The Tinker Foundation Inc
The Tinker Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Founded in 1959, it supports economic and social development in Latin America by funding civil society organizations, including nonprofit entities, research institutes, and universities.
The Tinker Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Tinker Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 58 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), top state District of Columbia. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,781,622
- -11.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 58
- -4.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,959
- -6.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $84,627,722
- +4.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (21 of 57, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (9% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Tinker Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through an open Letter of Inquiry process. For Institutional Grants, it invites a limited number of applicants to submit a full proposal; full proposals are by invitation only. Eligible organizations must be charitable in nature, have U.S. 501(c)(3) status or an equivalent status if located outside the United States, and have operated with a budget of at least $50,000 in one of the specified eligibility years. The project must meet the foundation’s geographic criteria. The foundation directs applicants to its website for application materials and restrictions, including guidance on lobbying and political campaigning.
- Review Cycle
- The listed 2026 cycle is past. Letters of Inquiry were scheduled for January 7–21, 2026, with invited full proposals due March 19, 2026, and final decisions in June 2026.
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 cycle is past.
- Contact
Mailing address: 55 East 59Th Street Suite 21C, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 421-6858
Website: https://tinker.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Tinker Foundation Inc
Institutional Grants: Democratic Governance
The Tinker Foundation Inc
Amount
US $50,000 - US $150,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Institutional Grants: Education
The Tinker Foundation Inc
Amount
US $50,000 - US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Institutional Grants: Sustainable Resource Management
The Tinker Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Tinker Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Natura Y Ecosistemas Mexicanos Ac ($130K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
321 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 173 grants of 321 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports work across Latin America and encourages comparative and collaborative work. Its 2026 Institutional Grants cycle specified a geographic focus on Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries. The foundation says it strives to award much of its funding to organizations in the region and has stated that it will prioritize locally led organizations throughout Latin America.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Tinker Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 21 of 57 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $55K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $55K first-time, $36K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2024) to $4.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 58 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Natura Y Ecosistemas Mexicanos Ac | Navigating implementation challenges in mexico's payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs | $130,000 |
| Centro De Investigaciones Y Estudios Superiores En Antropologia Social | A systemic approach to preventing and addressing foundational learning setbacks in mexico and central America | $120,000 |
| Observatorio Nacional Ciudadano | Making Alternative Justice Count | $113,000 |
| Fundacion Crisalida Internacional | Building foundations for success: supporting early and remedial education in guatemala and honduras | $109,000 |
| Grupo De Analisis Para El Desarrollo | Math learning made fun: increasing problem-solving skills among vulnerable children in peru | $108,000 |
| Fase Federacao De Orgaos Para Assistencia Social E Educacional | Water for what and for whom? Safeguarding water as a human right and a common resource in brazil | $100,000 |
| The Global Fund for Children Washington, DC | Educational recovery in central America:supporting the critical role of civil society organizations | $100,000 |
| Laboratorio De Educacao | Scaling up an effective methodology for improved middle-grade reading comprehension | $100,000 |
| Nova Escola | A.I.-powered activities generator for differentiated learning in brazilian classrooms | $100,000 |
| Universidad Marcelino Champagnat | Peer tutoring for accelerated learning recovery in metropolitan lima | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $84,627,722 | $6,820,060 | $4,681,127 | $2,781,622 | 58 | $4,278,019 | $6,565,847 | $4,117,924 |
| 2023 | $80,646,849 | $6,169,442 | $4,696,274 | $3,136,778 | 61 | $4,570,755 | $2,768,279 | $3,805,765 |
| 2022 | $76,138,580 | $3,193,792 | $4,830,908 | $3,525,901 | 59 | $4,746,165 | $2,755,086 | $4,013,581 |
| 2021 | $93,087,169 | $11,007,461 | $7,132,206 | $4,075,250 | 74 | $5,261,872 | $10,501,031 | $4,308,129 |
| 2020 | $88,410,227 | $5,956,842 | $6,573,546 | $3,650,250 | 69 | — | $5,312,450 | $4,229,350 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tinker Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it promotes economic and social development in Latin America by supporting “people, projects, and ideas.” Its Institutional Grants program funds research and advocacy, experimentation, scaling promising interventions, and exchange of knowledge and models. Supported activities may include community engagement and capacity-building, applied research, measurement and evaluation, and workshops and conferences.
