The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck
The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1999 by Dr. Peter Buck and Carmen Lucia Buck. Dr. Peter Buck is a nuclear physicist who worked in the electric power industry and is the co-founder of Subway Sandwiches. The foundation is headquartered in New York City with additional offices in Connecticut and operates as a non-operating private foundation.
Key facts about The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck
- EIN
- 06-1547852
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $106,347,044
- Grants made (2025)
- 182
- Average grant
- $584,324
- Median grant
- $150,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (44 of 149, 2025)
- Total assets
- $2,838,832,516
- Primary geography
- New York (40% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts applications through its website at pclbfoundation.org. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- June 15, 2026
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck's 182 itemized 2025 grants were New York (40%), Connecticut (22%) and California (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (31 grants), Danbury, CT (11 grants), New Haven, CT (7 grants) and Atlanta, GA (6 grants). 45% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Camping" (7 grants).
Is The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 44 of 149 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $576K; repeat grants $767K. How we count
Medians: $263K first-time, $200K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 225% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck
- How to evaluate The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8B
+176.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$106.3M
+120.0% YoY
Grant Count
182
+5.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$584K
+109.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck reported a distributable amount of $108.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: "Giving motivated people the tools they need to help themselves."
The foundation seeks to help people solve problems in their communities by identifying and supporting dynamic leaders and effective organizations. The foundation provides problem-solvers with connections, information, experience, and money needed to provide their communities with critical skills and resources.
Core Values:
- Excellence: Rigorous approach to all work with highest standards
- Fairness: Open to diversity of people, viewpoints, and ideas; respectful treatment with dignity
- Humility: Receptive to feedback and criticism; lets grantees and results speak for themselves
- Self-Reliance: Independent in motivation and action while seeking perspectives from others
Primary Funding Areas:
Education — Emphasis on charter schools, advocacy, and teacher/leader development in Connecticut and New York City
Danbury Area — Services for homeless and elderly populations in the Danbury, Connecticut region
Land Conservation — Land conservation and smart growth in the Hudson River Valley, including the Land and Easement Acquisition Program (LEAP)
Medical — Patient services and pharmacy services in New York City's five boroughs
STEM & Scouts — Out-of-school time learning experiences
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
June 15, 2026
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Connecticut (particularly the Danbury area)
- New York (particularly New York City's five boroughs)
- Hudson River Valley region
- Lake Champlain watershed
- Select areas in Maine (for land conservation)
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 182 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total Assets: $2,838,832,516
- Total Revenues: $1,918,181,862
- Total Expenses: $116,089,618
- Annual Income: $3.4 billion
EIN: 06-1547852
IRS Ruling Year: 2007
Organization Type: Non-Operating Foundation (501(c)(3))
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,838,832,516 | $1,027,671,996 | $766,417,071 |
| Revenue | $1,918,181,862 | $331,422,950 | $205,282,218 |
| Expenses | $116,089,618 | $54,615,644 | $42,847,393 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $110,125,263 | $51,572,141 | $40,722,958 |
| Net Investment Income | $158,623,137 | $103,933,003 | $41,405,131 |
| Distributable Amount | $108,534,253 | $43,824,099 | $33,012,699 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
794 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Mind Trust the ($10,425,000 across 2 grants), Kipp Foundation ($10,000,000), Zeta Charter Schools ($4,250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| KIPP FOUNDATION San Francisco, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000,000 |
| MIND TRUST THE Indianapolis, IN | CHARTERFORWARDCT | $9,400,000 |
| ZETA CHARTER SCHOOLS New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $4,250,000 |
| NEW LEADERS New York, NY | ASPIRING TEACHERS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM | $3,600,000 |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST New Haven, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $3,500,000 |
| SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS New York, NY | K-12 CURRICULUM REDESIGN AND SCALING | $3,500,000 |
| LAKE GEORGE LAND CONSERVANCY Bolton LNDG, NY | PILOT KNOB MOUNTAIN (WHITETAIL TRUST) | $3,000,000 |
| TEACHORG San Francisco, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,630,000 |
| ELEVATE CHARTER SCHOOLS Hamden, CT | GENERAL OPERATING AND DANBURY CHARTER SCHOOL SUPPORT | $2,500,000 |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA New York, NY | ANTIBIOGO AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) PROJECT | $2,500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Christopher Buck — President
- Carrie Schindele — Executive Director
- D Ben Benoit — Chief Financial Officer
The foundation employs 17 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| D Ben Benoit | Chief Financial Officer and Director | 30 | $301,146 |
| William Buck | President/Director | 20 | $25,000 |
| Michael Buck | Treasurer/Director | 20 | $25,000 |
| Samuel Buck | Secretary/Director | 20 | $25,000 |
| Christopher Buck | Director | 20 | $25,000 |
| Vera Lourenco | Director | 20 | $25,000 |
| Carrie Schindele | Executive Director | 40 | $408,333 |
Contact Information
Address: 633 Third Avenue, 16th Floor New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 360-6173
Email: inquiry@pclbfoundation.org
Website: pclbfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck fund?
**Mission Statement:** "Giving motivated people the tools they need to help themselves." The foundation seeks to help people solve problems in their communities by identifying and supporting dynamic leaders and effective organizations. The foundation provides problem-solvers with connections, information, experience, and money needed to provide their communities with critical skills and resources. **Core Values:** • Excellence: Rigorous approach to all work with highest standards • Fairness: Op…
How do I apply for a grant from The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck?
The foundation accepts applications through its website at pclbfoundation.org. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Connecticut (particularly the Danbury area) • New York (particularly New York City's five boroughs) • Hudson River Valley region • Lake Champlain watershed • Select areas in Maine (for land conservation)
What size grants does The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck award?
In 2025, The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck awarded 182 grants totaling $106.3M — an average of about $584K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck reported a distributable amount of $108.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck's EIN?
The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1547852. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.