The McCance Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1994 in Massachusetts and granted tax-exempt status in March 1995. Based in North Scituate, MA, the foundation operates as a venture philanthropy organization, applying strategic business principles to charitable giving. The foundation was founded by Henry McCance, former Chairman Emeritus of Greylock Partners, one of the oldest and most successful venture capital firms in the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$91.3M
+11.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.1M
+31.3% YoY
Grant Count
156
-5.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
+38.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McCance Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on giving grants that will substantially better the world while promoting a culture of philanthropy. The foundation supports results-oriented, innovative programs that are well researched and evaluated across five priority areas:
- Education
- Environment and Conservation
- Medical Research
- Social Entrepreneurship and Venture Philanthropy
- Fishers Island, NY (special geographic focus)
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, with grants awarded to pre-selected organizations rather than through open application processes.
Grant Range
$200 to $1,001,435
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a national focus with special emphasis on Fishers Island, NY. Primary funding activity occurs in New York, Massachusetts, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $91,345,961
- Total Revenue: $23,585,954
- Total Expenses: $8,083,230
- Total Giving: $7,142,208
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $81,596,919
- Annual Giving: $5,439,878
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $91,345,961 | $81,596,919 | $74,446,152 |
| Revenue | $23,585,954 | $3,117,142 | $761,409 |
| Expenses | $8,083,230 | $6,087,474 | $7,319,984 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,335,097 | $5,630,009 | $6,825,095 |
| Net Investment Income | $17,944,248 | $2,659,877 | $271,671 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,258,708 | $3,972,994 | $4,076,984 |
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 Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated ($1,000,500), Ceres Inc ($250,000), Fishers Island School ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AbilityPath (aka Gatepath Abilities United) Redwood City, CA | General Support | $1,500 |
| Acumen Fund New York, NY | General Support | $1,000 |
| Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation (dba Cure Alzheimer's Fund) Wellesley Hills, MA | General Support | $102,000 |
| American Foundation for Suicide Prevention New York, NY | General Support | $1,000 |
| Assets Lancaster Lancaster, PA | General Support | $2,500 |
| Bay Area Climbers Coalition Emeryville, CA | General Support | $500 |
| Bergen Family Center Inc Englewood, NJ | General Support | $3,000 |
| Billion Oyster Project New York, NY | General Support | $51,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster Lancaster, PA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Braven Chicago, IL | General Support | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Katie Cutler - Executive Director (compensation: $132,000 as of 2024)
Trustees:
- Henry F. McCance (Founder/Trustee)
- Elizabeth McCance (Trustee)
- Ellen McCance Pinschmidt (Trustee)
- Patrick Pinschmidt (Trustee)
- Charles Thomas Foley II (Trustee)
The foundation is run by Henry McCance alongside his two daughters, a son-in-law, and the executive director.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katie Cutler | Executive Director | 40 | $138,000 |
| Henry F McCance | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth McCance | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ellen McCance Pinschmidt | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Patrick Pinschmidt | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Charles Thomas Foley II | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In September 2024, the McCance Foundation announced a $100,000 donation to Project Drawdown to support the nonprofit's initiatives in climate solutions. According to McCance Foundation Executive Director Katie Cutler, the foundation is "honored to support Project Drawdown and is excited about the ongoing advancements in critical climate solutions," with plans to continue collaboration on addressing climate change.
Project Drawdown receives $100000 donation from the McCance ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The McCance Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on giving grants that will substantially better the world while promoting a culture of philanthropy. The foundation supports results-oriented, innovative programs that are well researched and evaluated across five priority areas: • Education • Environment and Conservation • Medical Research • Social Entrepreneurship and Venture Philanthropy • Fishers Island, NY (special geographic focus)
How do I apply for a grant from The McCance Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $5.4 million to $7.1 million • Number of grants: 165 awards (2023) • Grant range: $200 to $1,001,435 • Median grant: $5,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, with grants awarded to pre-selected organizations rather than through open application processes. **Recent Grants:** Notable recent grants include: • Environmental Defense Fund: $1,000,500 (General Support, 2024) • National Education Equity Lab: …
Where does The McCance Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains a national focus with special emphasis on Fishers Island, NY. Primary funding activity occurs in New York, Massachusetts, and California.
What size grants does The McCance Foundation award?
In 2024, The McCance Foundation awarded 156 grants totaling $7.1M — an average of about $46K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The McCance Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The McCance Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The McCance Foundation's EIN?
The McCance Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6772532. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The McCance Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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