Gray Charitable Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to succeed; a charity should approach it only through an existing connection.
- Typical grants fall between $5,000 and $55,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $10,000 or less, so a modest request near that level fits its usual pattern, although its largest grant was $200,000.
- Repeat support is strong, with 91% of grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing going to groups it had funded before, so a charity should expect a relationship-led process rather than a competitive open round.
- Its recorded grants cover medical and eye-care, rehabilitation and art therapy, maths and education, performing arts, and community programmes, so a charity working outside these areas should weigh the fit carefully.
- The filing states no geographic focus, although most grants went to Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota and Maryland, so location alone should not rule a charity out.
Overview
Gray Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) 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
Recorded grants support medical institutions and eye-care projects, rehabilitation and art therapy, maths and other education initiatives, performing arts and cultural organisations, and community programmes. Their stated purposes include innovative healthcare, support for Wills Eye Hospital, the RISE programme, a maths initiative and a full-time art therapist. Recipients include hospitals and medical institutions, an orchestra, a ballet company, museums and educational and community organisations. Many awards are for general operations. Repeat support is prominent, and Pennsylvania accounts for the largest share of recorded grant dollars, while grants also reach organisations in other states.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota and Maryland.
How to apply
Contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 91% 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 74 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 25% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations Gray Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 21 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Pennsylvania · Healthcare innovative$200,0002024 tax year
- Commonwealth Of Pa DHS Fbo Wills Eye Hospital · Fbo wills eye hospital$150,0002024 tax year
- Altru Vision – A Lions Eye Bank · Optical coherence$55,0002024 tax year
- Uc Riverside Foundation · The rise program$52,0002024 tax year
- Magee Rehabilitation Hospital · Full-time art therapist$50,0002024 tax year
- CCSA Foundation · Ccsa math initiative$50,0002024 tax year
- Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne's · General operations$25,0002024 tax year
- Philadelphia Orchestra Association · General operations$25,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Samuel M Gawthrop Jr — Trustee
- Meridith L Gray — Trustee
- Kimberley H Gray — Trustee
- Doreen H Gray — Trustee
- Kenneth B Gray Jr — Executive Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,798,682 | $793,000 | $21,489,569 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,567,194 | $876,000 | $22,354,533 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,578,472 | $703,000 | $21,102,376 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Gray Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- New York, NY
Applying to Gray Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY