FundersPennsylvania

The Presser Foundation

Philadelphia, PA · EIN 23-2164013. Reported 2,145 grants totalling $18.1M to 596 organizations across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$4,000median grant
$18.1Mgranted, 2020-2024
596organizations funded
91%of grantees funded again the next year
$89.3Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Presser Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $4,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $3,000 and $7,500; the smallest was $150 and the largest $200,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

Under $1,000
31 grants
$1,000 - $5,000
1,341 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
274 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
334 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
112 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
34 grants
$100,000 and Up
19 grants

Every organization it funded

All 596 recipients appear in its filings; the 250 largest are listed here. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which this organization received money -- the clearest signal of who this foundation actually has a relationship with.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
The Mann Center for the Performing ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$503,7501052024
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center IncPhiladelphia, PA$450,000422023
Liveconnections Dba World Cafe LivePhiladelphia, PA$420,5001042024
Philadelphia Chamber Music SocietyPhiladelphia, PA$370,0001152024
Curtis Institute of MusicPhiladelphia, PA$318,000952024
University of the ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$315,000742023
Settlement Music SchoolPhiladelphia, PA$295,500852024
Opera PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$250,250952024
The Music School of DelawareWilmington, DE$232,500852024
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music InstitutePhiladelphia, PA$225,000852024
OperadelawareWilmington, DE$211,5001252024
WRTI901FMPhiladelphia, PA$210,000542024
Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$200,000852024
The CrossingPhiladelphia, PA$194,500952024
Academy of Vocal ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$191,500752024
Kimmel Center IncPhiladelphia, PA$190,000322021
Zoellner Arts CenterBethlehem, PA$190,000852024
Allentown Symphony AssociationAllentown, PA$185,000752024
Rider University - Westminster Choir CollegeLawrenceville, NJ$175,500752024
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center Inc (ensemble Arts)Philadelphia, PA$175,000212024
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA$168,0001152024
Kutztown University FoundationKutztown, PA$165,000642023
The Bach Choir of BethlehemBethlehem, PA$165,000852024
Community Music School Lehigh ValleyAllentown, PA$152,500652024
Prism Quartet IncPhiladelphia, PA$150,2501252024
The Philadelphia OrchestraPhiladelphia, PA$150,000322021
West Philadelphia Cultural AlliancePhiladelphia, PA$150,000222024
MusicopiaPhiladelphia, PA$144,5001052024
Penn Live ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$137,000642024
Chamber Orchestra of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$135,000852024
Reading Symphony OrchestraReading, PA$135,000752024
Astral Artists IncPhiladelphia, PA$130,000642023
Singing CityPhiladelphia, PA$127,000952024
Symphony in CCollingswood, NJ$125,000552024
Temple University Music Preparatory DivisionPhiladelphia, PA$125,000552024
Chester Children's ChorusSwarthmore, PA$124,000852024
Delaware Symphony OrchestraWilmington, DE$120,000552024
Tempesta Di Mare IncPhiladelphia, PA$118,2501152024
Choir School of DelawareWilmington, DE$118,0001052024
Commonwealth YouthchoirsPhiladelphia, PA$115,000752024
Princeton Symphony OrchestraPrinceton, NJ$110,000652024
Piffaro the Renaissance BandPhiladelphia, PA$106,7501152024
Community Music School of CollegevilleTrappe, PA$106,500852024
EsperanzaPhiladelphia, PA$103,200742023
Kutztown UniversityKutztown, PA$103,000222024
Network for New MusicPhiladelphia, PA$101,000952024
Eastern UniversitySt Davids, PA$100,000112023
Historic Lansdowne Theater CorporationLansdowne, PA$100,000222021
Play on Philly (pop)Philadelphia, PA$100,000442024
The Grand Opera HouseWilmington, DE$100,000222023
Beyond the BarsPhiladelphia, PA$97,250942024
Capital Harmony WorksTrenton, NJ$89,500532024
Darlington Arts CenterGarnet Valley, PA$89,000852024
Wilmington Children's ChorusWilmington, DE$88,6501252024
Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PA$88,000752024
Mendelssohn Club of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$85,500742023
State Theatre Regional Arts Center at New Brunswick IncNew Brunswick, NJ$85,000432022
Ars Nova WorkshopPhiladelphia, PA$83,1251352024
Elizabethtown CollegeElizabethtown, PA$82,700752024
Christina Cultural Arts CenterWilmington, DE$75,000542024
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA$75,000222023
Philadelphia Boys and Girls ChoirsPhiladelphia, PA$72,500642024
Encore Series Incthe Philly PopsPhiladelphia, PA$70,000432022
World Cafe LivePhiladelphia, PA$70,000212022
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL$68,0001052024
Indiana UniversityBloomington, IN$68,0001052024
Stetson UniversityDeland, FL$68,000652024
