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.
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
The foundation made 138 grants totaling approximately $92.8 million in 2025.
Review Cycle
June 15, 2026
How to Apply
**
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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
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 |
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
250 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 include Achievement First ($3,500,000), Elevate Charter Schools ($2,500,000), Columbia University ($2,493,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 50CAN WASHINGTON, DC | ALLIANCE OF CONNECTICUT CHARTER SCHOOLS | $775,000 |
| 50CAN DANBURY, CT | LEAD (LATINOS FOR EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY AND DIVERSITY) | $2,256,900 |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST NEW HAVEN, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $3,500,000 |
| ADIRONDACK LAND TRUST KEENE, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| AGRICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATION GREENWICH, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES MAINE AUGUSTA, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION OF CONNECTICUT HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| AMIZADE PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ASPETUCK LAND TRUST WESTPORT, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| ASSOCIACAO BENEFICENTE DE RECUPERACAO DA ALEGRIA E SAUDE (ABRAS) | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,503 |
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 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?
**Recent Grant Activity (2025):** • Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP): $10,000,000 (General Operating Support) • The Mind Trust: $9,400,000 (Charterforwardct) • Zeta Charter Schools: $4,250,000 (General Operating Support) The foundation made 138 grants totaling approximately $92.8 million in 2025. **Land and Easement Acquisition Program (LEAP):** A capital grants program providing funding to land conservation organizations for projects in the Hudson River and Lake Champlain watersheds in New Yo…
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.
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