The Morningside Foundation
The Morningside Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1996-1997 and based in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. The foundation was established by the Chan family, descendants of T.H. Chan, the Hong Kong real estate tycoon who founded the Hang Lung Group. The foundation is led by billionaire brothers Gerald and Ronnie Chan.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.0M
-6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.3M
-91.1% YoY
Grant Count
12
-29.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$441K
-87.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Morningside Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving philosophy centers on two primary priorities: supporting science and enabling education. According to available information, the foundation gives primarily to an arts organization and for Christian churches. The approximate distribution of gifts includes:
- 45% to educational purposes
- 35% to religious causes
- 10% to the arts
- 5% each to medical and other causes
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount varies by year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- United States (particularly Massachusetts, California, and Texas)
- Hong Kong
- China
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $24-25.7 million
- Total Revenue: $7.48 million
- Total Expenses: $7 million
- Total Liabilities: $297,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $23.1-25.7 million
- Total Revenue: $64.3-68 million
- Total Giving: $59.8-65.4 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,968,526 | $25,687,488 | $23,096,193 |
| Revenue | $7,479,563 | $64,265,308 | $68,036,601 |
| Expenses | $6,999,535 | $61,502,847 | $67,229,323 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,295,500 | $59,827,608 | $65,423,960 |
| Net Investment Income | $697,056 | $292,140 | $359,904 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,508,154 | $2,765,765 | $2,681,271 |
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
64 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Winthrop Park School Inc ($3,903,500), The Church of Cambridge ($600,000), The Church in Anaheim ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COMMITTEE OF 100 NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL USE - RESEARCH | $25,000 |
| DEFENSE AND CONFIRMATION PROJECT ANAHEIM, CA | GENERAL USE - RESEARCH | $100,000 |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY DONOR ACCOUNT ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL USE - EDUCATION | $100,000 |
| DU BOIS ORCHESTRA CAMBRIDGE, MA | GENERAL USE - EDUCATION | $16,000 |
| EMGS JACKSONVILLE, FL | GENERAL USE - EDUCATION | $25,000 |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS-HARVARD CAMBRIDGE, MA | GENERAL USE - RELIGIOUS | $30,000 |
| THE CHURCH IN ANAHEIM ANAHEIM, CA | GENERAL USE - RELIGIOUS | $300,000 |
| THE CHURCH IN ANAHEIMLME ANAHEIM, CA | GENERAL USE - RELIGIOUS | $66,000 |
| THE CHURCH IN SANTA ANA SANTA ANA, CA | GENERAL USE - RELIGIOUS | $80,000 |
| THE CHURCH OF CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGE, MA | GENERAL USE - RELIGIOUS | $600,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Ronnie Chan — Director
- Gerald Chan — Director
- Paula E Turnbull — Vice-President
- Peter Stuart Allenby Edwards — Director
- Lisa M Sambucci — Vice-President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RONNIE CHAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAULA E TURNBULL | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| PETER STUART ALLENBY EDWARDS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LISA M SAMBUCCI | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| GERALD CHAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1188 Centre Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459-1556
- Phone: 617-244-2800
- Website: morningside.com/philanthropy
- EIN: 04-3339572
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Morningside Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving philosophy centers on two primary priorities: supporting science and enabling education. According to available information, the foundation gives primarily to an arts organization and for Christian churches. The approximate distribution of gifts includes: • 45% to educational purposes • 35% to religious causes • 10% to the arts • 5% each to medical and other causes
How do I apply for a grant from The Morningside Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Since 2015, the foundation has awarded 71 individual grants totaling over $236 million • In 2023, the foundation made 17 awards • Total giving in 2023: $59.8 million **Grant Sizes:** • Grant range: $15,000 to $35,000,000 • Median grant: $100,000 • Average grant amount varies by year **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. **Notable Commitments:** • $350 million gift to Harvard School of Publ…
Where does The Morningside Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • United States (particularly Massachusetts, California, and Texas) • Hong Kong • China
What size grants does The Morningside Foundation award?
In 2024, The Morningside Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $5.3M — an average of about $441K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Morningside Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Morningside Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Morningside Foundation's EIN?
The Morningside Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3339572. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Morningside 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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