The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2023 filing states that it made charitable distributions from assets in complete liquidation and filed a certificate of dissolution on December 27, 2023.
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation gave $678K across 79 grants in 2023 (avg $9K), mostly in Illinois. 18% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $677,680
- -25.3% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 79
- -41.9% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $8,578
- +28.6% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (12 of 68, 2023)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (95% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://thepiercefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Michael Reese Health Trust ($65K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $346K.
Grant Size Distribution
510 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 504 grants of 510 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The remaining reported shares were 1% each for the District of Columbia, North Carolina, and Iowa; Michigan accounted for 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 79 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 12 of 68 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 81% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $678K (2023) to $907K (2022). In 2023 it made 79 grants totaling $678K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cares Inc Chicago, IL | AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits fund | $50,000 |
| Crossroads Fund Chicago, IL | Racial Justice Pooled Fund | $40,000 |
| Michael Reese Health Trust Elgin, IL | Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness general operations fund and to support staff positions within the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois | $40,000 |
| Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin Amer Chicago, IL | General & Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Covenant House Illinois Inc Chicago, IL | capital campaign | $25,000 |
| Michael Reese Health Trust Elgin, IL | Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness | $25,000 |
| Connections for the Homeless Inc Evanston, IL | General & Unrestricted | $20,500 |
| Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Chicago, IL | Small Shelter Fund | $20,000 |
| Facing Forward to End Homelessness Chicago, IL | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Good News Partners Chicago, IL | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $116,708 | $1,149,798 | $677,680 | 79 | $1,142,135 | $20,798 | $27,451 |
| 2022 | $1,033,090 | $491,083 | $1,431,438 | $907,332 | 136 | $1,406,402 | $402,717 | $79,856 |
| 2021 | $1,971,445 | $1,132,955 | $1,494,531 | $845,163 | 152 | $1,457,923 | $594,099 | $145,516 |
| 2020 | $2,333,021 | $515,443 | $1,473,690 | $857,979 | 143 | — | $312,414 | $167,610 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The website states the mission is “to protect the wonder of childhood for kids facing cancer,” by creating spaces for joy, belonging, and hope while advancing discoveries for the future. It also describes fundraising for cancer survivors and research.
Among the organizations receiving 2023 grants, Chicago Cares says it mobilizes volunteers to build a stronger, more unified Chicago. Crossroads Fund says it supports community organizations working on racial, social, and economic justice in the Chicago area. Connections for the Homeless describes work to prevent evictions and provide shelter and housing. New Moms says it partners with young mothers on housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 79 grants totaling $677,680. Grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. Notable awards included $50,000 to Chicago Cares for its AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits fund; $40,000 to Crossroads Fund for its Racial Justice Pooled Fund; and two grants to Michael Reese Health Trust, for $40,000 and $25,000, for homelessness-related work in Chicago and Illinois.
Other large grants included $30,000 to Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America for general and unrestricted support; $25,000 to Covenant House Illinois for a capital campaign; and $20,500 to Connections for the Homeless for general and unrestricted support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Denis Pierce as president and director, and Martha V Pierce as secretary.
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation is led by Denis Pierce, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Denis Pierce
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha V Pierce
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "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 Pierce Family Charitable Foundation
How much does The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation gave $678K across 79 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $907K across 136 grants.
What is The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,578, across 79 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (55 grants), Elgin, IL (2 grants), Evanston, IL (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 68% of The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (54 of 79) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Event" (4 grants).
Who are The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Michael Reese Health Trust ($65,000 across 2 grants), Chicago Cares Inc ($50,000) and Crossroads Fund ($42,500 across 2 grants), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation fund?
The website states the mission is “to protect the wonder of childhood for kids facing cancer,” by creating spaces for joy, belonging, and hope while advancing discoveries for the future. It also describes fundraising for cancer survivors and research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1459612. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Does The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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Figures come from The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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