The Myrin Institute Inc
The Myrin Institute Inc is a private foundation based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Founded in 1953, it describes its work as educational programs addressing critical issues of modern life, including efforts to bring scientific and intellectual perspectives into conversation with the human spirit and to encourage more balanced relationships with nature.
The Myrin Institute Inc at a glance
In short: The Myrin Institute Inc gave $744K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), top state Massachusetts. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $744,100
- +8.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- -9.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $39,163
- +20.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $15,440,401
- +9.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (8 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Myrin Institute Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Institute does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 187 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Phone: (413) 528-4422
Website: https://myrin.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Myrin Institute Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Berkshire Waldorf High School ($240K). Together the top 10 received $663K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 85 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, reported grant dollars went primarily to organizations in Massachusetts (45%), New York (17%), South Dakota (13%), Washington (9%), and Colorado (7%). These figures describe the locations of 2024 grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Myrin Institute Inc open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 19 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $28K repeat.
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $305K (2020) to $744K (2024). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $744K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Waldorf High School Stockbridge, MA | Provide a high school Waldorf education | $240,000 |
| Lakota Waldorf School Kyle, SD | Integrate Waldorf and Lakota culture | $100,000 |
| Center Democratic Enviro Rights Spokane, WA | Advance the legal rights of nature | $70,000 |
| The Nassau Land Trust New Hyde Park, NY | To educate youth in land use | $65,000 |
| The Nature Institute Ghent, NY | New approaches re nature and technology | $50,000 |
| Tara High School for Performing Art Boulder, CO | Promote performing arts | $50,000 |
| Greenagers Inc South Egremont, MA | Environmental conservation training | $27,600 |
| Montessori School of the Berkshires Lenox Dale, MA | Provide pre high school education | $25,000 |
| Thoreau College Viroqua, WI | Assist microcollege in Wisconsin | $20,000 |
| Berkshire Grown Great Barrington, MA | Promote locally sourced food for farmers | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15,440,401 | $894,279 | $1,197,207 | $744,100 | 19 | $1,081,854 | $770,582 |
| 2023 | $14,155,339 | $85,853 | $1,137,314 | $683,000 | 21 | $1,033,716 | $138,479 |
| 2022 | $12,164,798 | $849,072 | $1,011,317 | $492,500 | 19 | $893,114 | $730,394 |
| 2021 | $15,923,059 | $847,094 | $884,082 | $350,000 | 14 | $762,869 | $707,170 |
| 2020 | $14,703,009 | $1,218,411 | $825,180 | $305,000 | 12 | — | $1,104,598 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Institute’s stated aim is to re-establish balance between the scientific or intellectual worldview and the intuitive potential of the human spirit. Its initiatives include holistic approaches to science and nature, publications, and educational projects.
Its 2024 contributions included schools and organizations working in education, environmental stewardship, land use, and the arts. For example, Berkshire Waldorf High School describes its mission as providing an education that develops imagination, nurtures growth, and fosters responsibility. Greenagers says it connects young people with land, work, and community through conservation and sustainable-farming jobs and education. The Nature Institute describes its work as pursuing holistic and contextual approaches to science and technology that foster responsible human action.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing reports 19 grants totaling $744,100. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $240,000, with a median grant of $15,000. Among the largest reported grants were $240,000 to Berkshire Waldorf High School, $100,000 to Lakota Waldorf School, $70,000 to Center Democratic Enviro Rights, $65,000 to The Nassau Land Trust, and $50,000 each to The Nature Institute and Tara High School for Performing Art. Other recipients included Greenagers ($27,600), Montessori School of the Berkshires ($25,000), Thoreau College ($20,000), and Berkshire Grown ($15,000).
The Institute’s website says that, as an operating foundation, it does not make grants and instead undertakes projects and partners with others. Its 2024 filing nevertheless reports charitable contributions; the filing states that contributions go only to preselected charitable organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists George K Russell as president, Mark Gardner as treasurer, and Christopher Nye as clerk.
The Myrin Institute Inc is led by George K Russell, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
George K Russell
President
Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Nye
Clerk
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Gardner
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marion G Gilliam (2020–2023) — President
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Myrin Institute Inc
How much does The Myrin Institute Inc give each year?
The Myrin Institute Inc gave $744K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $683K across 21 grants.
What is The Myrin Institute Inc's typical grant size?
The Myrin Institute Inc's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $39,163, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Myrin Institute Inc that year got $18K on average.
Where does The Myrin Institute Inc give grants?
The Myrin Institute Inc's top state is Massachusetts, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (17%) and South Dakota (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Great Barrington, MA (3 grants).
Does The Myrin Institute Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on The Myrin Institute Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Myrin Institute Inc's largest grantees?
The Myrin Institute Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Berkshire Waldorf High School ($240,000), Lakota Waldorf School ($100,000) and Center Democratic Enviro Rights ($70,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Myrin Institute Inc?
The Myrin Institute Inc reported $15.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $894K.
What does The Myrin Institute Inc fund?
The Institute’s stated aim is to re-establish balance between the scientific or intellectual worldview and the intuitive potential of the human spirit. Its initiatives include holistic approaches to science and nature, publications, and educational projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Myrin Institute Inc?
The Institute does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Myrin Institute Inc's EIN?
The Myrin Institute Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-1857581. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Myrin Institute Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Myrin Institute Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-myrin-institute-inc-morg_3e59a701bd0a4ee7ab5f98f86ad8fe33
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_111857581_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Myrin Institute Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-myrin-institute-inc-morg_3e59a701bd0a4ee7ab5f98f86ad8fe33},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Myrin Institute Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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