Xeric Foundation
The Xeric Foundation is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Northampton, Massachusetts. Established in 1992 by Peter A. Laird, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the foundation operates as a dual-purpose organization supporting both self-publishing comic book creators and qualified charitable and nonprofit organizations.
Key facts about Xeric Foundation
- EIN
- 22-3149258
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $355,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- Average grant
- $15,435
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (10 of 23, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation operates on a preselected basis only, meaning it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Xeric Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Xeric Foundation's 23 itemized 2025 grants were Massachusetts (37%), 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). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Xeric Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 23 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Xeric Foundation
- How to evaluate Xeric Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$355K
+51.1% YoY
Grant Count
23
+53.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-1.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes itself as "actually two foundations in one." One half provides grants for self-publishing comic book creators in the United States and Canada who work in alternative or non-mainstream comic book genres. The foundation prioritizes work that would not likely be picked up by major publishers, supporting "art for art's sake" comics and helping launch the careers of literary cartoonists.
The other half supports qualified charitable and nonprofit organizations in western Massachusetts (area code 413) for unique projects or services. Funding interests include education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, human services, churches, student clubs, food pantries, animal shelters, private schools, and youth development.
Grantmaking
Average Grant
$10,000–$11,578
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Xeric Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts and Maine, which account for the majority of grants. Grantmaking also reaches organizations in Vermont, New York, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, and New Jersey, with reach across at least seven states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 23 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,882,209
- Total Revenue: $312,588
- Total Expenses: $244,852
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $237,661
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $2.8 million in 2010 to $3.8 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Maine Medical Center ($30,000), Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($30,000), Planned Parenthood of Northern New England ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MAINE MEDICAL CENTER Portland, ME | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $30,000 |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON Boston, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $30,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND Colchester, VT | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $30,000 |
| PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART Portland, ME | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $30,000 |
| THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BK ART INC Amherst, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $30,000 |
| SANDY HOOK PROMISE FOUNDATION Newton, CT | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION New York, NY | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| COOLEY DICKINSON HOSPITAL Northampton, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL Easthampton, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| UMASS ENGLISH DEPARTMENT Amherst, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Peter A. Laird – President (2 hours/week, unpaid)
- Christopher B. Milne – Vice President (2 hours/week, unpaid) and Secretary/Treasurer (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Jeannine Atkins – Executive Vice-President
The foundation operates with limited staffing and is governed by a small board of officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter a Laird | President | 2 | — |
| Christopher B Milne | Vice President | 2 | — |
| Christopher B Milne | Secretary/Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Jeannine Atkins | Executive Vice-President | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 351 Pleasant Street PMB 214, Northampton, MA 01060
- Phone: (413) 585-0671
- Website: www.xericfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Xeric Foundation fund?
The foundation describes itself as "actually two foundations in one." One half provides grants for self-publishing comic book creators in the United States and Canada who work in alternative or non-mainstream comic book genres. The foundation prioritizes work that would not likely be picked up by major publishers, supporting "art for art's sake" comics and helping launch the careers of literary cartoonists. The other half supports qualified charitable and nonprofit organizations in western Mass…
How do I apply for a grant from Xeric Foundation?
The foundation operates on a preselected basis only, meaning it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Xeric Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts and Maine, which account for the majority of grants. Grantmaking also reaches organizations in Vermont, New York, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, and New Jersey, with reach across at least seven states.
What size grants does Xeric Foundation award?
In 2025, Xeric Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $355K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.