The Palmer Foundation
The Palmer Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 filing reports grants to seven organizations, with the largest shares of grant dollars going to recipients in Pennsylvania, Washington, and Massachusetts.
The Palmer Foundation at a glance
In short: The Palmer Foundation gave $1.5M across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $218K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,525,000
- -15.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- +75.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $217,857
- -51.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $6,141,241
- -9.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Palmer Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 360 Madison Ave 20Th Fl, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 207-2348
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Palmer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Centre Volunteers in Medicine ($750K). Together the top 7 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 25 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in Pennsylvania received 84% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Washington (8%), Massachusetts (5%), New Jersey (2%), and Washington, DC (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Palmer Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2022 it paid out 256% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $1.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Volunteers in Medicine State College, PA | General Fund | $750,000 |
| Pennsylvania State Unversity State College, PA | General Fund | $500,000 |
| WSU Advance Fund Pullman, WA | General Fund | $125,000 |
| Chapel Hill Waltham, MA | General Fund | $75,000 |
| Discovery Space State College, PA | General Fund | $30,000 |
| West Morris Area YMCA Randolph, NJ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| World Wildlife Fund Washington, DC | General Fund | $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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,141,241 | $941,914 | $105,060 | $1,525,000 | 7 | — | $326,594 | — |
| 2023 | $6,790,743 | $751,242 | $108,531 | $1,800,000 | 4 | — | $354,890 | — |
| 2022 | $7,971,924 | $819,542 | $1,626,408 | $1,500,000 | 2 | $1,500,000 | $819,512 | $585,759 |
| 2021 | $9,069,589 | $870,017 | $1,533,239 | $1,431,461 | 8 | $1,431,461 | $870,017 | $667,545 |
| 2020 | $10,033,790 | $3,778,715 | $1,259,401 | $1,155,000 | 4 | — | $347,485 | $491,950 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general-fund support for organizations in health care, education, science education, community services, and conservation. Centre Volunteers in Medicine says it serves and advocates for medically underserved people living or working in Centre County. The West Morris Area YMCA describes its work as promoting youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. World Wildlife Fund says its mission is to conserve nature and reduce threats to the diversity of life on Earth.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported seven grants totaling $1,525,000. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $750,000, with a median grant of $75,000. Its largest grants were $750,000 to Centre Volunteers in Medicine and $500,000 to Pennsylvania State University, both in State College, PA; $125,000 to WSU Advance Fund in Pullman, WA; and $75,000 to Chapel Hill in Waltham, MA. Other reported grants were $30,000 to Discovery Space and $30,000 to West Morris Area YMCA, and $15,000 to World Wildlife Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles Palmer as director, Debra Palmer as president, Janet Lipcon as director, and Wayne Reisner as secretary/treasurer.
The Palmer Foundation is led by Debra Palmer, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Debra Palmer
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Charles Palmer
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Janet Lipcon
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wayne Reisner
Secretary & Treasurer
Secytreas → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
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 Palmer Foundation
How much does The Palmer Foundation give each year?
The Palmer Foundation gave $1.5M across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 4 grants.
What is The Palmer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Palmer Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $217,857, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does The Palmer Foundation give grants?
The Palmer Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were State College, PA (3 grants).
Does The Palmer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Palmer Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
Who are The Palmer Foundation's largest grantees?
The Palmer Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Centre Volunteers in Medicine ($750,000), Pennsylvania State Unversity ($500,000) and WSU Advance Fund ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Palmer Foundation?
The Palmer Foundation reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $942K.
What does The Palmer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general-fund support for organizations in health care, education, science education, community services, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Palmer Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Palmer Foundation's EIN?
The Palmer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1568606. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Palmer Foundation 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 October 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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Figures come from The Palmer Foundation'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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