The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation
The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation is a private independent foundation designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. Based in Wilmington, Delaware, the foundation was established in 2007 and granted tax-exempt status in April 2008. The foundation sunset on December 31, 2023, and filed a final return for that tax year.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$678K
-25.3% YoY
Grant Count
79
-41.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+28.6% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focused on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation accepted applications through its online grantmaking portal with two annual deadlines:
Review Cycle
- Spring deadline: January 15 at 5pm EST (for April board meeting consideration)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary grantmaking focus was:
- Illinois
- Oregon
- Michigan
- Five-county Philadelphia region
- Indian River County, Florida
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Assets: $0
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Revenue: $117,000
- Expenses: $1.15 million
- Total Giving: $677,680
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $1,033,090 | $1,971,445 |
| Revenue | $116,708 | $491,083 | $1,132,955 |
| Expenses | $1,149,798 | $1,431,438 | $1,494,531 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,142,135 | $1,406,402 | $1,457,923 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,798 | $402,717 | $594,099 |
| Distributable Amount | $27,451 | $79,856 | $145,516 |
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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Chicago Cares Inc ($50,000), Crossroads Fund ($40,000), Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin Amer ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT CHICAGO, IL | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| ALL CHICAGO MAKING HOMELESSNESS HISTORY CHICAGO, IL | General & Unrestricted | $10,880 |
| ALOHA DIAPER BANK HONOLULU, HI | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| ARISE CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| BLESSED PROVISIONS INC HILLSBORO BCH, FL | General & Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| CARA PROGRAM CHICAGO, IL | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| CELESTERLING FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | Professional development fund | $800 |
| CENTER FOR CHANGING LIVES CHICAGO, IL | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| CHANGING WORLDS CHICAGO, IL | Charitable Event | $500 |
| CHICAGO CARES INC CHICAGO, IL | AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits fund | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denis Pierce | Pres, Dir | 1 | — |
| Martha V Pierce | Sec | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced its sunsetting plans in January 2023, with operations concluding on December 31, 2023. The 2023 tax filing represents the organization's final return.
PFF sunsetting plans announced - Pierce Family FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focused on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $677,680 • Typical award range: $150–$50,000 • First-time applicants typically received grants within the $10,000 range **Types of Support:** • General Operating • Program/Project **Application Process:** The foundation accepted applications through its online grantmaking portal with two annual deadlines: • Spring deadline: January 15 at 5pm EST (for April board meeting consideration) • Fall deadline: July 15 at 5pm EST (for October board meeting cons…
Where does The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary grantmaking focus was: • Illinois • Oregon • Michigan • Five-county Philadelphia region • Indian River County, Florida
What size grants does The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation award?
In 2023, The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation awarded 79 grants totaling $678K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Pierce Family Charitable Foundation'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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