The Sprocket Foundation is a private foundation established in Pennsylvania and based in New Hope, PA. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and primarily funds recipient operating activities through unrestricted charitable grants.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.5M
-9.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+2.3% YoY
Grant Count
25
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
+2.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sprocket Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science Teachers
- STEM Education
- Journalism
Grantmaking
The remaining 21 grants totaled $1,780,000.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $25,000 to $275,000.
Ready to take the next step with The Sprocket Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, California, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $20,501,130
- Total Giving: $2,020,000
- Total Revenues: $339,044
- Total Expenses: $2,363,590
- Investment Income and Dividends: $421,482
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,501,130 | $22,706,294 | $24,266,768 |
| Revenue | $339,044 | $-321,340 | $2,710,968 |
| Expenses | $2,363,590 | $2,291,740 | $2,366,548 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,181,211 | $2,145,051 | $2,109,115 |
| Net Investment Income | $239,118 | $328,735 | $549,668 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,144,958 | $1,145,967 | $1,499,337 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Borealis Philanthropy ($275,000), Proteus Fund ($235,000), Common Counsel Foundation ($165,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMISTAD LAW PROJECT PHILADELPHIA, PA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $50,000 |
| ASTRAEA FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $50,000 |
| BOREALIS PHILANTHROPY MINNEAPOLIS, MN | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $275,000 |
| BREAD & ROSES PHILADELPHIA, PA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $85,000 |
| CLEAN AIR COALITION OF WESTERN NEW YORK BUFFALO, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $30,000 |
| COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR SAFE PLACE WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $30,000 |
| COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION OAKLAND, CA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $165,000 |
| DEFENDING RIGHTS AND DISSENT WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $60,000 |
| FAITH FOR JUSTICE SAINT LOUIS, MO | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $55,000 |
| FAMILIES FOR JUSTICE HEALING ROXBORY, MA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $70,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN MCDONNELL | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| JILL MCDONNELL | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 190, New Hope, PA 18938-0190
- Telephone: 215-297-8875
- EIN: 77-0669399
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sprocket Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science Teachers • STEM Education • Journalism
How do I apply for a grant from The Sprocket Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $25,000 to $275,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2023, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $2,020,000. Notable recent grants include: • Borealis Philanthropy: $275,000 (unrestricted charitable grant) • Proteus Fund: $235,000 (unrestricted charitable grant) • Common Counsel Foundation (CCF): $165,000 (unrestricted charitable grant) The remaining 21 grants totaled $1,780,000.
Where does The Sprocket Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, California, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does The Sprocket Foundation award?
In 2023, The Sprocket Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $81K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sprocket Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Sprocket Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sprocket Foundation's EIN?
The Sprocket Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0669399. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sprocket Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Wolf Creek Operating Foundation
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA
Assets
$7.1M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The Best Little Cat House in PA
HARRISBURG, PA
Assets
$281K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
LANCASTER, PA
Assets
$9.4M
Grants
35
Total Given
$304K
The Irene P Sorbara Charitable Foundation
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
2
Total Given
$131K
Howmet Aerospace Foundation
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$141.5M
Grants
209
Total Given
$8.4M
Penn and Lisa Seiple Conservancy
SUNBURY, PA
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Sprocket Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Sprocket Foundation to a real strategy.