The Sperry Fund
The Sperry Fund is a private foundation based in New York, New York. Its 2025 filing lists grants to educational institutions, scholarship funds, and other organizations; it also supports the Beinecke Scholarship Program for college juniors pursuing graduate study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
The Sperry Fund at a glance
In short: The Sperry Fund gave $741K across 80 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $741,250
- +18.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 80
- +15.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,266
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $18,521,358
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (18% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Sperry Fund
- How to Apply
-
The fund’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. For the Beinecke Scholarship Program, nominations are made by participating colleges and universities, and students should contact their campus liaison. The filing directs applicants to contact the fund for full application requirements and to consult the scholarship program’s website for restrictions and limitations.
- Review Cycle
- Beinecke Scholarship nominations are due by 5 p.m. EST on the last Friday in March.
- Deadline
- Beinecke Scholarship nominations are due by 5 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: The Sperry Fund
Mailing address: Attn Grants Administrator 99 Park, Avenue 2220, New York, NY 10016-1601
Phone: (212) 370-1165
Email: beineckescholarship@sperryfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sperry Fund
Who The Sperry Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Phillips Academy Andover ($75K). Together the top 10 received $243K.
Organizations only. It also paid 26 individual scholarships ($166,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
407 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 402 grants of 407 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund is based in New York, New York. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states, including Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 80 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Sperry Fund gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 117% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $623K (2024) to $854K (2019). In 2025 it made 80 grants totaling $741K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Phillips Academy Andover Andover, MA | Beinecke Scholarship Endowment Fund | $75,000 |
| Friends of Fafg MC Lean, VA | Grant in Memory of R. Scott Greathead | $25,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, NY | World Conservation Program | $25,000 |
| 6 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $73,500 |
| Macquarie University ITF Remy Oddenyo | Scholarship | $20,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison ITF Eleutrio Duarte Madison, WI | Scholarship | $20,000 |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst ITF Shivan Kaitesi Kamugisha Amherst, MA | Scholarship | $18,000 |
| Columbia University ITF Ahmed Tabbakh New York, NY | Scholarship | $15,000 |
| Maine College of Art and Design ITF Caitlin Perrigo Portland, ME | Scholarship | $15,000 |
| Oxford University ITF Regina Kong | Scholarship | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sperry Fund?
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 | $18,521,358 | $1,434,898 | $1,229,020 | $741,250 | 80 | $1,017,437 | $1,215,866 | $866,231 |
| 2024 | $18,111,049 | $515,338 | $1,065,187 | $623,250 | 69 | $889,809 | $333,577 | $859,166 |
| 2023 | $17,663,131 | $556,890 | $1,160,163 | $699,500 | 81 | $945,833 | $353,067 | $838,918 |
| 2022 | $17,871,146 | $1,639,063 | $1,103,201 | $723,500 | 87 | $907,162 | $1,456,501 | $864,174 |
| 2021 | $21,529,563 | $842,250 | $1,168,509 | $754,000 | 90 | — | $601,767 | $914,399 |
| 2020 | $17,260,180 | $1,012,972 | $1,175,870 | $769,492 | 91 | — | $796,319 | $825,209 |
| 2019 | $17,548,763 | $768,067 | $1,310,611 | $854,038 | 102 | — | $511,809 | $836,466 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sperry Fund reported a distributable amount of $866K for 2025 — 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 fund’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its Beinecke Scholarship Program supports exceptional college juniors pursuing graduate studies in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Candidates must demonstrate intellectual ability and documented need-based financial aid.
The 2025 grants also included support for organizations whose missions span different fields. Friends of FAFG says it raises awareness and support for forensic science in investigating human rights abuses and war crimes. The Wildlife Conservation Society says it works to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation, education, and public engagement. The an individual recipient says it develops connections among Douglass alumnae through programs, services, networks, and lifelong learning opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the fund gave $741,250 through 80 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $3,500 to $75,000, with a median of $6,000. It gave $623,250 through 69 grants in 2024 and $699,500 through 81 grants in 2023.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $75,000 to Phillips Academy Andover for the Beinecke Scholarship Endowment Fund; $25,000 each to Friends of FAFG for a grant in memory of R. Scott Greathead and to the Wildlife Conservation Society for its World Conservation Program; and $20,000 to the an individual recipient for its Bunting Scholarship Fund. The filing also lists scholarship grants paid through recipients' universities, including $20,000 each to Macquarie University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The Beinecke Scholarship Program awards scholarships of $35,000 to selected students. Nominations are made by participating colleges and universities; students should contact their campus liaison for information. The fund’s filing says to contact the fund for full application requirements and consult the scholarship program’s website for award restrictions and limitations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Frederick W. Beinecke as president and director; John B. Beinecke as vice president and director; Diane M. Flynn as secretary, effective November 18, 2025, and director; Maureen Howley as treasurer; and Frances G. Beinecke, Sarah Beinecke Richardson, and Mary Elston as directors. It also lists R. Scott Greathead as secretary and director, deceased August 17, 2024.
The Sperry Fund is led by Frederick W. Beinecke, President & Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Frederick W. Beinecke
President & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
R. Scott Greathead
Secretary & Director-
Secretary & Director → Secretary & Director-, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$2K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Diane M. Flynn
Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$3K (2024) → $3K (2025)
Frances G. Beinecke
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John B. Beinecke
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Beinecke Richardson
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Elston
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maureen Howley
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Melvyn Shaffir (2019–2022) — Director -
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $3K, to Diane M Flynn (Secretary (As of 11/18/25) & Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Sperry Fund
How much does The Sperry Fund give each year?
The Sperry Fund gave $741K across 80 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $623K across 69 grants.
What is The Sperry Fund's typical grant size?
The Sperry Fund's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $9,266, across 80 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Sperry Fund give grants?
The Sperry Fund's top state is Massachusetts, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (17%) and New Jersey (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Stanford, CA (5 grants), New Haven, CT (5 grants), Chicago, IL (3 grants) and Cambridge, MA (3 grants).
Does The Sperry Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 80 grants with a stated purpose on The Sperry Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (76 grants).
Who are The Sperry Fund's largest grantees?
The Sperry Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Phillips Academy Andover ($75,000), Friends of Fafg ($25,000) and Wildlife Conservation Society ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 26 individual scholarships ($166,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sperry Fund?
The Sperry Fund reported $18.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $866K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Sperry Fund fund?
The fund’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its Beinecke Scholarship Program supports exceptional college juniors pursuing graduate studies in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Candidates must demonstrate intellectual ability and documented need-based financial aid. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sperry Fund?
The fund’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sperry Fund's EIN?
The Sperry Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6114308. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 26, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work The Sperry Fund funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sperry Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sperry Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sperry-fund-morg_6cf0614b667442eabeb7a2885edf92e7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136114308_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sperry Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sperry-fund-morg_6cf0614b667442eabeb7a2885edf92e7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Sperry Fund'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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