Tiny Beam Fund Inc
Tiny Beam Fund Inc is a Boston, Massachusetts–based private foundation incorporated in Massachusetts in 2019. It supports work to deepen understanding of the complex negative impacts of industrial food animal production, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and to identify practical ways to address them.
Tiny Beam Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Tiny Beam Fund Inc gave $331K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), top state New York. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $330,536
- -10.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- -34.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,443
- +36.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $10,961,237
- -0.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (11% 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 Tiny Beam Fund Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its program pages describe annual application calls for Fueling Advocates Initiative grants and Burning Questions Fellowships, while Research Planning Grants are invitation-only.
- Review Cycle
- The published 2026 Fueling Advocates Initiative concept-note window (June 8–30) and Burning Questions Fellowship application window (March 24–April 22) have passed.
- Deadline
- The published 2026 Fueling Advocates Initiative concept-note window (June 8–30) and Burning Questions Fellowship…
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Gma Foundations 2 Liberty Sq 50, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 439-2503
Website: https://tinybeamfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tiny Beam Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Royal Veterinary College ($75K). Together the top 9 received $164K.
Organizations only. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($166,940), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 101 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The funder emphasizes low- and middle-income countries in its stated mission and program descriptions. Its 2024 grants included recipients in New York, Maryland, New Mexico, and Minnesota, as well as the Royal Veterinary College and Animal Welfare League Ghana. The filing’s state-share data includes an unidentified 77% category, so its state is not specified here.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Tiny Beam Fund Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 68% 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 (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 $163K (2020) to $369K (2023). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $331K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Royal Veterinary College | Kindling Initiative | $74,706 |
| 8 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $166,940 |
| Aquatic Life Institute Mamaroneck, NY | Fueling Advocates Initiative | $16,000 |
| Animal Policy International (Players Philanthropy Fund Holding Account) Towson, MD | Fueling Advocates Initiative | $15,540 |
| New York University New York, NY | Kindling Initiative | $13,850 |
| Animal Welfare League Ghana | Fueling Advocates Initiative | $11,600 |
| Asociacion Para El Rescate Y Bienestar | Fueling Advocates Initiative | $9,300 |
| Global Feedback | FAI Grant | $8,000 |
| Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Minneapolis, MN | Fueling Advocates Initiative | $8,000 |
| Forum Nacional De Protecao E Defesa Animal | Fueling Advocates Initiative | $6,600 |
Ready to take the next step with Tiny Beam Fund Inc?
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 | $10,961,237 | $411,516 | $474,786 | $330,536 | 17 | $405,804 | $341,759 | $599,638 |
| 2023 | $11,032,809 | $306,429 | $519,247 | $369,242 | 26 | $448,917 | $304,933 | $564,874 |
| 2022 | $11,235,074 | $-803,831 | $442,042 | $339,161 | 21 | $363,106 | $210,355 | $592,610 |
| 2021 | $12,476,145 | $10,103,093 | $367,205 | $321,441 | 21 | $325,628 | $50,842 | $294,024 |
| 2020 | $2,733,528 | $1,988,854 | $213,185 | $163,215 | 16 | — | — | $82,778 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tiny Beam Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $600K 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 funder’s stated mission is to help academic researchers and front-line persons better understand the complex negative impacts of industrial food animal production, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and find practical ways to address them. Its key questions concern the drivers behind the adoption and persistence of this production system, why its problems are difficult to address, and how harmful practices and effects might be mitigated.
Its programs include Kindling Initiative grants for academic researchers’ and institutions’ capacity-building and outreach; Burning Questions fellowships for academic researchers to prepare and share plain-language reports; research planning grants related to selected “Burning Questions”; and Fueling Advocates Initiative grants for organizations to use academic experts and publications to strengthen their work.
Examples of grantees’ work include the Aquatic Life Institute’s efforts to reduce aquatic animal suffering in the global food system, New York University’s work in education, research and scholarship, and patient care, and the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy’s work on fair and sustainable food, farm and trade systems. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not the funder’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $330,536. Awards ranged from $6,600 to $74,706, with a median of $15,000. The largest listed award was $74,706 to the Royal Veterinary College for the Kindling Initiative. Other notable awards included $16,000 to the Aquatic Life Institute for the Fueling Advocates Initiative, $15,540 to Animal Policy International for the Fueling Advocates Initiative, and $13,850 to New York University for the Kindling Initiative. Individual recipients received several Burning Questions Fellowship awards, including awards of $40,000, $30,000, and $20,000.
