Equitable Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 13-1340512 · since 1987equitable.com/foundation·United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$5.5M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$100 to $2,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$500

Typical grant (median)

1,450 grants in the latest filing

Key takeaways

Equitable Foundation is a nationwide funder based in New York, NY, so organisations anywhere in the country can consider applying, though it says it prioritises community-based organisations that can work alongside its people locally and nonprofit partners where its volunteer events take place.
Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 4,755 grants to organisations fall between $100 and $2,000, and the median grant is $500, so a small nonprofit should pitch a request in that range rather than expecting a large award, unless applying to its Equitable Excellence Scholarship, which runs $5,000 to $20,000.
Giving here looks relationship-led rather than open-competition: 84% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the previous two filings, so building an ongoing relationship may matter more than a single large ask.
Its application method is not stated, so check directly with the foundation for how and when to apply.
Focus any approach on its stated themes of college access, career readiness, K-12 educator support and vibrant communities.

Overview

Equitable 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

Equitable Foundation focuses on college access and career readiness, K–12 educator support, and building healthy and vibrant communities. Through programmes and partnerships, it works to remove barriers to post-secondary attainment; its educator collaborations address teacher retention, the teacher pipeline, professional development and teacher wellbeing. In communities, it seeks to respond to specific local needs and mobilise broad engagement for sustainable positive change. It aligns with community-based organisations across the country that can activate with its people locally, and awards grants to nonprofit partner organisations where volunteer events take place. Its Equitable Excellence Scholarship also supports students from across the country who strive to be a force for good in their communities.

Themes

College access
Career readiness
K-12 educator support
Vibrant communities

Geographic Focus

Priority: Throughout the country.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 84% 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 4,755 grants to organisations were $500 or less.

What the foundation says:

It awards grants to nonprofit partner organisations where volunteer events take place.
It aligns with community-based organisations that can activate with its people locally.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Minnesota26%

North Carolina17%

New York16%

District of Columbia15%

Massachusetts3%

Illinois3%

6 other states: 11%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 10%

The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations Equitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
37% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

1,450 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 1,450 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k68%

$1k–$2.5k23%

$2.5k–$5k4%

$5k–$10k3%

$10k–$25k1%

$25k–$50k1%

$50k–$100k1%

$100k–$250k<1%

$250k–$500k<1%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over<1%

Median $500 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Scholarship America · Equitable excellence 2024 scholarship awards
$1,750,0002024 tax year
American Red Cross · General contribution
$300,0002024 tax year
Thurgood Marshall College Fund · General contribution
$239,3932024 tax year
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center · General contribution
$200,0002024 tax year
Year Up · General contribution
$157,8002024 tax year
E4E Relief · General contribution
$150,0002024 tax year
CMS Foundation · General contribution
$125,0002024 tax year
Carolina Youth Coalition · General contribution
$107,4362024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Steve Joenk — Director (As Of 04/2024)
Jeffrey Hurd — Director
Peter Tian — Treasurer (As Of 05/2024)
Candace Scappator — Controller
Jarian Kerekes — Chairman & President & Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$5,849,098	$4,843,996	$96,722,385	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$6,777,945	$4,781,668	$106,085,926	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$7,475,063	$5,538,325	$112,407,153	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.