The Penniman Foundation Inc
The Penniman Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. In its 2025 filing, it reported 38 grants totaling $20,981, supporting organizations including Boston’s Friends of the Public Garden, the International Institute of New England, and organizations providing food, health, and community services.
The Penniman Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Penniman Foundation Inc gave $21K across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $552.132), mostly in Massachusetts. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,981
- -23.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- -11.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $552
- -13.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $111,353
- -8.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (3 of 38, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Penniman Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 16 West Cedar Street, Boston, MA 02108-3503
Phone: (617) 742-1809
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Penniman Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Friends of the Public Garden ($3K). Together the top 10 received $11K.
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 206 grants of 206 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, recipients in Massachusetts received 63% of grant dollars, those in New York received 32%, those in Maryland received 4%, and those in California received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Penniman Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 38 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $750; repeat grants $535. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 264% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21K (2025) to $32K (2023). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $21K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of the Public Garden Boston, MA | General Support | $3,000 |
| International Institute of NE Boston, MA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Massachusetts General Cancer Center Boston, MA | General Support | $1,000 |
| MSPCC Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Boston, MA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Project Hope Roxbury, MA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Springs Food Pantry East Hampton, NY | General Support | $1,000 |
| Beacon Hill Civic Association Boston, MA | General Support | $750 |
| National Public Radio Baltimore, MD | General Support | $750 |
| Neads World Class Service Dogs Princeton, MA | General Support | $750 |
| Brooklyn Heights Assocation Brroklyn, NY | General Support | $600 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $111,353 | $10,900 | $22,083 | $20,981 | 38 | $20,981 | $10,900 | $7,946 |
| 2024 | $121,289 | $5,110 | $32,628 | $27,465 | 43 | $27,465 | $5,110 | $9,108 |
| 2023 | $145,275 | $722 | $37,212 | $32,065 | 43 | $32,065 | $3,743 | $7,813 |
| 2022 | $163,543 | $5,664 | $36,949 | $29,000 | 44 | $29,000 | $5,664 | $9,958 |
| 2021 | $236,392 | $19,068 | $22,650 | $21,000 | 38 | $21,000 | $19,068 | $11,823 |
| 2020 | $230,941 | $4,490 | $31,951 | $27,150 | 35 | — | $4,490 | $11,539 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Penniman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations working in areas such as public parks, food assistance, education, community services, and health. For example, Friends of the Public Garden says its mission is to work with Boston’s Department of Parks and Recreation to preserve, protect, and enhance the city’s first public parks. Springs Food Pantry says its mission is to alleviate hunger for less fortunate families in its community. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 38 grants totaling $20,981. Grants ranged from $100 to $3,000, with a median grant of $500. The largest listed grant was $3,000 to Friends of the Public Garden. Other 2025 grants included $1,000 each to the International Institute of New England, Massachusetts General Cancer Center, MSPCC Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Project HOPE, and Springs Food Pantry.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Susana Lopez as president and director, Douglas Levin as treasurer and director, and J Robert Casey as clerk.
The Penniman Foundation Inc is led by Susana Lopez, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susana Lopez
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Douglas Levin
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
J. Robert Casey
Clerk
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Penniman Foundation Inc
How much does The Penniman Foundation Inc give each year?
The Penniman Foundation Inc gave $21K across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 43 grants.
What is The Penniman Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Penniman Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $552, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Penniman Foundation Inc that year got $750 on average.
Where does The Penniman Foundation Inc give grants?
The Penniman Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (13 grants), New York, NY (6 grants), Amagansett, NY (4 grants) and East Hampton, NY (3 grants).
Does The Penniman Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Penniman Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (38 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Penniman Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Penniman Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Friends of the Public Garden ($3,000), International Institute of NE ($1,000) and Massachusetts General Cancer Center ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Penniman Foundation Inc?
The Penniman Foundation Inc reported $111K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $21K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Penniman Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations working in areas such as public parks, food assistance, education, community services, and health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Penniman Foundation Inc?
The foundation 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 Penniman Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Penniman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3472730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Penniman 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Penniman Foundation Inc funds
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