The Persepolis Foundation
The Persepolis Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $2.2M. Net investment income was $399K.
The Persepolis Foundation at a glance
In short: The Persepolis Foundation gave $2.2M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $279K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,232,176
- +581.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $279,022
- +240.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $9,496,467
- -16.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Persepolis Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New York Presbyterian Fund Inc ($1.8M). Together the top 8 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 18 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Persepolis Foundation gives
- Giving grew 1364% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 194% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $120K (2021) to $2.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York Presbyterian Fund Inc New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $1,750,000 |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $231,176 |
| Harvard University Cambirdge, MA | General Charitable Purposes | $200,000 |
| Central Park Conservatory New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $25,000 |
| The American Turkish Society Inc Brooklyn, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $10,000 |
| Military Officer Association of America Alexandria, VA | General Charitable Purposes | $6,000 |
| Iranian American Woman Foundation Irvine, CA | General Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
| Map Educational Fund New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,496,467 | $5,382,078 | $2,348,525 | $2,232,176 | 8 | $2,332,400 | $398,973 | $1,200,753 |
| 2024 | $11,388,665 | $500,552 | $367,079 | $327,500 | 4 | $353,917 | $500,552 | $1,063,281 |
| 2023 | $11,255,192 | $481,463 | $213,469 | $205,000 | 2 | $213,469 | $480,950 | $893,452 |
| 2022 | $10,987,198 | $218,769 | $157,250 | $152,500 | 3 | $153,250 | $218,769 | $856,455 |
| 2021 | $10,925,679 | $175,933 | $121,650 | $119,900 | 1 | $119,900 | $175,933 | $881,507 |
| 2020 | $10,871,396 | $175,561 | $182,525 | $181,775 | 1 | — | $175,561 | $741,813 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Persepolis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Persepolis Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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 Persepolis Foundation
How much does The Persepolis Foundation give each year?
The Persepolis Foundation gave $2.2M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $328K across 4 grants.
What is The Persepolis Foundation's typical grant size?
The Persepolis Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $279,022, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Persepolis Foundation give grants?
The Persepolis Foundation gives mostly in New York: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants).
Does The Persepolis Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Persepolis Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Persepolis Foundation's largest grantees?
The Persepolis Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include New York Presbyterian Fund Inc ($1,750,000), The Metropolitan Museum of Art ($231,176) and Harvard University ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Persepolis Foundation?
The Persepolis Foundation reported $9.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Persepolis Foundation's EIN?
The Persepolis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4093707. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 22, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Persepolis Foundation funds
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Persepolis Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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