The Juilliard SchoolNew York, NY$68,0001052024
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA$68,0001052024
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, NJ$66,000752024
Harrisburg Symphony AssociationHarrisburg, PA$65,000652024
University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL$65,000952024
Wxpn Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$65,000432024
Lancaster Symphony OrchestraLancaster, PA$63,000552024
Orchestra 2001Philadelphia, PA$60,500752024
Westrick Music AcademyPrinceton Junction, NJ$60,250742024
Friends of the Wanamaker OrganKing of Prussia, PA$59,000752024
Music for EveryoneLancaster, PA$57,800952024
New England ConservatoryBoston, MA$55,000842023
Peabody Institute at Johns HopkinsBaltimore, MD$55,000842023
University of Illinois UrbanaUrbana, IL$55,000842023
University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI$55,000842023
University of Texas (austin)Austin, TX$55,000842023
The College of New Jersey FoundationEwing, NJ$54,000542024
Choral Arts PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$53,7501052024
Annenberg Center for the Performing ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$53,000312020
Lyric FestPhiladelphia, PA$53,000852024
ArtsmartPhiladelphia, PA$52,750852024
Trenton Music MakersTrenton, NJ$52,500422021
Rock to the FuturePhiladelphia, PA$50,250652024
ArtphillyPhiladelphia, PA$50,000112024
Haverford CollegeHaverford, PA$50,000112020
Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA$50,000112020
Rice UniversityHouston, TX$50,000552024
Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA$50,000112020
Wcr Center for the Arts IncWyomissing, PA$50,000112021
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT$50,000552024
Intercultural JourneysPhiladelphia, PA$46,500852024
BowerbirdPhiladelphia, PA$45,000952024
Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OH$43,000652024
Eastman School of MusicRochester, NY$42,000632022
University of North TexasDenton, TX$42,000632022
Dolce Suono EnsemblePhiladelphia, PA$41,700852024
University of Cincinnati FoundationCincinnati, OH$41,000632024
The Georgia E Gregory Interdenominational School of MusicPhiladelphia, PA$40,500752024
Project 440Philadelphia, PA$40,250652024
Community ConservatoryDoylestown, PA$40,000322021
Rowan Community Music SchoolGlassboro, NJ$40,000532023
State Theatre New JerseyNew Brunswick, NJ$40,000222024
The Primavera FundPhiladelphia, PA$39,500442024
Philadelphia Sinfonia AssociationPhiladelphia, PA$38,000852024
Bay Atlantic Symphony IncAtlantic City, NJ$35,000552024
Delaware County Youth OrchestraMedia, PA$35,000652024
Emeapp (electronic Music Education and Preservation Project)Harleysville, PA$35,000112020
Berks Youth ChorusReading, PA$33,000752024
Black Pearl Chamber OrchestraPhiladelphia, PA$32,500322024
Immaculata UniversityImmaculata, PA$32,000652024
Mamadele FoundationPhiladelphia, PA$30,500652024
Bucks County Choral SocietyDoylestown, PA$30,000552024
Nueva Esperanza IncPhiladelphia, PA$29,250312024
Artistas Y Musicos Latino Americanos (amla)Philadelphia, PA$27,500552024
Crescendo PhoenixvillePhoenixville, PA$27,500322024
Mendelssohn Chorus of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$27,500222024
Susquehanna ChoraleMechanicsburg, PA$27,150652024
University of North Texas Foundation IncDenton, TX$26,000422024
University of Rochester (eastman School of Music)Rochester, NY$26,000422024
Play on PhillyPhiladelphia, PA$25,500222022
Art Sphere IncPhiladelphia, PA$25,000642024
Community Youth Orchestra of Bucks CountyFairless Hills, PA$25,000552024
Lyra SocietyPhiladelphia, PA$25,000552024
Market Square ConcertsHarrisburg, PA$25,000552024
The Allentown BandAllentown, PA$25,000552024
The Philadelphia Foundation - Marian Anderson Memorial FundPhiladelphia, PA$25,000112023
Music at Gretna IncMount Gretna, PA$24,000552024
Riverside SymphoniaLambertville, NJ$24,000552024
Kennett Symphony of Chester CountyKennett Square, PA$23,000542024
Jazz PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$22,500332022
Reading Musical FoundationReading, PA$22,500442024
Youth Orchestra of Central JerseyHamilton Square, NJ$22,500552024
Wilmington Concert OperaWilmington, DE$20,800752024
Capital Philharmonic of New JerseyTrenton, NJ$20,150542024
Anna Crusis Feminist Choir IncPhiladelphia, PA$20,000432024
ArtciniaPhiladelphia, PA$20,000332024
Delaware Academy of Vocal ArtsWilmington, DE$20,000112024
Garden State Philharmonic OrchestraToms River, NJ$20,000442023
Liberty Bell PopsPhiladelphia, PA$20,000112024
SrutiCollegeville, PA$20,000542024
Electronic Music Education and Preservation ProjectHarleysville, PA$19,000212024
Moravian UniversityBethlehem, PA$19,000542024
Famfrequency Productions IncorporatededwardsPhiladelphia, PA$18,200322023
Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, AL$18,000552024
Anderson UniversityAnderson, IN$18,000552024
Arizona State UniversityTempe, AZ$18,000552024
Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL$18,000552024
Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN$18,000552024
Baldwin Wallace UniversityBerea, OH$18,000552024
Bard CollegeAnnandaleonhudson, NY$18,000552024
Baylor UniversityWaco, TX$18,000552024
Belmont UniversityNashville, TN$18,000552024
Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA$18,000552024
Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, OH$18,000552024
Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL$18,000552024
Capital UniversityColumbus, OH$18,000552024
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA$18,000552024
Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City, TN$18,000552024
Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC$18,000552024
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI$18,000552024
Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA$18,000552024
Chapman UniversityOrange, CA$18,000552024
Cleveland Institute of MusicCleveland, OH$18,000552024
Cornish College of the ArtsSeattle, WA$18,000552024
Depauw UniversityGreencastle, IN$18,000552024
Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA$18,000552024
Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, FL$18,000552024
Furman UniversityGreenville, SC$18,000552024
George Mason University FoundationFairfax, VA$18,000552024
Georgia Southern University Foundation IncStatesboro, GA$18,000552024
Georgia State University Foundation IncAtlanta, GA$18,000552024
Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg, PA$18,000552024
Gordon CollegeWenham, MA$18,000552024
Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL$18,000552024
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, IL$18,000552024
Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute, IN$18,000552024
Ithaca CollegeIthaca, NY$18,000552024
James Madison University Foundation IncHarrisonburg, VA$18,000552024
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS$18,000552024
Lee UniversityCleveland, TN$18,000552024
Louisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LA$18,000552024
Loyola UniversityNew Orleans, LA$18,000552024
Luther CollegeDecorah, IA$18,000552024
Manhattan School of MusicNew York, NY$18,000552024
Marywood UniversityScranton, PA$18,000552024
Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg, PA$18,000552024
Miami University (ohio)Oxford, OH$18,000552024
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI$18,000552024
Millikin UniversityDecatur, IL$18,000552024
Mississippi CollegeClinton, MS$18,000552024
Missouri State UniversitySpringfield, MO$18,000552024
Montclair State University FoundationMontclair, NJ$18,000552024
New York UniversityNew York, NY$18,000552024
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL$18,000552024
Oberlin College Conservatory of MusicOberlin, OH$18,000552024
Ohio University FoundationAthens, OH$18,000552024
Oklahoma Baptist UniversityShawnee, OK$18,000552024
Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City, OK$18,000552024
Otterbein UniversityWesterville, OH$18,000552024
Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia, AR$18,000552024
Pacific Lutheran UniversityTacoma, WA$18,000552024
Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PA$18,000552024
Purchase College FoundationPurchase, NY$18,000552024
Rollins CollegeWinter Park, FL$18,000552024
Roosevelt UniversityChicago, IL$18,000552024
Samford UniversityBirmingham, AL$18,000552024
San Francisco Conservatory of MusicSan Francisco, CA$18,000552024
Sarah Lawrence CollegeBronxville, NY$18,000552024
Seton Hill UniversityGreensburg, PA$18,000552024
Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, VA$18,000552024
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, MO$18,000552024
Southern Illinois University (carbondale)Carbondale, IL$18,000552024
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX$18,000552024
Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX$18,000552024
Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA$18,000552024
Taylor UniversityUpland, IN$18,000552024
Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX$18,000552024
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX$18,000552024
Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, TX$18,000552024
The Boston Conservatory at BerkleeBoston, MA$18,000552024
The Friends of Chamber Music of Reading IncReading, PA$18,000652024
Towson University Foundation IncBaltimore, MD$18,000552024
Truman State UniversityKirksville, MO$18,000552024
University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL$18,000552024
University of Colorado FoundationBoulder, CO$18,000552024
University of DaytonDayton, OH$18,000552024
University of DelawareNewark, DE$18,000552024
University of DenverDenver, CO$18,000552024
University of EvansvilleEvansville, IN$18,000552024
University of FloridaGainesville, FL$18,000552024
University of HartfordWest Hartford, CT$18,000552024
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC$18,000552024
University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND$18,000552024
University of Northern Colorado Foundation IncGreeley, CO$18,000552024
University of OregonEugene, OR$18,000552024
University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA$18,000552024
University of RedlandsRedlands, CA$18,000552024
University of South AlabamaMobile, AL$18,000552024
University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MS$18,000552024
University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX$18,000552024
University of the PacificStockton, CA$18,000552024
University of TulsaTulsa, OK$18,000552024
University of WyomingLaramie, WY$18,000552024

