The Ticknor Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Amesbury, Massachusetts, organized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The foundation carries on literary activities and other charitable activities aligned with its educational mission.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+2379.7% YoY
Grant Count
33
+6.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$98K
+2229.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ticknor Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $108K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, with a primary focus on literary, educational, and charitable activities. The organization's work centers on humanities and literary endeavors, as reflected in its NTEE classification as a Humanities Organization.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2024):
- Total Assets: $8,635
- Total Revenues: $4,900
- Total Expenses: $7,905
- Membership Dues: $4,900
Prior Year (2023):
- Total Revenues: $4,675
- Membership Dues: $3,485
The foundation's revenues increased 4.8% year-over-year, with membership dues representing the primary revenue source and growing 40.6% from 2023 to 2024.
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $2,265,516 | $3,395,009 |
| Revenue | $47,819 | $26,174 | $19,868 |
| Expenses | $3,226,186 | $132,070 | $132,295 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,225,398 | $131,570 | $132,045 |
| Net Investment Income | $47,285 | $25,674 | $19,618 |
| Distributable Amount | $107,720 | $112,995 | $123,520 |
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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Schwab Charitable ($3,101,342), Heifer International ($12,500), Lucile Packard Found for Childrens ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHRIST HOUSE WASHINGTON, DC | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT - TO HELP PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO HOMELESS PERSONS | $5,000 |
| LUCILE PACKARD FOUND FOR CHILDRENS PALO ALTO, CA | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT - TO help caregivers at Packard Children's deliver the best pediatric and obstetric medicine available, and allow scientists at the Stanford School of Medicine to pursue promising new cures for childhood illness | $10,000 |
| THE ACCESS FUND BOULDER, CO | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT - TO SUPPORT CLIMBING ORGANIZATIONS AND CONTINUE IMPROVING CLIMBING ACCESS AND STEWARDSHIP IN IDAHO & ACROSS THE COUNTRY. | $4,000 |
| BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY LEWISBURG, PA | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT - TO SUPPORT THE UNRESTRICTED SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $2,500 |
| KUNM-899 FM ALBUQUERQUE, NM | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT - TO SUPPORT PUBLIC RADIO AND NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMS. | $1,000 |
| STUDENTS RISING ABOVE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT - TO SUPPORT PROGRAM TO HELP LOW INCOME BAY AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTEND AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. | $5,000 |
| KUOW 949 SEATTLE, WA | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT - PUBLIC RADIO | $5,000 |
| KCTS 9 SEATTLE, WA | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT - PUBLIC TV PROGRAMMING | $10,000 |
| PAJARITO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CE LOS ALAMOS, NM | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT IN SUPPORT OF THEIR SERVICES | $5,000 |
| SIDE BY SIDE SAN ANSELMO, CA | PROMOTE EXEMPT ACTIVITY OF RECIPIENT IN SUPPORT OF THEIR SERVICES | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD E TICKNOR | President | — | — |
| SEAN D TICKNOR | Vice President | — | — |
| CHRISTOPHER C TICKNOR | Vice President | — | — |
| CAROLYN M TICKNOR | Secretary | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation is known for administering the George and Anna Eliot Ticknor Book and Book Culture Collecting Prize, an annual award recognizing book collecting achievements. The prize has been awarded to New England-based bibliophiles and collectors, with recent award announcements occurring in 2022 and 2026.
The Ticknor Society Book Collecting Prize 2026Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ticknor Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, with a primary focus on literary, educational, and charitable activities. The organization's work centers on humanities and literary endeavors, as reflected in its NTEE classification as a Humanities Organization.
What size grants does The Ticknor Foundation Inc award?
In 2023, The Ticknor Foundation Inc awarded 33 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $98K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ticknor Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Ticknor Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $108K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ticknor Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Ticknor Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-0516610. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
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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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