The Palette Fund Inc
The Palette Fund Inc is a private independent foundation based in Provincetown, Massachusetts, established in 2008. The organization is dedicated to breaking down barriers and advancing social change in communities that are under-resourced and facing significant challenges. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a staff of one full-time employee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.3M
-3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$474K
-24.8% YoY
Grant Count
12
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
+12.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Palette Fund's mission is to break down barriers and advancing social change in communities that are under-resourced and facing significant challenges. The foundation supports trailblazers creating change throughout the world and places a priority on funding collaborative partnerships among organizations.
Primary funding areas include:
- LGBTQ Causes: The foundation emphasizes youth, health, media, education, advocacy, and community building within the LGBTQ community, aiming to remove barriers the next generation will face along their journey to living healthy and productive lives.
- HIV/AIDS: Support for organizations addressing AIDS and HIV-related services and research.
- Pancreatic Cancer: In honor of co-founder Rand Harlan Skolnick, who died of pancreatic cancer at age 50, a portion of grant making supports patient services and breakthrough discoveries that impact individuals and families facing this disease.
- Local Arts and Culture: Support for local arts and culture organizations in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
- Nutrition and Wellness: General support for nutrition and wellness initiatives.
Grantmaking
The Palette Fund accepts proposals in the form of short videos from organizations working in its areas of interest at any time. Prospective grantees are encouraged to review sample proposal videos on the fund's website.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states including:
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- New York
Specific cities where the foundation supports projects include Boston, Boulder, Fort Lauderdale, Hyannis, Manhattan Beach, New York, and Provincetown. The foundation has a particular commitment to Provincetown, Massachusetts, where it moved its offices in 2016 and focuses on supporting creative ideas and initiatives that address the town's most pressing challenges.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (as of December 2023):
- Total Assets: $10.6 million
- Total Revenues: $326,942
- Total Expenses: $1.17 million
- Total Liabilities: $737,000
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Total grants and contributions: $80,300
- Investment income and dividends: $212,436
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: -$195,901
- Miscellaneous revenues: $230,107
Employees: 1 full-time employee (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,305,943 | $10,626,655 | $10,280,704 |
| Revenue | $968,240 | $326,942 | $341,146 |
| Expenses | $708,753 | $1,167,890 | $1,473,673 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $285,578 | $536,921 | $749,424 |
| Net Investment Income | $878,126 | $348,772 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $502,479 | $509,164 | $579,473 |
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
110 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Terrence Meck: President and co-founder; full-time employee with annual compensation of $125,000
- Peter Benassi: Chair; serves in a voluntary capacity
- Kristin Resnansky: Secretary & Treasurer; serves in a voluntary capacity
- Todd Sears: Director; serves in a voluntary capacity
- Blaire Milanese: Director; serves in a voluntary capacity
The foundation was established in 2008 by Terrence Meck and Peter Benassi in honor of Rand Harlan Skolnick. Meck was Skolnick's partner and Benassi was his best friend. Skolnick headed his family's company, Solgar Vitamins and Herbs, and was a philanthropist who supported LGBTQ causes in the U.S. and abroad.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TERRENCE MECK | PRESIDENT | 40 | $135,417 |
| PETER BENASSI | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| KRISTIN RESNANSKY | SECRETARY & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| TODD SEARS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BLAIRE MILANESE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 115 Bradford Street, Provincetown, MA 02657-1430
- Phone: 646-861-3292
- Website: www.thepalettefund.org
- EIN: 26-2736653
- Tax-exempt status: Since September 2008
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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