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Xeric Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Northampton, MA EIN: 22-3149258 Website

Xeric Foundation is a private foundation based in Northampton, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New York, and Connecticut. The foundation’s 2023 filing describes assistance to 501(c)(3) charities in the Western Massachusetts area code 413 region.

Xeric Foundation at a glance

In short: Xeric Foundation gave $355K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), top state Massachusetts. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$355,000
+51.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
23
+53.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$15,435
-1.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$4,004,347
+3.1% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
39% first-time grantees (9 of 23, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Massachusetts (37% 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 Xeric Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation’s 2023 filing says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing also says Western Massachusetts 501(c)(3) charities may submit a written request; no special application form is necessary. It states that requests must be from 501(c)(3) charities in the Western Massachusetts 413 area code and generally should not exceed $5,000.

Review Cycle
The filing lists January 31 for review on March 1.
Deadline
The filing lists January 31 for review on March 1.
Contact

Application contact: Xeric Foundation
Mailing address: 351 Pleasant Street Pmb 214, Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 585-0671
Website: https://www.xericfoundation.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Xeric Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Maine Medical Center: $30KMaine Medical Center$30KMuseum of Fine Arts Boston: $30KMuseum of Fine Arts Boston$30KPlanned Parenthood of Northern New England: $30KPlanned Parenthood of NorthernNew England$30KPortland Museum of Art: $30KPortland Museum of Art$30KThe Eric Carle Museum of Picture BK Art Inc: $30KThe Eric Carle Museum ofPicture BK Art Inc$30KSandy Hook Promise Foundation: $25KSandy Hook Promise Foundation$25KAmerican Civil Liberties Union: $20KAmerican Civil Liberties Union$20KCooley Dickinson Hospital: $20KCooley Dickinson Hospital$20KWilliston Northampton School: $20KWilliston Northampton School$20KUmass English Department: $15KUmass English Department$15K

The largest 2025 recipient was Maine Medical Center ($30K). Together the top 10 received $250K.

Grant Size Distribution

111 grants across all recorded years

111<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 111 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, Massachusetts accounted for 37% of grant dollars and Maine for 31%. Vermont accounted for 8%, while New York and Connecticut each accounted for 7%.

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.

Cities

PortlandAmherstBostonNew YorkConcordNorthamptonHatfieldWestbrookDurhamEasthamptonPasadenaSpringfieldAshfieldNorthhamptonColchesterFlorenceNewtonWashingtonAuburnBaltimore

Is Xeric Foundation open to new grantees?

39%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 9 of 23 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $17K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $18K repeat.

  • 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 47% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K22 grants2019 19 grants2020 24 grants2021 25 grants2022 24 grants2023 15 grants2024 23 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $171K (2020) to $355K (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $355K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Maine Medical Center Portland, MEGeneral Contribution$30,000
Museum of Fine Arts Boston Boston, MAGeneral Contribution$30,000
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Colchester, VTGeneral Contribution$30,000
Portland Museum of Art Portland, MEGeneral Contribution$30,000
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture BK Art Inc Amherst, MAGeneral Contribution$30,000
Sandy Hook Promise Foundation Newton, CTGeneral Contribution$25,000
American Civil Liberties Union New York, NYGeneral Contribution$20,000
Cooley Dickinson Hospital Northampton, MAGeneral Contribution$20,000
Williston Northampton School Easthampton, MAGeneral Contribution$20,000
Umass English Department Amherst, MAGeneral Contribution$15,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$4,004,347$513,973$391,835$355,00023$357,008$479,146$298,930
2024$3,882,209$312,588$244,852$235,00015$237,661$305,397$268,717
2023$3,814,473$336,402$276,626$264,00024$266,140$325,916$252,195
2022$3,754,697$482,033$249,936$242,00025$244,595$476,692$270,821
2021$3,522,600$341,331$300,923$289,00024—$331,893$273,079
2020$3,482,192$308,895$175,927$171,00019—$306,970$223,181
2019$3,349,224$407,626$274,496$255,00022—$405,626$223,694

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Xeric Foundation reported a distributable amount of $299K 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 2023 filing describes assistance to Western Massachusetts 501(c)(3) charities. Its 2025 grants also went to organizations whose stated missions span different areas. For example, the Portland Museum of Art describes its mission as making art accessible to all; the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland says it advances animal welfare; and The Telling Room describes its work as empowering youth through writing.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $355,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest reported grants included $30,000 each to Maine Medical Center, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Portland Museum of Art, and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Other reported grants included $25,000 to Sandy Hook Promise Foundation and $20,000 each to the American Civil Liberties Union and Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Other 2025 recipients included Maine Needs Inc. ($10,000), World Central Kitchen Inc. ($10,000), Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland ($10,000), The Telling Room ($5,000), and The Authors Guild Foundation Inc. ($5,000). Maine Needs describes its work as providing donated necessities to individuals and families in Maine; World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Peter A. Laird as president; Christopher B. Milne as vice president and secretary/treasurer; and Jeannine Atkins as executive vice-president.

Xeric Foundation is led by Peter A. Laird, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Peter A. Laird

    President

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christopher B. Milne

    Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeannine Atkins

    Executive Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    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 Xeric Foundation

How much does Xeric Foundation give each year?

Xeric Foundation gave $355K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $235K across 15 grants.

What is Xeric Foundation's typical grant size?

Xeric Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,435, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Xeric Foundation that year got $13K on average.

Where does Xeric Foundation give grants?

Xeric Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maine (31%) and Vermont (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (6 grants), Amherst, MA (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).

Does Xeric Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Xeric Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Xeric Foundation's largest grantees?

Xeric Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Maine Medical Center ($30,000), Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($30,000) and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Xeric Foundation?

Xeric Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $357K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $299K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Xeric Foundation fund?

The foundation’s 2023 filing describes assistance to Western Massachusetts 501(c)(3) charities. Its 2025 grants also went to organizations whose stated missions span different areas. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Xeric Foundation?

The foundation’s 2023 filing says 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 Xeric Foundation's EIN?

Xeric Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3149258. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Xeric 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 9, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 21, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 21, 2021)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 18, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 11, 2023)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 16, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 6, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Xeric Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/xeric-foundation-morg_e2efb2b3d6ad4673bf964c186618fbb1

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223149258_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Xeric Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/xeric-foundation-morg_e2efb2b3d6ad4673bf964c186618fbb1},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Xeric 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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