401 of 596 (67%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 91%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

Plus 5 grants to individuals totalling $794,022 -- scholarships, hardship and emergency assistance. We deliberately do not publish the names of people who received them, even though the filings do.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 1,312 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Education
752 grants
Arts & Culture
502 grants
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
16 grants
Employment
9 grants
Health Care
7 grants
Crime & Legal
6 grants
Human Services
5 grants
Youth Development
5 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
2020420$4,051,000$4,000
2021410$3,812,500$4,000
2022400$3,424,500$4,000
2023430$3,261,925$3,000
2024485$3,570,070$3,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Already committed for future years

Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Presser Foundation has 59 of them, worth $3,599,300. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.

OrganizationLocationApproved
Kimmel Center IncPhiladelphia, PA$500,000
Kutztown University FoundationKutztown, PA$250,000
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center IncPhiladelphia, PA$150,000
WRTI901FMPhiladelphia, PA$150,000
Curtis Institute of MusicPhiladelphia, PA$150,000
Liveconnections Dba World Cafe LivePhiladelphia, PA$150,000
Philadelphia Chamber Music SocietyPhiladelphia, PA$110,000
Eastern UniversitySt Davids, PA$100,000
Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$100,000
Opera PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$80,000
Settlement Music SchoolPhiladelphia, PA$80,000
The Mann Center for the Performing ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$80,000
Academy of Vocal ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$80,000
University of DelawareNewark, DE$75,000
West Philadelphia Cultural AlliancePhiladelphia, PA$75,000

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 63% of this one's giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Pennsylvania
$11.4M
New Jersey
$1.2M
Delaware
$1.0M
Texas
$413K
New York
$392K
Florida
$333K
California
$323K
Illinois
$304K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund235 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc215 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc200 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program194 shared recipientsNational Philanthropic Trust154 shared recipientsThe Blackbaud Giving Fund149 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $4,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Related guides

Foundations funding education in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, rankedFoundations funding arts & culture in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, ranked

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from The Presser Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 9982, Philadelphia, PA, 19118. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 23-2164013 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.