The Newcomb Foundation
The Newcomb Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Oregon. It supports organizations that promote and benefit education, medicine, the arts, and the civic good.
The Newcomb Foundation at a glance
In short: The Newcomb Foundation gave $49K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), top state Oregon. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $49,000
- -17.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- -17.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,750
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $846,709
- -0.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (43% 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 Newcomb Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications may be in any format, and no specific information is requested. Contact the foundation. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and its filing states there are no specific restrictions or limitations on awards.
- Review Cycle
- November 1.
- Deadline
- November 1.
- Contact
Application contact: The Newcomb Foundation
Mailing address: 19305 Nw Reeder Road, Portland, OR 97231
Phone: (971) 227-3276
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Newcomb Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Washington Gift Servi ($10K). Together the top 10 received $36K.
Grant Size Distribution
164 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 164 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 43% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon, 40% to Washington, 13% to California, 2% to Alaska, and 2% to New Mexico.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Newcomb Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 28 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 96% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $49K (2024) to $61K (2021). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $49K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Washington Gift Servi Seattle, WA | Support Ongoing Operations | $10,000 |
| Seva Foundation Berkeley, CA | Support Ongoing Operations | $6,250 |
| Tibetan Nuns Project Seattle, WA | Support Ongoing Operations | $6,250 |
| Voices Unlimited Portland, OR | Support Ongoing Operations | $3,000 |
| Youth Rights Justice Portland, OR | Support Ongoing Operations | $2,500 |
| Native American Youth and Family Ce Portland, OR | Support Ongoing Operations | $2,000 |
| Albertina Kerr Portland, OR | Support Ongoing Operations | $1,500 |
| Portland Street Medicine Portland, OR | Support Ongoing Operations | $1,500 |
| Colon Cancer Family Registry Seattle, WA | Support Ongoing Operations | $1,250 |
| Heffner Studies Seattle, WA | Support Ongoing Operations | $1,250 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $846,709 | $55,570 | $57,927 | $49,000 | 28 | $49,000 | $55,570 | $50,915 |
| 2023 | $849,066 | $56,828 | $73,602 | $59,500 | 34 | $59,500 | $56,828 | $47,334 |
| 2022 | $965,413 | $39,516 | $68,927 | $59,750 | 34 | $59,750 | $39,516 | $51,019 |
| 2021 | $1,143,997 | $51,081 | $71,132 | $60,500 | 34 | — | $51,081 | $52,951 |
| 2020 | $1,088,776 | $28,253 | $64,062 | $56,750 | 34 | — | $28,253 | $53,209 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Newcomb Foundation reported a distributable amount of $51K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its support in terms of education, medicine, the arts, and the civic good. Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in areas such as health, education, legal advocacy, housing, and cultural preservation. For example, Seva Foundation says it works worldwide to preserve and restore sight, while the Tibetan Nuns Project describes its mission as educating and empowering Tibetan Buddhist nuns and supporting institutions that preserve Tibetan religion and culture. Youth, Rights & Justice says it advances the rights of children, parents, and families through legal services and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $49,000. Awards ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest grants were $10,000 to the University of Washington Gift Servi, and $6,250 each to Seva Foundation and the Tibetan Nuns Project. Other grants included $3,000 to Voices Unlimited and $2,500 to Youth, Rights & Justice.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth Newcomb as President, Polly Newcomb as Secretary, Scott Newcomb as Treasurer, and Jackson Morawski as Vice President.
The Newcomb Foundation is led by Elizabeth Newcomb, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Newcomb
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jackson Morawski
Vice President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Polly Newcomb
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Newcomb
Treasurer
Vice President → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Newcomb Foundation
How much does The Newcomb Foundation give each year?
The Newcomb Foundation gave $49K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $60K across 34 grants.
What is The Newcomb Foundation's typical grant size?
The Newcomb Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,750, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Newcomb Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does The Newcomb Foundation give grants?
The Newcomb Foundation's top state is Oregon, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Washington (40%) and California (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (17 grants) and Seattle, WA (5 grants).
Does The Newcomb Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on The Newcomb Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Ongoing Operations" (28 grants).
Who are The Newcomb Foundation's largest grantees?
The Newcomb Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Washington Gift Servi ($10,000), Seva Foundation ($6,250) and Tibetan Nuns Project ($6,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Newcomb Foundation?
The Newcomb Foundation reported $847K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $49K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $51K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Newcomb Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its support in terms of education, medicine, the arts, and the civic good. Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in areas such as health, education, legal advocacy, housing, and cultural preservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Newcomb Foundation?
Applications may be in any format, and no specific information is requested. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Newcomb Foundation's EIN?
The Newcomb Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1160967. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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
Live grants for the work The Newcomb Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Newcomb Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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