The Perkin Fund
The Perkin Fund is a charitable family foundation established in 1967 in New York and based in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. The organization reflects the broad philanthropic interests of its founders, Richard S. and Gladys T. Perkin, and continues to be led by members of the Perkin family alongside non-family trustees who serve without compensation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.1M
+6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-2.5% YoY
Grant Count
37
+12.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-13.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Perkin Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Perkin Fund supports established institutions in the fields of astronomy, medicine, and scientific research. In recent years, the foundation has expanded its giving to include leading organizations in the arts, education, and social services.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Humanities
- Education
- Health and diseases/conditions
- Science
- Scientific research
Grantmaking
The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, though it has limited staffing. Recent grant activity indicates ongoing grantmaking.
Grant Range
$25,000
Average Grant
approximately $40,000
Ready to take the next step with The Perkin Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Perkin Fund has a broad geographic reach, funding projects across the United States including major cities such as Boston, New York, and Seattle, as well as international locations. Primary funding states include Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total assets: $32,114,300 (as of 2024)
- Total annual giving: $1,492,500
- Annual expenses: Over $1.7 million
- Annual revenue: Approximately $1 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,114,300 | $30,084,454 | $27,532,258 |
| Revenue | $817,594 | $1,005,369 | $1,098,999 |
| Expenses | $1,774,605 | $1,766,108 | $1,363,354 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,700,650 | $1,684,741 | $1,278,665 |
| Net Investment Income | $878,566 | $675,654 | $980,564 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,547,406 | $1,416,620 | $1,430,462 |
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
170 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rectory School ($200,000), Pingree School ($110,000), Children's Hospital New Orleans ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AP GARDNER POST 194 WENHAM, MA | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $60,000 |
| BOYS CLUB OF NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $45,000 |
| BROOKWOOD SCHOOL MANCHESTER, MA | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $80,000 |
| FRIENDS ACADEMY LOCUST VALLEY, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| GEORGE POCOCK ROWING FOUNDATION SEATTLE, WA | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY ALUMNI BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| PINGREE SCHOOL HAMILTON, MA | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $110,000 |
| SPECIAL FORCES CHARITABLE TRUST SOUTHERN PINES, NC | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Perkin Fund is governed by a board of trustees, all serving without compensation:
- Kristina Perkin Davison
- Matthew EP Gray
- Winifred P Gray
- Caroline P Los Arcos
- Christopher T Perkin
- Nicolas Perkin
- Richard S Perkin II
- Robert S Perkin
- Thorne L Perkin
- Alexandra T Wiberg
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRISTINA PERKIN DAVISON | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MATTHEW EP GRAY | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| WINIFRED P GRAY | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| CAROLINE P LOS ARCOS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| CHRISTOPHER T PERKIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| NICOLAS PERKIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| RICHARD S PERKIN II | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ROBERT S PERKIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| THORNE L PERKIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ALEXANDRA T WIBERG | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Perkin Fund fund?
The Perkin Fund supports established institutions in the fields of astronomy, medicine, and scientific research. In recent years, the foundation has expanded its giving to include leading organizations in the arts, education, and social services. Primary funding areas include: • Arts and culture • Humanities • Education • Health and diseases/conditions • Science • Scientific research
How do I apply for a grant from The Perkin Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $1,492,500 • Total grants awarded (2024): 37 grants • Median grant size: $25,000 • Grant range: $2,500–$200,000 • Average grant size: approximately $40,000 **Application Status:** The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, though it has limited staffing. Recent grant activity indicates ongoing grantmaking.
Where does The Perkin Fund make grants?
The Perkin Fund has a broad geographic reach, funding projects across the United States including major cities such as Boston, New York, and Seattle, as well as international locations. Primary funding states include Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
What size grants does The Perkin Fund award?
In 2024, The Perkin Fund awarded 37 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Perkin Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Perkin Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Perkin Fund's EIN?
The Perkin Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6222498. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Perkin Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Conservation Food and Health Foundation
BOSTON, MA
Assets
$14.6M
Grants
49
Total Given
$2.2M
Charles J Tasker Memorial Scholarship Fund
HANOVER, MA
Assets
$98K
Grants
1
Total Given
$8K
The Bulens Family Foundation
WELLESLEY, MA
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
68
Total Given
$956K
Marshall M & Barbara J Sloane Pvt Found
CHESTNUT HILL, MA
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
11
Total Given
$75K
John J Mcardle Iii & Joan C Mcardle
ANDOVER, MA
Assets
$1.8M
Grants
13
Total Given
$205K
Massachusetts Association of Realtors
FOXBOROUGH, MA
Assets
$18.1M
Grants
2
Total Given
$71K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Perkin Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Perkin Fund to a real strategy.