The Sperry Fund

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 13-6114308

The Sperry Fund is a 501(c)(3) private foundation established in 1962 and based in New York City. The organization operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on supporting graduate education through scholarship programs.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$18.1M

+2.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$623K

-10.9% YoY

Grant Count

69

-14.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

+4.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sperry Fund reported a distributable amount of $859K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation provides scholarships for the graduate education of young men and women of exceptional promise through the Beinecke Scholarship Program.

Grantmaking

The foundation's primary grantmaking vehicle is the Beinecke Scholarship Program, which supports graduate-level education for high-achieving students.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation is located in New York City and operates nationally through its scholarship program.

Grant Distribution by State

29states
+22 more states

Cities

AlbuquerqueAmherstAndoverAnn ArborAnnadaleonhudsonAshevilleAthensAtlantaAustinBaltimoreBeaconBerkeleyBloomingtonBostonBoulderBronxBuolderBurlingtonCambridgeChapel Hill

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

  • Total Assets: $18.1M
  • Annual Revenue: $515K
  • Annual Expenses: $1.07M
  • Total Liabilities: $0

Organization Status:

  • Tax-exempt since February 1964
  • EIN: 13-6114308
  • Number of employees: 0
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$451K$901K$1M$2M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$18,111,049$17,663,131$17,871,146
Revenue$515,338$556,890$1,639,063
Expenses$1,065,187$1,160,163$1,103,201
Qualifying Distributions$889,809$945,833$907,162
Net Investment Income$333,577$353,067$1,456,501
Distributable Amount$859,166$838,918$864,174

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$192K$385K$577K$769K91 grants202090 grants202187 grants202281 grants202369 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

TRUSTEES OF PHILLIPS ACA…$75KHUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEAR…$25KUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IT…$18KCOLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MAR…$15KOXFORD UNIVERSITY ITF RE…$15KTHE REGENTS OF THE UNIVE…$15KTHE REGENTS OF THE UNIVE…$15KISCTE - UNIVERSITY INSTI…$14KHARVARD UNIVERSITY ITF B…$10KHARVARD UNIVERSITY ITF E…$10K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

245<$50K3$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from The Sperry Fund

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Trustees of Phillips Academy ($75,000), Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc ($25,000), University of Florida Itf Beatrice Kyasiimire ($18,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ADRIANA GONZALES BERKELEY, CASCHOLARSHIP$4,000
BIRKBECK UNIVERSITY OF LONDON ITF ANNEE LYONS SCHOLARSHIP$5,000
BROWN UNIVERSITY ITF CHRISTINA STEELE PROVIDENCE, PRSCHOLARSHIP$7,000
BRYN EVANS STANFORD, CASCHOLARSHIP$4,000
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY ITF PARKER ROSE ORANGE, NJSCHOLARSHIP$8,000
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY ITF CHRISTOPHER MCCRACKIN WILLIAMSBURG, VASCHOLARSHIP$15,000
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ITF EYSHE BEIRICH NEW YORK, NYSCHOLARSHIP$6,000
CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITF JOHN STARR ITHACA, NYSCHOLARSHIP$6,000
CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITF JUHYAE KIM ITHACA, NYSCHOLARSHIP$6,500
CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITF JUHYAE KIM ITHACA, NYSCHOLARSHIP$7,500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

R SCOTT GREATHEADSECRETARY & DIRECTOR$3KDIANE M FLYNNDIRECTOR (JOINED 10/30/23)$3K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
FREDERICK W BEINECKEPRESIDENT & DIRECTOR2
JOHN B BEINECKEVICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR2
R SCOTT GREATHEADSECRETARY & DIRECTOR2$3,000
SARAH BEINECKE RICHARDSONDIRECTOR2
FRANCES G BEINECKEDIRECTOR2
MAUREEN HOWLEYTREASURER5
DIANE M FLYNNDIRECTOR (JOINED 10/30/23)2$3,000

Contact Information

  • Address: 99 Park Ave, Room 2220, New York, NY
  • Phone: 212-370-1165
  • Website: beineckescholarship.org

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Sperry Fund fund?

The foundation provides scholarships for the graduate education of young men and women of exceptional promise through the Beinecke Scholarship Program.

How do I apply for a grant from The Sperry Fund?

The foundation's primary grantmaking vehicle is the Beinecke Scholarship Program, which supports graduate-level education for high-achieving students.

Where does The Sperry Fund make grants?

The foundation is located in New York City and operates nationally through its scholarship program.

What size grants does The Sperry Fund award?

In 2024, The Sperry Fund awarded 69 grants totaling $623K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Sperry Fund required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sperry Fund reported a distributable amount of $859K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Sperry Fund's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

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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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