The Stanton Foundation
The Stanton Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing is marked as a final return and states that the foundation closed in 2025 after distributing all its assets to qualified tax-exempt organizations before December 31. The foundation’s website says it is no longer accepting proposals, so it appears to have wound down grantmaking.
The Stanton Foundation at a glance
In short: The Stanton Foundation gave $28.3M across 76 grants in 2025 (avg $372K), mostly in Massachusetts. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,302,540
- -59.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 76
- -54.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $372,402
- -11.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $80,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (25 of 62, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Stanton Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (212) 697-6900
Website: https://thestantonfoundation.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 Stanton Foundation
Who The Stanton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The First Amendment Stanton Foundation ($19.8M). Together the top 10 received $23.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
666 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 345 grants of 666 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Massachusetts received 79% of the foundation’s grant dollars. The next-largest reported state shares were Illinois, Louisiana, and North Carolina at 2% each, followed by Texas at 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 76 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Stanton Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 25 of 62 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $879K; repeat grants $171K. How we count
Medians: $80K first-time, $208K repeat.
- 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20.1M (2021) to $70.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 76 grants totaling $28.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The First Amendment Stanton Foundation Boston, MA | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $19,800,000 |
| MIT CNSP Cambridge, MA | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $500,000 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $345,000 |
| Arizona State University Phoenix, AZ | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $300,500 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $300,500 |
| George Mason University Fairfax, VA | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $300,500 |
| Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $300,500 |
| Tulane University New Orleans, LA | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $300,500 |
| University of Georgia Foundation Athens, GA | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $300,500 |
| University of Illinois Urbana, IL | To Achieve Charitable Purpose | $300,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Stanton Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing states that the foundation distributed all its assets to qualified tax-exempt organizations before December 31, 2025.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $845,480 | $30,872,006 | $28,302,540 | 76 | $30,704,917 | $693,053 | $728,363 |
| 2024 | $29,958,185 | $15,748,672 | $72,769,952 | $70,129,869 | 166 | $72,109,146 | $15,340,388 | $2,937,739 |
| 2023 | $87,007,391 | $16,993,406 | $38,467,524 | $35,717,405 | 175 | $37,685,020 | $16,406,402 | $5,296,054 |
| 2022 | $108,481,509 | $13,713,566 | $26,540,551 | $23,900,510 | 148 | $25,594,482 | $12,924,600 | $6,884,072 |
| 2021 | $121,308,494 | $9,276,593 | $22,618,367 | $20,108,203 | 101 | $21,620,778 | $8,386,252 | $8,249,851 |
| 2020 | $134,556,219 | $16,802,847 | $31,901,983 | $34,606,167 | 137 | — | $15,482,566 | $8,001,706 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stanton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $728K 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 foundation’s stated work has included improving canine health and welfare, advancing nuclear security, and protecting First Amendment freedoms while supporting a more informed citizenry. Its canine health work has aimed to improve care for dogs belonging to families of modest economic means; canine welfare efforts have included research, grantmaking, and direct services to strengthen the human-dog bond. In informed-citizen work, the foundation has supported civics and U.S. history education, public information initiatives, and First Amendment clinics.
Its 2025 grantees included universities and animal-welfare organizations. Ruff Start Rescue described its mission as saving animals in need through adoption, education, and resources for people and pets. A Path 4 Paws Dog Rescue described its mission as rescuing, sheltering, and rehoming dogs, alongside public education on pet overpopulation and responsible pet ownership.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 76 grants totaling $28,302,540. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $19,800,000, with a median grant of $80,000. The largest reported grant was $19,800,000 to The First Amendment Stanton Foundation in Boston, with the stated purpose “to achieve charitable purpose.” Other large grants included $500,000 to MIT CNSP and $345,000 to Duke University. Twelve universities received grants of $300,500 each, including Arizona State University, Cornell University, George Mason University, Southern Methodist University, Tulane University, and the University of Illinois.
The foundation’s 2025 grants also included $80,000 each to Ruff Start Rescue and A Path 4 Paws Dog Rescue. Its website described a Canine Transportation Van Grants program offering approximately $80,000 for vans and customization costs, but the foundation’s final-return status and statement that it is no longer accepting proposals mean this should not be treated as a current opportunity. The website also described a nuclear-security course-development program for courses taught in the 2024–25 academic year; that cycle has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Andrew H. Weiss and Elisabeth K. Allison as trustees.
The Stanton Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andrew H. Weiss
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $100K (2025)
Elisabeth K. Allison
Trustee
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$220K (2020) → $220K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $220K, to Elisabeth K Allison (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Stanton Foundation
How much does The Stanton Foundation give each year?
The Stanton Foundation gave $28.3M across 76 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $70.1M across 166 grants.
What is The Stanton Foundation's typical grant size?
The Stanton Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $80,000, and its average grant was $372,402, across 76 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Stanton Foundation that year got $879K on average.
Where does The Stanton Foundation give grants?
The Stanton Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Ithaca, NY (3 grants) and Little Rock, AR (3 grants).
Who are The Stanton Foundation's largest grantees?
The Stanton Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The First Amendment Stanton Foundation ($19,800,000), MIT CNSP ($500,000) and Tulane University ($430,500 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What does The Stanton Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated work has included improving canine health and welfare, advancing nuclear security, and protecting First Amendment freedoms while supporting a more informed citizenry. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Stanton Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Stanton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Stanton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $728K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Stanton Foundation's EIN?
The Stanton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3598005. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Stanton Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 26, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Stanton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Stanton Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-stanton-foundation-morg_4b3757fa668b4b8faddce80fb539f215
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133598005_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Stanton Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-stanton-foundation-morg_4b3757fa668b4b8faddce80fb539f215},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Stanton Foundation'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.
The Stanton Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?