The Pioneer Fund
The Pioneer Fund is a private foundation, based in Denver, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $23K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $32K. Net investment income was $19K.
The Pioneer Fund at a glance
In short: The Pioneer Fund gave $32K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $31,700
- -58.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,925
- -37.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,250
- Total assets
- $23,216
- -46.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (61% 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 Pioneer Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Belize Education Project ($18K). Together the top 4 received $32K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 25 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Pioneer Fund gives
- Giving fell 65% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 $11K (2021) to $90K (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $32K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Belize Education Project Lakewood, CO | General Operating Support | $18,200 |
| Gentry Educational Svcs Franklin, TN | Generaloperatingsupport | $10,000 |
| UCLA Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Generaloperatingsupport | $2,500 |
| Basics Team Foundation Littleton, CO | Generaloperatingsupport | $1,000 |
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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 | $23,216 | $18,537 | $38,483 | $31,700 | 4 | $31,700 | $18,537 | $3,104 |
| 2024 | $43,162 | $45,682 | $87,953 | $76,250 | 6 | $76,250 | $45,682 | $5,802 |
| 2023 | $85,433 | $8,456 | $32,114 | $15,750 | 6 | $15,750 | $8,456 | $8,189 |
| 2022 | $109,091 | $14,374 | $111,418 | $90,000 | 6 | $90,000 | $9,770 | $10,951 |
| 2021 | $206,135 | $9,591 | $35,399 | $11,000 | 3 | $11,000 | $9,591 | $14,386 |
| 2020 | $231,943 | $35,317 | $68,524 | $47,500 | 7 | — | $35,317 | $15,590 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pioneer Fund reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Pioneer Fund's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lark Birdsong
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Anderson
Pres-Treas
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Hamilton
Vice President
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 Pioneer Fund
How much does The Pioneer Fund give each year?
The Pioneer Fund gave $32K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $76K across 6 grants.
What is The Pioneer Fund's typical grant size?
The Pioneer Fund's median grant in 2025 was $6,250, and its average grant was $7,925, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Pioneer Fund give grants?
The Pioneer Fund gives mostly in Colorado: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (32%) and California (8%).
Does The Pioneer Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of The Pioneer Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Generaloperatingsupport" (3 grants).
How large is The Pioneer Fund?
The Pioneer Fund reported $23K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Pioneer Fund's EIN?
The Pioneer Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6108943. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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