William Townsend Porter Foundation
William Townsend Porter Foundation is a private foundation, based in Boston, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $4.4M in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 4 grants totaling $178K. Net investment income was $265K.
William Townsend Porter Foundation at a glance
In short: William Townsend Porter Foundation gave $178K across 4 grants in 2026 (avg $44K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $177,626
- -10.0% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 4
- -33.3% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $44,407
- +35.0% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $13,500
- Total assets
- $4,360,520
- +3.7% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- Maryland (80% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated September 2026.
Who William Townsend Porter Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was American Physiological Society ($142K). Together the top 4 received $178K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 19 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How William Townsend Porter Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+7%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $127K (2021) to $197K (2025). In 2026 it made 4 grants totaling $178K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Physiological Society Bethesda, MD | Support | $141,500 |
| Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole, MA | Support | $17,000 |
| University of Louisville Research Foundation Louisville, KY | Support | $10,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Redwood City, CA | Support | $9,126 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $4,360,520 | $312,777 | $252,995 | $177,626 | 4 | $199,888 | $265,281 | $217,436 |
| 2025 | $4,205,422 | $170,400 | $271,860 | $197,367 | 6 | $220,361 | $124,853 | $215,756 |
| 2024 | $4,230,745 | $234,846 | $254,328 | $185,500 | 3 | $205,340 | $195,315 | $194,751 |
| 2023 | $3,766,020 | $151,647 | $214,816 | $166,000 | 3 | $179,275 | $113,193 | $185,781 |
| 2022 | $4,151,058 | $257,775 | $237,779 | $176,000 | 3 | $193,250 | $216,969 | $212,631 |
| 2021 | $4,128,631 | $303,086 | $192,287 | $126,500 | 2 | — | $265,088 | $188,350 |
| 2020 | $3,281,545 | $260,613 | $193,402 | $149,300 | 3 | — | $219,684 | $174,225 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William Townsend Porter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $217K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
William Townsend Porter Foundation is led by Pamela J. Gunter-Smith PhD, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Pamela J. Gunter-Smith PhD
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David L. Van Vactor PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin Frank
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila M. Thomas
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Floyd Ms MBA PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean King PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Carter MPH PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arthur Bpage Esq.
Clerk
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Basil Stewart
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Darren E. Higgins PhD (2020–2025) — Trustee
- Former: Lawrence R. Ladd (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Alfred Goldbergphd (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 William Townsend Porter Foundation
How much does William Townsend Porter Foundation give each year?
William Townsend Porter Foundation gave $178K across 4 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $197K across 6 grants.
What is William Townsend Porter Foundation's typical grant size?
William Townsend Porter Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $13,500, and its average grant was $44,407, across 4 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does William Townsend Porter Foundation give grants?
William Townsend Porter Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (10%) and Kentucky (6%).
Does William Townsend Porter Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on William Townsend Porter Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (4 grants).
How large is William Townsend Porter Foundation?
William Townsend Porter Foundation reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $200K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $217K (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 is William Townsend Porter Foundation's EIN?
William Townsend Porter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2104293. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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