The Palmer Foundation
The Palmer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private family foundation established in 1990 and based in Oakton, Virginia. Founded by Mary "Penny" Palmer Enroth, the foundation was named in honor of her grandfather, Stanton Palmer, the first president of Snap-on Tools, and her father, Rogers Palmer, a former senior vice president of Snap-on Tools. The foundation has awarded grants to more than 400 nonprofit organizations throughout its history.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$800K
-5.0% YoY
Grant Count
28
-17.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$29K
+15.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Palmer Foundation's mission is to inspire meaningful change with the greatest impact on public health and livelihoods to forge stronger, happier, and more successful communities.
The foundation's current funding priorities include:
WASH (Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene) — The foundation is committed to ensuring that increasing numbers of people in America and in the developing world have access to clean, sustainable water supplies, recognizing that such access creates resilient, healthy communities.
Workforce Development — The foundation supports programs that provide specialized training and skills geared toward veterans, youth, nurses, and tradespeople to bolster careers and improve lives.
Special Family Interests — Beyond the core pillars, the foundation supports nonprofits dedicated to personal philanthropic passions of board members, strengthening community programs aligned with family interests.
The foundation also maintains a historical focus on youth, the environment, and public health.
Grantmaking
The Palmer Foundation makes grants primarily to domestic nonprofits, with a focus on the Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states, as well as international organizations in countries where family members have lived or traveled.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $100,000
Average Grant
amount: approximately $28,000–$30,700
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Palmer Foundation primarily funds nonprofits in Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states, with particular activity in Wisconsin, Maryland, and Virginia. The foundation also supports international initiatives in countries where family members have lived or traveled.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $17,589,428
- Total Revenue: $1,293,313
- Total Expenses: $1,128,781
- Net Income: $164,532
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $201,634
- Investment income and dividends: $519,706
- Net rental income: -$9,834
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: -$66,879
- Miscellaneous revenues: $307
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities and substantial assets supporting its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
148 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
Board of Directors:
- Mary P. Enroth, Chairman
- Karen E. Lischick, President
- Susan Le Mieux Enroth, Vice President
- Jay L. Owen, Secretary
- Peter Lischick, Treasurer
- Grant Lischick, Director
- Megan Butler, Director
- Brandon Enroth, Director
- Brendt Enroth, Director
Board members dedicate approximately 5 hours per week to foundation activities.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY P ENROTH | CHAIRMAN | 5 | — |
| GRANT LISCHICK | DIRECTOR | 5 | $500 |
| JAY L OWEN | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| KAREN E LISCHICK | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| SUSAN L ENROTH | VICE PRESIDENT | 5 | $1,000 |
| PETER LISCHICK | TREASURER | 5 | $1,000 |
| MEGAN BUTLER | DIRECTOR | 5 | $1,000 |
| BRENDT ENROTH | DIRECTOR | 5 | $1,000 |
| BRANDON ENROTH | DIRECTOR | 5 | $1,000 |
| CAITY ENROTH | DIRECTOR | 5 | $1,000 |
| CAITY LISCHICK | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: thepalmerfoundation.org
- Phone: 202-595-1020
- Address: PO Box 3412, Oakton, VA 22124-9412
- EIN: 36-3700897
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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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