapter ($328,280), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Links Foundation Incorporated?
The Links Foundation Incorporated reported $32.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.6M.
What does The Links Foundation Incorporated fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to promote and engage in educational, civic, and intercultural activities to enrich the lives of members of the larger community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Links Foundation Incorporated?
The Links Foundation Incorporated has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check linksinc.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Links Foundation Incorporated's EIN?
The Links Foundation Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1170830. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 26, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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