The Tiny Tiger Foundation
The Tiny Tiger Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 36 grants totaling $370,400 to charitable organizations, including recipients working in education, arts, animal conservation, homelessness services, and Christian Science nursing.
The Tiny Tiger Foundation at a glance
In short: The Tiny Tiger Foundation gave $370K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Massachusetts. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $370,400
- -3.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- -7.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,289
- +4.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $8,823,135
- +87.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (3 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (86% 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 Tiny Tiger Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 321 North Clark Street Suite 2300, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 391-7551
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Tiny Tiger Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was WGBH Educational Foundation ($28K). Together the top 10 received $163K.
Grant Size Distribution
177 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 177 grants of 177 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Massachusetts accounted for 86% of grant dollars, followed by Colorado at 4%, Vermont at 3%, Kansas at 3%, and Illinois at 1%. These figures cover the listed recipient-state shares.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Tiny Tiger Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 36 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 111% of 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 $272K (2020) to $385K (2024). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $370K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $27,500 |
| Boston Arts Academy Foundation Inc Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Commonwealth Zoological Corporation Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Adventure Unlimited Greenwood Village, CO | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association Chestnut Hill, MA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| New England Aquarium Corporation Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Pine Street Inn Inc Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Vinfen's Gateway Arts Brookline, MA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| 826 Boston Inc Roxbury, MA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Boston Ballet Inc Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,823,135 | $4,530,000 | $414,010 | $370,400 | 36 | $384,688 | $4,140,061 | $347,987 |
| 2024 | $4,707,145 | $296,813 | $442,505 | $385,400 | 39 | $413,454 | $267,762 | $366,592 |
| 2023 | $4,852,837 | $344,048 | $383,289 | $340,400 | 31 | $361,166 | $321,925 | $321,236 |
| 2022 | $4,892,078 | $107,874 | $388,518 | $345,400 | 33 | $358,370 | $156,604 | $332,224 |
| 2021 | $5,172,722 | $529,832 | $397,476 | $359,900 | 38 | $373,315 | $505,671 | $361,539 |
| 2020 | $5,040,366 | $263,496 | $321,495 | $271,900 | 32 | — | $230,414 | $307,470 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tiny Tiger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $348K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, WGBH Educational Foundation describes its work as providing programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain. New England Aquarium Corporation says it works on public engagement and education, marine animal conservation, scientific research, and ocean advocacy. Pine Street Inn describes its mission as ending homelessness, while Boston Arts Academy Foundation says it raises funds in support of Boston Arts Academy.
Other 2025 recipients include Commonwealth Zoological Corporation, which describes support for the Franklin Park Zoo and the Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo; Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association, which describes providing a Christian Science refuge and nursing; and Cradles to Crayons, which says it provides essential items to children in homeless or low-income situations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $370,400. Grants ranged from $1,800 to $27,500, with a median of $10,000. The listed purposes for the largest grants were unrestricted.
Among the largest grants were $27,500 to WGBH Educational Foundation; $20,000 each to Boston Arts Academy Foundation and Commonwealth Zoological Corporation; and $15,000 each to Adventure Unlimited, Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association, New England Aquarium Corporation, Pine Street Inn, and Vinfen’s Gateway Arts. Other reported grants included $10,000 each to 826 Boston, Boston Ballet, Boston CASA, Boston Partners in Education, and Cradles to Crayons.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Barbara W. Field as president, treasurer, and director; Katherine Field Stephen as vice president and assistant secretary; and Thomas E. Swaney as secretary and director.
The Tiny Tiger Foundation is led by Barbara W. Field, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara W. Field
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Thomas E. Swaney
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Field Stephen
Vice President & Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $3K, to Barbara W Field (President, Treas, Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Tiny Tiger Foundation
How much does The Tiny Tiger Foundation give each year?
The Tiny Tiger Foundation gave $370K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $385K across 39 grants.
What is The Tiny Tiger Foundation's typical grant size?
The Tiny Tiger Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,289, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Tiny Tiger Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Tiny Tiger Foundation give grants?
The Tiny Tiger Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (16 grants), Chicago, IL (3 grants), Brookline, MA (2 grants) and Chestnut Hill, MA (2 grants).
Does The Tiny Tiger Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Tiny Tiger Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Tiny Tiger Foundation's largest grantees?
The Tiny Tiger Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include WGBH Educational Foundation ($27,500), Boston Arts Academy Foundation Inc ($20,000) and Commonwealth Zoological Corporation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Tiny Tiger Foundation?
The Tiny Tiger Foundation reported $8.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $385K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $348K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Tiny Tiger Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, WGBH Educational Foundation describes its work as providing programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Tiny Tiger Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Tiny Tiger Foundation's EIN?
The Tiny Tiger Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3521718. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Tiny Tiger 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tiny Tiger Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Tiny Tiger Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-tiny-tiger-foundation-morg_0c42503212e94841aa399d912e143ea8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363521718_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Tiny Tiger Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-tiny-tiger-foundation-morg_0c42503212e94841aa399d912e143ea8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Tiny Tiger 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.
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