The Tinker Foundation Inc
The Tinker Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation based in New York, NY that has been supporting development in Latin America for more than sixty years. Founded in 1959 by Edward Larocque Tinker in memory of his wife, father, and grandfather, the foundation works to promote economic and social development across the region by funding civil society organizations, research institutes, universities, and nonprofit entities addressing Latin America's most pressing challenges.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$84.6M
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
-11.3% YoY
Grant Count
58
-4.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
-6.7% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To promote the development of an equitable, sustainable, and productive society in Latin America.
The foundation realizes its mission by providing funding to organizations working to test promising ideas, extend the impact of proven models, and bring together stakeholders to solve problems in new ways. The foundation emphasizes support for organizations within the Latin American region itself.
Primary Program Areas:
- Democratic Governance
- Education
The foundation also supports initiatives in environment, natural resources, science, social sciences, public policy, and international relations.
Grantmaking
The Tinker Foundation operates three primary grantmaking programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports work across Latin America, with a particular focus on the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of the region. The foundation is one of a small number of private foundations focused on the entire Latin American region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $84,627,722 (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $2,781,622 (2024)
Revenue: $6,169,442 (as of 2023)
Expenses: $4,696,274 (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $84,627,722 | $80,646,849 | $76,138,580 |
| Revenue | $6,820,060 | $6,169,442 | $3,193,792 |
| Expenses | $4,681,127 | $4,696,274 | $4,830,908 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,278,019 | $4,570,755 | $4,746,165 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,565,847 | $2,768,279 | $2,755,086 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,117,924 | $3,805,765 | $4,013,581 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
Institutional Grants: Education
THE TINKER FOUNDATION INC
Amount
US $50,000 - US $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Institutional Grants: Sustainable Resource Management
THE TINKER FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Natura Y Ecosistemas Mexicanos Ac ($130,000), Centro De Investigaciones Y Estudios Superiores En Antropologia Social ($120,000), Observatorio Nacional Ciudadano ($113,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND AKA TULANE UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS, LA | TINKER FIELD RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE | $15,000 |
| ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA THE TUCSON, AZ | TINKER FIELD RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE | $15,000 |
| ASISTENCIA LEGAL POR LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS AC | CONSOLIDATION OF THE ACCUSATORIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN OAXACA, MEXICO | $45,000 |
| ASOCIACION AMIGOS DEL APRENDIZAJE | ADDRESSING THE EDUCATION CRISIS IN COSTA RICA: BOLSTERING CHILDREN'S FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING THROUGH CREATIVE WRITING | $35,000 |
| ASOCIACION QECHI XCHOOL IXIM | QECHI MAYA BILINGUAL AND CULTURAL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION | $72,000 |
| ASOCIACION SAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE NETWORK | COMMUNITY-BASED MONITORING AND ASSURANCE SYSTEM FOR SMALL-SCALE COFFEE PRODUCERS IN PLANADAS, TOLIMA, COLOMBIA | $63,000 |
| ATENTAMENTE CONSULTORES AC | SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR LOWER-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATORS IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA | $60,000 |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS THE CHAMPAIGN, IL | TINKER FIELD RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE | $17,500 |
| CANDID NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $4,472 |
| CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION PLANEACION Y EVALUACION (CIPE CONSULTORES) | RESOURCE CENTER FOR EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL RECOVERY IN HONDURAS | $26,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Caroline Kronley – President (compensation: $283,815 as of 2023)
- Dr. Shannon O'Neil – Chairman (as of June 2023)
- Meg Cushing – Associate Director
The foundation was originally created by Edward Larocque Tinker (1881-1968), who held PhDs in literature from the University of Paris and the University of Madrid and devoted his life to exploring Hispanic culture in Latin America. Martha T. Muse served as the foundation's first President and was instrumental in bringing the organization to life.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR SHANNON O'NEIL | CHAIRMAN | 0.5 | $4,000 |
| KATHERINE LORENZ | SECRETARY | 0.5 | $4,000 |
| SUSAN SEGAL | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| BRADFORD SMITH | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | $4,000 |
| TATIANA MARTINS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ISABEL ANINAT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | $4,000 |
| EUGENE ZAPATA GARESCHE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | $4,000 |
| VICENTE LEON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | $4,000 |
| DR LUIS OGANES | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DR ARTURO C PORZECANSKI | DIRECTOR THRU 12/24 | 0.5 | $4,000 |
| JOHN MCINTIRE | DIRECTOR AS OF 03/24 | 0.5 | $2,000 |
| CAROLINE KRONLEY | PRESIDENT | 40 | $293,815 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced important updates regarding 2025 grantmaking, with notices published in both English and Portuguese.
Important note regarding 2025 grantmaking -The foundation announced the launch of the Tinker Field Research Collaborative, expanding its support for graduate student research in Latin America.
Nota importante sobre as concess\xF5es institucionais de 2025 - Tinker FoundationThe foundation announced new education grantmaking initiatives and continues to operate its 2026 Institutional Grant Cycle for organizations interested in applying for funding.
Important note regarding 2025 grantmaking -Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Tinker Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** To promote the development of an equitable, sustainable, and productive society in Latin America. The foundation realizes its mission by providing funding to organizations working to test promising ideas, extend the impact of proven models, and bring together stakeholders to solve problems in new ways. The foundation emphasizes support for organizations within the Latin American region itself. **Primary Program Areas:** • Democratic Governance • Education The foundation also suppor…
How do I apply for a grant from The Tinker Foundation Inc?
The Tinker Foundation operates three primary grantmaking programs: **Institutional Grants** Support changes to policy and practice that improve the lives of Latin Americans. Project funding is provided to organizations working to improve lives in the region, with emphasis on supporting organizations based in Latin America. Typical award ranges are $500–$155,000. The foundation had 2 live grant opportunities as of the most recent reporting period. **Field Research Collaborative** Enables graduat…
Where does The Tinker Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports work across Latin America, with a particular focus on the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of the region. The foundation is one of a small number of private foundations focused on the entire Latin American region.
What size grants does The Tinker Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Tinker Foundation Inc awarded 58 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Tinker Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Tinker Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tinker Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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