The River Foundation
The River Foundation is a private foundation, based in Cambridge, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $296K. Net investment income was $267K.
The River Foundation at a glance
In short: The River Foundation gave $296K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $49K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $296,000
- +53.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $49,333
- +27.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $48,000
- Total assets
- $1,385,003
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (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 River Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ancient Egypt Research Associates ($100K). Together the top 6 received $296K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 29 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How The River Foundation gives
- Giving grew 97% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 366% of 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 $150K (2022) to $313K (2021). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $296K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Egypt Research Associates Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $60,000 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $56,000 |
| Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, NY | Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| Society for Science and the Public Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Harvard Art Museum Cambridge, MA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
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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 | $1,385,003 | $281,190 | $310,632 | $296,000 | 6 | $296,035 | $267,131 | $80,970 |
| 2024 | $1,414,445 | $62,173 | $206,079 | $193,000 | 5 | $193,000 | $49,696 | $47,824 |
| 2023 | $1,558,351 | $90,194 | $306,565 | $293,000 | 6 | $293,035 | $77,163 | $49,514 |
| 2022 | $1,774,722 | $81,685 | $173,803 | $150,000 | 4 | $150,035 | $65,365 | $54,598 |
| 2021 | $1,866,840 | $328,973 | $334,541 | $313,352 | 8 | $313,387 | $310,020 | $115,813 |
| 2020 | $1,872,408 | $140,821 | $211,099 | $190,000 | 7 | — | $120,891 | $116,439 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The River Foundation reported a distributable amount of $81K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The River Foundation's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Celia Gilbert
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Eric Domeshek
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John R. Gilbert
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kate Gilbert
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Valerie Leiter
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Walter Gilbert
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 River Foundation
How much does The River Foundation give each year?
The River Foundation gave $296K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $193K across 5 grants.
What is The River Foundation's typical grant size?
The River Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $48,000, and its average grant was $49,333, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The River Foundation give grants?
The River Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (14%) and District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants).
Does The River Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The River Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The River Foundation's largest grantees?
The River Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ancient Egypt Research Associates ($100,000), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ($60,000) and Museum of Fine Arts ($56,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The River Foundation?
The River Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $296K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $81K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The River Foundation's EIN?
The River Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3254488. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
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