The Poss Family Foundation
The Poss Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Brookline, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $2.0M. Net investment income was $134K.
The Poss Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Poss Family Foundation gave $2.0M across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $341K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,044,148
- +436.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $340,691
- +257.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $68,980
- Primary geography
- New York (78% 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 Poss Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Morgan Stanley Global Impact ($1.5M across 3 grants). Together the top 3 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 34 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Poss Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). 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 $381K (2024) to $3.0M (2020). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact New York, NY | Promote Charitable Purpose | $1,429,998 |
| Center for Arts - Design and Wayland, MA | Promote Charitable Purpose | $450,000 |
| New York Live Arts New York, NY | Promote Charitable Purpose | $100,000 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact New York, NY | Promote Charitable Purpose | $37,959 |
| New York Live Arts New York, NY | Promote Charitable Purpose | $25,000 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact New York, NY | Promote Charitable Purpose | $1,191 |
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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 | — | $161,901 | $2,187,165 | $2,044,148 | 6 | $2,044,148 | $133,855 | $72,049 |
| 2024 | $919,465 | $18,158 | $433,244 | $381,315 | 4 | $381,315 | $28,962 | $105,331 |
| 2023 | $1,344,869 | $58 | $523,982 | $510,000 | 3 | $510,000 | $16,526 | $104,112 |
| 2022 | $1,869,342 | $666,657 | $2,371,816 | $2,308,500 | 12 | $2,308,500 | $614,841 | $139,411 |
| 2021 | $3,562,868 | $1,512,475 | $2,677,578 | $2,645,000 | 9 | $2,645,000 | $1,473,397 | $274,492 |
| 2020 | $4,730,184 | $3,819,026 | $3,068,404 | $3,018,930 | 12 | — | $2,125,996 | $326,516 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Poss Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $72K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Poss Family Foundation is led by Ellen M. Poss, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen M. Poss
Trustee
On filings since 2020
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 Poss Family Foundation
How much does The Poss Family Foundation give each year?
The Poss Family Foundation gave $2.0M across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $381K across 4 grants.
What is The Poss Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Poss Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $68,980, and its average grant was $340,691, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Poss Family Foundation give grants?
The Poss Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants).
Who are The Poss Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Poss Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Morgan Stanley Global Impact ($1,469,148 across 3 grants), Center for Arts - Design and ($450,000) and New York Live Arts ($125,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How much is The Poss Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Poss Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $72K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Poss Family Foundation's EIN?
The Poss Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3412829. 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Poss Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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