The Ludes Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Marion, MA EIN: 04-3448695

The Ludes Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Marion, Massachusetts. In 2024, it made 91 grants totaling $139,000 to organizations including health care providers, schools, cultural institutions, and community and conservation organizations.

Key facts about The Ludes Family Foundation

In short: The Ludes Family Foundation gave $139K across 91 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Massachusetts. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
04-3448695
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$139,000
Grants made (2024)
91
Average grant
$1,527
Median grant
$1,000
New grantees (estimate)
29% first-time grantees (24 of 82, 2024)
Total assets
$1,306,249
Primary geography
Massachusetts (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation’s filing says to contact John Ludes with a letter requesting funds. Full details ↓
Deadline
None.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3M

+1.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$139K

+7.3% YoY

Grant Count

91

+16.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2K

-8.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ludes Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $131K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Ludes Family Foundation open to new grantees?

29%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 24 of 82 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 112% 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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as health, education, humanitarian aid, arts and culture, and local conservation. For example, Southcoast Health System describes its mission as improving health and wellness in its communities; Our Sisters’ School says it educates and inspires economically disadvantaged girls in the New Bedford area; and Sippican Lands Trust says it works to protect land in Marion and encourage engagement with the natural world.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 91 grants totaling $139,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $15,000, with a median grant of $1,000.

Review Cycle

None.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, Massachusetts recipients received 63% of grant dollars. Connecticut and New Hampshire each received 5%, and the District of Columbia and Maryland each received 4%.

Grant Distribution by State

26states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 91 itemized grants.

Cities

New BedfordMarionBostonPortsmouthNew YorkWashingtonFairhavenMattapoisettProvidenceBurlingtonChicagoDekalbKansas CityStamfordBristolChampaignDes MoinesGreenlandHagerstownIndianapolis

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K96 grants2020 75 grants2021 78 grants2022 78 grants2023 91 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $91K (2021) to $139K (2024). In 2024 it made 91 grants totaling $139K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Southcoast Health System Inc: $15KSouthcoast Health System Inc$15KNew Bedford Whaling Museum: $11K across 4 grantsNew Bedford Whaling Museum$11K · 4 grantsOur Sisters' School: $7K across 2 grantsOur Sisters' School$7K · 2 grantsAlma Del Mar Foundation: $5KAlma Del Mar Foundation$5KDoctors Without Borders: $5KDoctors Without Borders$5KMercy Ships: $5KMercy Ships$5KSave the Children: $5KSave the Children$5KNorthern Illinois University: $4K across 2 grantsNorthern Illinois University$4K · 2 grantsThe Greater Boston Food Bank: $4K across 3 grantsThe Greater Boston Food Bank$4K · 3 grantsFriends of Marion COA: $3KFriends of Marion COA$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was Southcoast Health System Inc ($15K). Together the top 10 received $63K.

Grant Size Distribution

418 grants across all recorded years

418<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 418 grants of 418 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Southcoast Health System Inc Fairhaven, MAUnrestricted$15,000
Alma Del Mar Foundation New Bedford, MAUnrestricted$5,000
Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MDUnrestricted$5,000
Mercy Ships Lindale, TXUnrestricted$5,000
Our Sisters' School New Bedford, MAUnrestricted$5,000
Save the Children Fairfield, CTUnrestricted$5,000
New Bedford Whaling Museum New Bedford, MAUnrestricted$5,000
New Bedford Whaling Museum New Bedford, MAUnrestricted$3,500
Friends of Marion COA Marion, MAUnrestricted$3,000
St Gabriel's Episcopal Church Marion, MAUnrestricted$2,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant total Grant count
2024 $1,306,249 $198,918 $176,669 $139,000 91
2023 $1,284,000 $177,892 $162,447 $129,490 78
2022 $1,268,555 −$13,927 $160,518 $127,000 78
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,306,249$1,284,000$1,268,555
Revenue$198,918$177,892$-13,927
Expenses$176,669$162,447$160,518
Qualifying Distributions$146,570$129,490$127,035
Net Investment Income$172,819$146,433$6,599
Distributable Amount$131,167$117,453$123,989

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists John Ludes, Doris Ludes, Sharon J Giblin, Greg H Ludes, and John T Ludes Jr as trustees. It lists Laura J Ludes as “EXECUTIVE DI.”

The Ludes Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 6 officers; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Doris Ludes

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Greg H. Ludes

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • John Ludes

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • John T. Ludes Jr.

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Sharon J. Giblin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Laura J. Ludes

    Executive Di

    Executive Director → Executive Di, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    $8K (2024)

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Laura J Ludes — Executive Di: $8KLaura J LudesExecutive Di$8K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $8K, to Laura J Ludes (Executive Di).

Contact

Application contact: John Ludes
Mailing address: 57 Water Street, Marion, MA 02738
Phone: (508) 748-0800

Frequently asked questions about The Ludes Family Foundation

How much does The Ludes Family Foundation give each year?

The Ludes Family Foundation gave $139K across 91 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $129K across 78 grants.

What is The Ludes Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The Ludes Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,527, across 91 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ludes Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.

Where does The Ludes Family Foundation give grants?

The Ludes Family Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (5%) and New Hampshire (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Bedford, MA (16 grants), Marion, MA (12 grants), Boston, MA (10 grants) and Washington, DC (6 grants).

Does The Ludes Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 99% of The Ludes Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (90 of 91) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Ludes Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The Ludes Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Southcoast Health System Inc ($15,000), New Bedford Whaling Museum ($11,000 across 4 grants) and Our Sisters' School ($6,500 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Ludes Family Foundation?

The Ludes Family Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $147K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $131K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Ludes Family Foundation fund?

The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as health, education, humanitarian aid, arts and culture, and local conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Ludes Family Foundation?

The foundation’s filing says to contact John Ludes with a letter requesting funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Ludes Family Foundation's EIN?

The Ludes Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3448695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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