The Fueling Advocates Initiative’s published terms describe grants of $6,000–$24,000 for eligible nonprofit and civil-society organizations, including organizations outside the United States that are registered charities or groups comparable to U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations. Awards run for nine months, and applications are accepted once a year during a call window. The website listed a 2026 concept-note window of June 8–30; that cycle has passed.
The Burning Questions Fellowship program describes a nine-month award period. Applicants must hold or be close to completing a PhD; independent scholars may apply, and the program generally does not restrict applicants by residence or citizenship. Fellows prepare an 8,000–10,000-word plain-language report and disseminate it to non-academic audiences through three activities. The published award categories are $60,000 for a PhD-holder or eligible team and $45,000 for a PhD student close to completion or eligible team. The website listed a 2026 application window of March 24–April 22; that cycle has passed.
Research Planning Grants support planning or early-stage work related to Burning Questions, with awards of $5,000–$15,000 for six months. Applications are by invitation only, and applicants or team leads must hold a PhD or equivalent and be employed by an eligible academic institution.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carmen Lee as president, clerk, and director; Edwin Lee as treasurer and director; and Jason Lee, James Carter, and Sindy Yeung as directors.
Tiny Beam Fund Inc is led by Carmen Lee, President, Clerk & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carmen Lee
President, Clerk & Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edwin Lee
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Lee
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sindy Yeung
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Carter
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Erin E. Whitney (2020–2022) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Tiny Beam Fund Inc
How much does Tiny Beam Fund Inc give each year?
Tiny Beam Fund Inc gave $331K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $369K across 26 grants.
What is Tiny Beam Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Tiny Beam Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $19,443, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Tiny Beam Fund Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does Tiny Beam Fund Inc give grants?
Tiny Beam Fund Inc's top state is New York, with 11% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Does Tiny Beam Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Tiny Beam Fund Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fueling Advocates Initiative" (6 grants) and "BQI Fellowship" (5 grants).
Who are Tiny Beam Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Tiny Beam Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The Royal Veterinary College ($74,706), Aquatic Life Institute ($16,000) and Animal Policy International (Players Philanthropy Fund Holding Account) ($15,540), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($166,940), which are not listed by name. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Tiny Beam Fund Inc?
Tiny Beam Fund Inc reported $11.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $406K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $600K (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 Tiny Beam Fund Inc fund?
The funder’s stated mission is to help academic researchers and front-line persons better understand the complex negative impacts of industrial food animal production, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and find practical ways to address them. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tiny Beam Fund Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Tiny Beam Fund Inc's EIN?
Tiny Beam Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-3062276. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Tiny Beam Fund Inc 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 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 Tiny Beam Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Effective Ventures Foundation USA Inc
San Francisco, CA
Effective Ventures Foundation USA funds charitable, educational, and scientific projects advancing effective altruism, including work on extreme poverty, animal wellbeing, global priorities, and the long-term future. In 2025, its 48 grants ranged from $5,212 to $2.66 million, with a median of about $92,000; grants went to recipients in multiple U.S. states, and the foundation also reports making foreign grants. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$23.2M
Grants
48
Total Given
$9.1M
The Quinn Foundation
Leawood, KS
The Quinn Foundation funds animal welfare, education, and rural and family-farm organizations, with most grant dollars going to Kansas recipients. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $800,000, with a median of $5,000. It gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$16.4M
Grants
124
Total Given
$3.3M
Humane America Animal Foundation
Claremont, CA
Humane America Animal Foundation funds animal welfare organizations and work to reduce or eliminate animals in the human food system, including food-system research and alternative proteins. In 2023, grants ranged from $5,500 to $1,505,000, with a median of $62,500, and supported U.S. and international organizations. It no longer accepts applications to its Animal Welfare Fund; no application process is specified for the Food System Research Fund.
Assets
$39.8M
Grants
56
Total Given
$8.0M
Good Ventures Foundation
Palo Alto, CA
Good Ventures supports global health and development in low- and middle-income countries, reducing animal suffering, and economic growth and opportunity primarily in the United States, as well as ambitious potential innovations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $398 to $10.5 million, with a median of about $154,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$10.1B
Grants
565
Total Given
$306.7M
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Tiny Beam Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tiny-beam-fund-inc-morg_042a0add39ce4730a2df4b3dd188c2a7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_833062276_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Tiny Beam Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/tiny-beam-fund-inc-morg_042a0add39ce4730a2df4b3dd188c2a7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Tiny Beam Fund 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.
Tiny Beam Fund Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?