In Democratic Governance, the foundation supports work to strengthen justice systems and access to justice, including institutional improvements, capacity-building, digital innovation, and legal empowerment for vulnerable groups. Education is the other current Institutional Grants program area. The foundation’s website describes its education work as part of a focus on improving lives and changing policy and practice; its 2024 grants included projects on foundational learning, literacy, numeracy, teacher development, and educational recovery.
The foundation supports civil society organizations, including nonprofit entities, research institutes, and universities. Its 2024 grantees included organizations with varied missions. For example, Michigan State University described its mission as helping students get scholarships for college; TeachUnited said it partners with local communities to prepare more students for post-secondary education and careers; and Committee for Children described its work as fostering children’s safety and well-being through social-emotional learning and development.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $2,781,622 through 58 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $3,000 to $130,000, with a median grant of $40,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $130,000 to Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos AC for work on Mexico’s payments for ecosystem services programs; $120,000 to Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social for a project addressing foundational learning setbacks in Mexico and Central America; and $113,000 to Observatorio Nacional Ciudadano for “Making Alternative Justice Count.” Other notable awards included $109,000 to Fundación Crisalida Internacional for early and remedial education in Guatemala and Honduras, $108,000 to Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo for a math-learning project in Peru, and $100,000 to Global Fund for Children for educational recovery in Central America.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Dr. Shannon O’Neil as chairman; Katherine Lorenz as secretary; and Susan Segal as treasurer. Directors listed were Bradford Smith, Tatiana Martins, Isabel Aninat, Eugene Zapata Garesche, Vicente Leon, Dr. Luis Oganes, and Dr. Arturo C. Porzecanski, whose service was listed through December 2024.
The foundation’s September 2025 program update identified Caroline Kronley as president.
The Tinker Foundation Inc is led by Caroline Kronley, President on every filing since 2020; 9 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Caroline Kronley
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$283K (2020) → $294K (2024)
Shannon O'Neil
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Arturo C. Porzecanski
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Bradford Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2024)
Eugene Zapata Garesche
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2024)
Isabel Aninat
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2024)
Vicente Leon
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $4K (2024)
John McIntire
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2024)
Tatiana Martins
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luis Oganes
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Lorenz
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $4K (2024)
Susan Segal
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Alan Stoga (2020–2023) — Chairman · Filing note: Through 62023
- Former: Kathleen M. Waldron (2020–2023) — Treasurer · Filing note: Through 122023
- Former: Luis F. Rubio (2020–2022) — Secretary · Filing note: Thru June 2022
- Former: Eugene Zapata Gareschejoined Dec (2022) — Director
- Former: Isabel Aninat Joined Dec (2022) — Director
- Former: Katherine Lorenz Secretary (2022) — Secretary & Director · Filing note: Began July
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $294K, to Caroline Kronley (President). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Tinker Foundation Inc
How much does The Tinker Foundation Inc give each year?
The Tinker Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 58 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.1M across 61 grants.
What is The Tinker Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Tinker Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $47,959, across 58 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Tinker Foundation Inc that year got $55K on average.
Where does The Tinker Foundation Inc give grants?
The Tinker Foundation Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 9% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (8 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).
Does The Tinker Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of The Tinker Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 58) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Tinker Field Research Collaborative" (10 grants).
Who are The Tinker Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Tinker Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Natura Y Ecosistemas Mexicanos Ac ($130,000), Centro De Investigaciones Y Estudios Superiores En Antropologia Social ($120,000) and Observatorio Nacional Ciudadano ($113,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Tinker Foundation Inc?
The Tinker Foundation Inc reported $84.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Tinker Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation says it promotes economic and social development in Latin America by supporting “people, projects, and ideas.” Its Institutional Grants program funds research and advocacy, experimentation, scaling promising interventions, and exchange of knowledge and models. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Tinker Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through an open Letter of Inquiry process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Tinker Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Tinker Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0175449. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Tinker Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tinker Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Tinker Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-tinker-foundation-inc-morg_4d258b89895e4d3dbe114946d896375b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510175449_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Tinker Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-tinker-foundation-inc-morg_4d258b89895e4d3dbe114946d896375b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Tinker Foundation Inc'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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