The Vandermark Foundation
The Vandermark Foundation is a private foundation with its center of operation in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 2011, it supports charities serving people with few resources and seeks to encourage self-sufficiency and strengthen families around the world.
The Vandermark Foundation at a glance
In short: The Vandermark Foundation gave $710K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $59K), top state Colorado. 45% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $710,000
- +25.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $59,167
- +57.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $11,402,348
- -2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Vandermark Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation makes grants to preselected charitable organizations, considers proposals by invitation only, and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. For invited organizations, it works with them to establish clear goals, measurable outcomes, and a project plan aligned with its priorities. Decisions are based on review of an organization’s strategies, demonstrated effectiveness, leadership, and financial position. Grants may support capital improvements, multi-year projects, or strategic initiatives; the foundation does not generally fund ongoing operations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://vandermarkfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Vandermark Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Blue Dragon Childrens Foundation USA ($250K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $700K.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 31 grants of 67 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it has funded programs in the United States, India, Vietnam, and the Dominican Republic. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado (49%), Massachusetts (23%), and New York (11%); Pennsylvania and Connecticut each accounted for 7%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Vandermark Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 11 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $83K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $53K repeat.
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $552K (2020) to $726K (2023). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $710K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Dragon Childrens Foundation USA Littleton, CO | Complete renovations to the offices in HCMC and support activities at that site | $200,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Central Colorado Inc Colorado SPGS, CO | Two year grant in support of legal assistance to immigrant families | $100,000 |
| Womens Education Project New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| At Home and Afar Wayland, MA | Rebuilding cistern and installing solar power | $55,000 |
| Blue Dragon Childrens Foundation USA Littleton, CO | Myanmar Rescue Fund | $50,000 |
| Hope Walks Inc York Springs, PA | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT | Global Engagement Fund | $50,000 |
| Worcester Natural History Society Worcester, MA | Building project and naming of Sun Dial Rose | $50,000 |
| Partners for Guatemala Education Inc Plymouth, MA | General & Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Father Bills & Mainspring Inc Brockton, MA | In support of the Brockton Housing Resource Center | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Vandermark Foundation?
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 | $11,402,348 | $551,210 | $828,780 | $710,000 | 12 | $754,702 | $480,642 | $805,955 |
| 2024 | $11,679,918 | $165,890 | $669,867 | $564,500 | 15 | $608,131 | $216,254 | $729,477 |
| 2023 | $12,183,895 | $96,095 | $821,811 | $726,000 | 13 | $767,199 | $304,297 | $623,992 |
| 2022 | $12,909,611 | $3,831,980 | $867,519 | $695,000 | 15 | $738,388 | $3,772,440 | $591,979 |
| 2021 | $9,945,150 | $1,245,456 | $691,492 | $580,000 | 12 | $620,225 | $1,177,389 | $720,218 |
| 2020 | $9,391,186 | $368,334 | $651,601 | $552,000 | 13 | — | $309,838 | $583,133 |
| 2019 | $9,674,453 | $515,633 | $669,892 | $565,000 | 16 | — | $457,385 | $591,901 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Vandermark Foundation reported a distributable amount of $806K 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 aim is to strengthen families and encourage the self-sufficiency of disadvantaged people. Its beliefs emphasize children’s vulnerability to poverty and disasters, education and empowerment, and communities’ ability to shape their futures and become self-sustaining. It also affirms people’s rights to essentials including safe housing, food, clean water, health care, protection from exploitation, and education.
Its grants include support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, Women’s Education Project says its mission is to empower young women in India to become confident, informed, and economically independent through career and training programs. Hope Walks says it works to reduce the physical, emotional, and economic burden of clubfoot for children and families in low- and middle-income countries. Other 2025 grantees describe work in global engagement, science and nature learning, homelessness services, and providing household items and food to people in need.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 12 grants totaling $710,000 in 2025. Those grants ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $50,000. Recent annual giving was $564,500 across 15 grants in 2024 and $726,000 across 13 grants in 2023.
Among the 2025 grants, Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation USA received $200,000 for renovations to offices in HCMC and activities at that site, and $50,000 for its Myanmar Rescue Fund. Catholic Charities of Central Colorado received $100,000 for a two-year grant supporting legal assistance to immigrant families. Other grants included $75,000 to Women’s Education Project, $55,000 to At Home and Afar for rebuilding a cistern and installing solar power, and $50,000 each to Hope Walks, Quinnipiac University, and Worcester Natural History Society.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter J Scanlon PHD as president, director, chairperson, and treasurer, and Lois A Scanlon as secretary, director, clerk, and vice president.
The Vandermark Foundation is led by Peter J Scanlon PhD, President, Director, Chairperson & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Peter J Scanlon PhD
President, Director, Chairperson & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lois A Scanlon
Secretary, Director, Clerk & Vice President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Vandermark Foundation
How much does The Vandermark Foundation give each year?
The Vandermark Foundation gave $710K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $565K across 15 grants.
What is The Vandermark Foundation's typical grant size?
The Vandermark Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $59,167, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Vandermark Foundation that year got $42K on average.
Where does The Vandermark Foundation give grants?
The Vandermark Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (23%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Littleton, CO (2 grants).
Does The Vandermark Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of The Vandermark Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Vandermark Foundation's largest grantees?
The Vandermark Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Blue Dragon Childrens Foundation USA ($250,000 across 2 grants), Catholic Charities of Central Colorado Inc ($100,000) and Womens Education Project ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Vandermark Foundation?
The Vandermark Foundation reported $11.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $755K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $806K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Vandermark Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to strengthen families and encourage the self-sufficiency of disadvantaged people. Its beliefs emphasize children’s vulnerability to poverty and disasters, education and empowerment, and communities’ ability to shape their futures and become self-sustaining. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Vandermark Foundation?
The foundation makes grants to preselected charitable organizations, considers proposals by invitation only, and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Vandermark Foundation's EIN?
The Vandermark Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4507813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Vandermark Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Vandermark Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Vandermark Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-vandermark-foundation-morg_2dab94e093c2420ab012ec04aa70525d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_454507813_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Vandermark Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-vandermark-foundation-morg_2dab94e093c2420ab012ec04aa70525d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Vandermark 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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