Russell Colgate Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The fund states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation with no existing link to it should not send one.
- Most of its money goes to organisations it has funded before: 92% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in one of its two earlier filings.
- Its purposes are broad and it states no geographic focus, so the stated purposes alone do not show whether an organisation fits.
- Half of its 277 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fell between $2,000 and $20,000, though its largest grant was $400,000, so a request near $5,000 best matches its usual grants.
- The filing gives no further route for organisations to seek selection.
Overview
Russell Colgate Fund is a US private foundation based in Wilmington, DE.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across the grants recorded, the fund supported a broad mix of charitable organisations, including hospitals and medical research bodies, arts and cultural institutions, schools and universities, food and housing services, and organisations working in justice, humanitarian relief, conservation and community support. Most filing entries describe their purpose only as general purposes, so the record does not identify a narrower common programme. Its recorded recipients range from local service organisations to national and international charities and educational institutions. The grants therefore span varied charitable fields rather than a single stated focus.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
How to apply
The fund makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing gives no further route for organisations to seek selection.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 277 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 8%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 18% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations Russell Colgate Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- 2% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (France, United Kingdom).
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 92 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- New York Academy of Art · General purposes$196,0002025 tax year
- Greenwich Hospital · General purposes$50,0002025 tax year
- Myriad USA · Queen elisabeth competition$34,4282025 tax year
- Project Bread · General purposes$30,2132025 tax year
- DeNova Center for Justice · General purposes$30,0002025 tax year
- Arlington Eats · General purposes$30,0002025 tax year
- Mereville Foundation · General purposes$25,0002025 tax year
- Habitat for Humanity International · General purposes$22,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John K Colgate JR — Vice-President
- Russell C Wilkinson — President
- Mary C Kirk — Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $1,007,057 | $870,459 | $19,016,459 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,448,668 | $1,277,815 | $21,349,863 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $1,168,564 | $930,075 | $21,892,312 | Filing for 2025 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
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At a glance
Applying to Russell Colgate Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wilmington, DE
Applying to Russell Colgate Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wilmington, DE