PCLB Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- PCLB Foundation funds education (with emphasis on K–12 public education), outdoors, science, medicine and family projects, so check that your work sits within one of these themes before considering an approach.
- It makes grants only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is not the way in; it works by invitation only.
- A realistic request would sit around the median grant of $150,000, with reported grants ranging from $15,000 up to $1,050,000 (and one grant as large as $10,000,000), so don't assume the top of that range is typical.
- Geographically its priority is Connecticut, New York City, New York's Hudson River and Lake Champlain Valleys, and select areas in Maine.
- A high share of its grant dollars, 72%, went to organisations it had already funded in the previous two filings, which suggests it favours long-standing relationships over new applicants, and it prefers general operating support rather than tightly restricted project funding.
Overview
PCLB Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation makes grants in education, outdoors, science, medicine and family projects, and says its work creates opportunities for success, especially in K–12 public education. It seeks high-quality, effective organisations whose work aligns with its broad mission and specific programme goals. Its choices are guided by strategic and systemic change, the founders’ intent, board members’ interests and staff expertise. It prefers general operating grants, giving grantees latitude to pursue shared goals, and says these relationships often last over an extended period. It also makes restricted grants for geographic priorities or particular organisational work, alongside a limited number of large, time-limited projects intended to change the direction of grantees’ work. Its programme-related investments are low-interest loans to current grantees for land conservation and charter-school facilities.
Themes
- Education
- Outdoors
- Science
- Medicine
- Family Projects
Geographic Focus
Priority: Connecticut; New York City; New York’s Hudson River and Lake Champlain Valleys; select areas in Maine.
How to apply
It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 72% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 428 grants to organisations were $150,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It seeks high-quality, effective organisations whose work aligns with its broad mission and specific programme-area goals.
- Its choices are guided by strategic and systemic change, the founders’ intent, Board members’ interests and staff expertise.
- It prefers general operating grants, which give grantees latitude to do the work they consider most important for shared goals.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations PCLB Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Brazil).
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 161 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $200k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- KIPP Foundation · General operating support$10,000,0002024 tax year
- The Mind Trust · Charterforwardct$9,400,0002024 tax year
- Zeta Charter Schools · General operating support$4,250,0002024 tax year
- New Leaders · Aspiring teachers accelerator program$3,600,0002024 tax year
- Achievement First · General operating support$3,500,0002024 tax year
- Success Academy Charter Schools · K-12 curriculum redesign and scaling$3,500,0002024 tax year
- Lake George Land Conservancy · Pilot knob mountain (whitetail trust)$3,000,0002024 tax year
- Teachorg · General operating support$2,630,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Carrie Schindele — Executive Director
- Vera Lourenco — Director
- Christopher Buck — Director
- Samuel Buck — Secretary / Director
- Michael Buck — Treasurer / Director
- William Buck — President / Director
- D Ben Benoit — Chief Financial Officer And Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $42,847,393 | $38,438,819 | $766,417,071 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $54,615,644 | $48,328,822 | $1,027,671,996 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $116,089,618 | $106,347,044 | $2,838,832,516 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to PCLB Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- inquiry@pclbfoundation.org
- New York, NY
- pclbfoundation.org
Applying to PCLB Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- inquiry@pclbfoundation.org
- New York, NY
- pclbfoundation.org