The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for
The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for is a private foundation, based in Boston, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $806K. Net investment income was $916K.
The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for at a glance
In short: The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for gave $806K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $403K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $806,475
- -8.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $403,238
- -8.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $403,238
- Total assets
- $5,870,742
- -0.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (65% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was President & Fellows of Harvard University ($525K). Together the top 2 received $806K.
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 5 grants of 10 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $573K (2019) to $978K (2022). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $806K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| President & Fellows of Harvard University Cambridge, MA | Charitable Gift | $525,000 |
| Mathematical Association of America Washington, DC | Charitable Gift | $281,475 |
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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 | $5,870,742 | $1,002,719 | $937,241 | $806,475 | 2 | $832,720 | $916,460 | $801,023 |
| 2024 | $5,876,649 | $1,067,433 | $997,997 | $878,412 | 2 | $904,382 | $979,818 | $795,552 |
| 2023 | $5,533,058 | $917,494 | $888,944 | $768,994 | 2 | $794,414 | $834,464 | $729,961 |
| 2022 | $5,541,815 | $925,513 | $1,105,258 | $977,852 | 2 | $1,003,102 | $837,724 | $760,860 |
| 2021 | $5,720,908 | $1,215,150 | $821,887 | $695,229 | 2 | $721,074 | $1,124,337 | $828,341 |
| 2020 | $5,450,773 | $964,872 | $782,673 | $667,306 | 2 | — | $889,134 | $678,409 |
| 2019 | $5,261,047 | $994,929 | $692,397 | $573,455 | 2 | — | $914,598 | $634,937 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for reported a distributable amount of $801K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for is led by George Putnam III, President, Clerk & Director on every filing since 2019; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George Putnam III
President, Clerk & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$10K (2019) → $10K (2025)
Warren Lowell Putnam
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$10K (2019) → $10K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $10K, to George Putnam III (President/Clerk/Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for
How much does The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for give each year?
The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for gave $806K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $878K across 2 grants.
How large is The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for?
The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $833K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $801K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for operate?
The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Massachusetts.
What is The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for's EIN?
The William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund for's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3414102. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
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