The Pedersen Foundation
The Pedersen Foundation is a private foundation located in Tysons, Virginia. It says it supports the nation’s founding principles and those who serve and protect it, efforts to harness neuroaesthetics, and the health, wellbeing, and resiliency of Americans.
The Pedersen Foundation at a glance
In short: The Pedersen Foundation gave $1.6M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $68K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,625,000
- -76.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +380.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $67,708
- -95.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $238,894,370
- +4.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (68% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Pedersen Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1750 Tysons Boulevard Suite 1800, Tysons, VA 22102
Phone: (804) 775-7848
Website: https://pedersenpf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Pedersen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Badger Six ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 80 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Michigan recipients received 68% of grant dollars, followed by Virginia at 15%, Utah at 6%, Florida at 3%, and Maryland at 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Pedersen Foundation gives
- Giving grew 803% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 15% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $156K (2020) to $6.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Badger Six Traverse City, MI | General Use | $1,100,000 |
| Girl Security McLean, VA | General Use | $100,000 |
| Third Option Reston, VA | General Use | $100,000 |
| Warrior Rising South Jordan, UT | General Use | $100,000 |
| Defense Intelligence Memorial Foundation Tysons Corner, VA | General Use | $25,000 |
| Freedom Alliance Winchester, VA | General Use | $20,000 |
| Bullis High School Potomac, MD | General Use | $20,000 |
| Forman School Litchfield, CT | General Use | $20,000 |
| Miriam's Kitchen Washington, DC | General Use | $15,000 |
| Sumaritans Purse Boone, NC | General Use | $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 | $238,894,370 | $12,144,681 | $3,682,112 | $1,625,000 | 24 | $1,697,434 | $10,389,657 | $11,499,165 |
| 2023 | $229,710,445 | $11,941,798 | $7,422,364 | $6,865,000 | 5 | $6,882,850 | $10,480,284 | $11,015,900 |
| 2022 | $223,493,075 | $222,850,661 | $3,197,403 | $3,195,000 | 15 | $3,195,000 | $594,505 | $558,711 |
| 2021 | $4,504,363 | $2,136,895 | $181,529 | $180,000 | 18 | $180,000 | $136,366 | $157,291 |
| 2020 | $2,396,256 | $40,685 | $157,231 | $156,000 | 18 | — | $39,454 | $116,145 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pedersen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.5M 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 stated mission is to support the nation’s founding principles and those who serve and protect it, support efforts to harness the potential of neuroaesthetics, and further the health, wellbeing, and resiliency of Americans. Its website identifies national security, neuroaesthetics, health for Americans, and veterans and intelligence among its areas of interest.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, Badger Six says it assists families associated with U.S. operations in Afghanistan, including with integration, education, and financial assistance. The Defense Intelligence Memorial Foundation says it honors fallen officers of the Defense Intelligence Enterprise through scholarship and philanthropy. Freedom Alliance describes its work as advancing the American heritage of freedom through military-service support, national defense, public policy, troop support, and scholarships. Other 2024 recipients included Forman School, which serves students with identified learning differences, and Miriam’s Kitchen, which works to end chronic homelessness in Washington, D.C.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $1,625,000. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $1,100,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest award was $1,100,000 to Badger Six in Traverse City, Michigan. Other large grants included $100,000 each to Girl Security, Third Option, and Warrior Rising; $25,000 to the Defense Intelligence Memorial Foundation; and $20,000 each to Freedom Alliance, Bullis High School, and Forman School. The listed grants were reported for general use.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marilyn Pedersen as president/director; James A. Hourihan, Esq., as secretary/director; Mike Putnam as secretary; and Christine A. Lancaster, Jennifer A. Pedersen, Margaret A. Pedersen, and Eric Lancaster as directors.
The Pedersen Foundation is led by Marilyn Pedersen, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Marilyn Pedersen
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine A. Lancaster
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James A. Hourihan Esq.
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer A. Pedersen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret A. Pedersen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Lancaster
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Putnam
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: George Pedersen (2020–2023) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about The Pedersen Foundation
How much does The Pedersen Foundation give each year?
The Pedersen Foundation gave $1.6M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.9M across 5 grants.
What is The Pedersen Foundation's typical grant size?
The Pedersen Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $67,708, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Pedersen Foundation give grants?
The Pedersen Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (15%) and Utah (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Key West, FL (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Marathon, FL (2 grants).
Does The Pedersen Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Pedersen Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Pedersen Foundation's largest grantees?
The Pedersen Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Badger Six ($1,100,000), Girl Security ($100,000) and Third Option ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Pedersen Foundation?
The Pedersen Foundation reported $238.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11.5M (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 Pedersen Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the nation’s founding principles and those who serve and protect it, support efforts to harness the potential of neuroaesthetics, and further the health, wellbeing, and resiliency of Americans. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Pedersen Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Pedersen Foundation's EIN?
The Pedersen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1188416. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Pedersen 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Pedersen Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-pedersen-foundation-morg_23206124068842038b3150e2cc3ef835
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471188416_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Pedersen Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-pedersen-foundation-morg_23206124068842038b3150e2cc3ef835},
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 Pedersen 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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