The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is a Boston-based private foundation focused on applying artificial intelligence and data science to social impact. It describes itself as a global philanthropy committed to helping create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future.
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc gave $66.2M across 165 grants in 2024 (avg $401K), top state California. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $66,153,500
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 165
- -8.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $400,930
- +9.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $395,000
- Total assets
- $1,528,279,575
- +3.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (74 of 157, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (29% 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 Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for grant funding. Its funding decisions are made through an invitation-only, hypothesis-driven strategic process, and it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 171536, Boston, MA 02117
Phone: (508) 203-1236
Website: https://mcgovern.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($2.3M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $13.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
717 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 225 grants of 717 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant-dollar distribution included 29% to recipients in California, 17% in Washington, DC, 14% in Massachusetts, and 9% in New York. The filing also lists 16% under an unspecified state category. These figures describe recipient locations and do not establish a geographic restriction.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 165 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 74 of 157 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $334K; repeat grants $499K. How we count
Medians: $300K first-time, $450K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 77% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% 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 $25.3M (2020) to $66.5M (2023). In 2024 it made 165 grants totaling $66.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation International Foundation Arlington, VA | To refine an ai tool for evaluating natural climate solutions projects, build ai literacy within the conservation community, and explore new use cases for ai in conservation | $1,500,000 |
| United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) | To advance ethical ai governance through civil society networks, policy frameworks, and knowledge resources. | $1,500,000 |
| World Resources Institute Washington DC, DC | To expand wris data lab for climate-focused ai innovation and global data accessibility. | $1,500,000 |
| The Aspen Institute Inc Washington DC, DC | To enhance public understanding and policy discourse around ai. | $1,250,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MA | To support the charitable purpose and activities of public charities | $1,100,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MA | To support the charitable purpose and activities of public charities | $1,100,000 |
| The Boston Foundation Boston, MA | To support the charitable purpose and activities of public charities | $1,100,000 |
| Blue Star Families Inc Encinitas, CA | To integrate ai-driven technologies into blue star families platform, enhancing military families engagement and resource access. | $1,000,000 |
| Breaktime Boston, MA | To promote tech-enabled crisis readiness through sustainable support for young adults experiencing housing insecurity. | $1,000,000 |
| Public Interest Technology (Pit) Infrastructure Fund Washington DC, DC | To support nsfs responsible design, development, and deployment of technologies (redddot) program. | $1,000,000 |
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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 | $1,528,279,575 | $8,264,994 | $77,952,201 | $66,153,500 | 165 | $73,401,085 | $65,735,673 | $73,773,908 |
| 2023 | $1,476,764,247 | $13,495,563 | $76,692,307 | $66,457,146 | 181 | $73,704,902 | $62,477,388 | $70,401,086 |
| 2022 | $1,394,714,122 | $18,432,891 | $79,315,426 | $66,243,700 | 168 | $73,663,179 | $15,424,245 | $74,937,468 |
| 2021 | $1,660,673,846 | $20,910,577 | $46,479,093 | $37,413,977 | 113 | $43,084,194 | $178,610,452 | $73,996,066 |
| 2020 | $1,274,909,758 | $15,401,238 | $30,529,673 | $25,259,640 | 90 | — | $20,673,336 | $60,044,701 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $73.8M 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 says it seeks to advance AI and data science for good. Its stated priorities include strengthening nonprofit impact with technology, AI, and data; accelerating AI applications to maximize human potential; and advocating for digital dignity, data stewardship, and ethical technology. It also describes work to make AI and data more inclusive, equitable, and accessible.
Its 2024 grants illustrate support for organizations working in varied fields. For example, Conservation International Foundation describes its mission as securing the benefits nature provides to humanity; World Resources Institute says it works to improve people’s lives while ensuring the natural world can thrive; and Blue Star Families says it connects and strengthens military families. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 165 grants totaling $66,153,500. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $1,500,000, with a median of $395,000.
Notable 2024 grants included $1,500,000 each to Conservation International Foundation for AI tools and literacy related to natural climate solutions, UNESCO for ethical AI governance, and World Resources Institute for climate-focused AI innovation and global data access. The Aspen Institute received $1,250,000 to enhance public understanding and policy discourse around AI. Other grants included $1,000,000 to Blue Star Families for AI-driven platform improvements and $1,000,000 to Breaktime for tech-enabled crisis readiness supporting young adults experiencing housing insecurity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Patrick J. McGovern III as trustee and chair; Suzanne DiBianca as trustee and audit committee chair; Elizabeth S. McGovern as trustee, treasurer, and clerk; Steven Verbinski as trustee and vice-chair; and Vilas Dhar as trustee and president.
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc is led by Vilas Dhar, Trustee & President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Vilas Dhar
Trustee & President
Trustee & Investment Committee Chair → Trustee & President, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $821K (2024)
Patrick J. McGovern III
Trustee & Chair
Chair → Trustee & Treasurer, 2023
Trustee & Treasurer → Trustee & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$84K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Suzanne Dibianca
Trustee & Audit Committee Chair
Vice Chair → Trustee & Audit Committee Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$84K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Elizabeth S. McGovern
Trustee, Treasurer & Clerk
Treasurer & Clerk → Trustee & Clerk, 2023
Trustee & Clerk → Trustee, Treasurer & Clerk, 2024
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$84K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Steven Verbinski
Trustee & Vice Chair
Trustee & Audit Committee → Trustee & Chair, 2023
Trustee & Chair → Trustee & Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$84K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Melinda Cantor (2020) — Executive Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $821K, to Vilas Dhar (Trustee/ President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc
How much does The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc give each year?
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc gave $66.2M across 165 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $66.5M across 181 grants.
What is The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $395,000, and its average grant was $400,930, across 165 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc that year got $334K on average.
Where does The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc give grants?
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc's top state is California, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (17%) and Massachusetts (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington DC, DC (23 grants), San Francisco, CA (19 grants), Boston, MA (16 grants) and New York, NY (13 grants).
Does The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 165 grants with a stated purpose on The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($2,300,000 across 3 grants), Conservation International Foundation ($1,500,000) and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) ($1,500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc?
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $73.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $73.8M (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 Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation says it seeks to advance AI and data science for good. Its stated priorities include strengthening nonprofit impact with technology, AI, and data; accelerating AI applications to maximize human potential; and advocating for digital dignity, data stewardship, and ethical technology. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for grant funding. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3021586. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Patrick J McGovern Foundation 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 Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-patrick-j-mcgovern-foundation-inc-morg_2934b60f55b64ac895fda9222487f9ad
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223021586_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-patrick-j-mcgovern-foundation-inc-morg_2934b60f55b64ac895fda9222487f9ad},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Patrick J McGovern Foundation 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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