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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.9M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$235K
-11.0% YoY
Grant Count
15
-37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+42.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Xeric Foundation reported a distributable amount of $269K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
The foundation operates on a preselected basis only, meaning it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications.
Average Grant
$10,000–$11,578
How to Apply
**
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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
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 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,882,209 | $3,814,473 | $3,754,697 |
| Revenue | $312,588 | $336,402 | $482,033 |
| Expenses | $244,852 | $276,626 | $249,936 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $237,661 | $266,140 | $244,595 |
| Net Investment Income | $305,397 | $325,916 | $476,692 |
| Distributable Amount | $268,717 | $252,195 | $270,821 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Bk Art Inc ($35,000), Maine Medical Center ($25,000), Planned Parenthood of Northern New England ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| ANIMAL REFUGE LEAGUE OF GREATER PORTLAND WESTBROOK, ME | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| COOLEY DICKINSON HOSPITAL NORTHAMPTON, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| EQUALITY MAINE PORTLAND, ME | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| MAINE MEDICAL CENTER PORTLAND, ME | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| ORCHARD HOUSE CONCORD, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND COLCHESTER, VT | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART PORTLAND, ME | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| READER TO READER INC AMHERST, MA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Amounts:** • Range: $1,000 to $35,000 • Median grant: $11,578 • Average grant: $10,000–$11,578 **Recent Activity:** • 31 grants awarded in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $237,661 • Giving rate: 6.2% of assets **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected basis only, meaning it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications.
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 2024, Xeric Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $235K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Xeric Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Xeric Foundation reported a distributable amount of $269K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Xeric Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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