Zenie Foundation
Zenie Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1984 and based in Portland, Maine. The organization operates as a higher education-focused nonprofit that helps students become effective adults and supports effective adults in becoming inspired leaders. The foundation combines coaching, scholarships, and community support through an active network of students, alumni, and coaches who participate in mentorship programs, annual seminars, and regional networking events.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
+5.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$208K
-3.1% YoY
Grant Count
48
+14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-15.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zenie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $203K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Zenie Foundation helps students become effective adults and helps effective adults become inspired leaders. The organization co-invests time and financial resources with students through dedicated coaching and four-year scholarships.
The foundation defines an effective adult as someone who possesses strong core values—integrity, hard work, self-awareness, personal and financial responsibility, and trust—and wants to lead a life of learning. The organization's vision is to build an ever-growing community of effective adults driven by their desire to learn, commitment to core values, and passion to better society, positioning this community as changemakers and future leaders.
The foundation explicitly states it does not seek financial donations; rather, it aims to create a legacy based on the power of its message and values.
Grantmaking
According to available records, Zenie Foundation has made 181 grants totaling $850,000, with a median grant size of $5,000. Individual grants have ranged up to $11,000, with an average award of $5,000.
Grant Range
of $5,000. Individual grants have ranged up to $11,000, with an average award of $5,000.
Review Cycle
, and eligibility requirements.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in Maine, with some grants distributed to organizations in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total Assets (2023): $4.27 million
- Total Assets (2011): $1.3 million
- Annual Income: $1.1 million
- Revenue (2023): $107,549
- Expenses (2023): $446,927
- Net Income (2023): -$339,378
- Total Liabilities (2023): $2,680
Financial Trajectory: Total assets have grown from $1.3 million in 2011 to $4.3 million in 2023, representing significant growth over the 12-year period.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,499,326 | $4,272,857 | $4,001,445 |
| Revenue | $669,210 | $107,549 | $775,498 |
| Expenses | $476,070 | $446,927 | $350,602 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $464,263 | $431,472 | $335,753 |
| Net Investment Income | $158,443 | $92,179 | $264,570 |
| Distributable Amount | $203,380 | $198,714 | $201,508 |
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
195 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Harold Sartiah ($7,500), Riley Towle ($7,500), Caleb Datto ($7,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DUSTIN ACOCELLI PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| DOMINIQUE DAME PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,750 |
| JENNIFER RUSSO PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| NOAH SCHMIDT PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $4,000 |
| STEPHANIE UVEGES PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,000 |
| EMILY SEGAL PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $5,750 |
| LAURA DENNIS PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,000 |
| HANNAH VIELE PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,750 |
| ISARO YIPSI SIBO PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| LADISLAS NZEYIMANA PORTLAND, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,370 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Katherine Chatterjee - Principal Officer, Trustee, and CEO (full-time, compensation of $75,000)
- Francis H. Zenie - Trustee (no compensation)
The foundation is governed by 2 officers and trustees. The organization employs 5 people.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHERINE Z CHATTERJEE | TRUSTEE / CEO | 40 | $87,692 |
| FRANCIS H ZENIE | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active presence with a dedicated website and social media engagement. The organization hosts an annual ZF seminar and regional in-person networking events for its community of students, alumni, and coaches. The foundation's LinkedIn following has grown by 24.4% year-over-year, with 56 followers as of the most recent reporting period.
COVID-19 Grants Awarded to 31 Organizations by The Frederick P. Lenz FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Zenie Foundation fund?
The Zenie Foundation helps students become effective adults and helps effective adults become inspired leaders. The organization co-invests time and financial resources with students through dedicated coaching and four-year scholarships. The foundation defines an effective adult as someone who possesses strong core values—integrity, hard work, self-awareness, personal and financial responsibility, and trust—and wants to lead a life of learning. The organization's vision is to build an ever-grow…
How do I apply for a grant from Zenie Foundation?
According to available records, Zenie Foundation has made 181 grants totaling $850,000, with a median grant size of $5,000. Individual grants have ranged up to $11,000, with an average award of $5,000. **Recent Grantmaking Activity:** • 2023: $215,000 distributed • 2022: $346,000 distributed across 72 grants (highest grantmaking year on record) • 2019: $150,000 distributed Annual giving has grown from $150,000 in 2019 to $215,000 in 2023. The foundation has supported 82 unique organizations, wi…
Where does Zenie Foundation make grants?
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in Maine, with some grants distributed to organizations in Massachusetts.
What size grants does Zenie Foundation award?
In 2024, Zenie Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $208K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Zenie Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Zenie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $203K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Zenie Foundation's EIN?
Zenie Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2500224. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Zenie 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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