Limestone Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and limits contributions to preselected charitable organisations, so a small nonprofit should not send a cold application.
- Its filing shows general operating support as its chief type of grant, with past recipients including budget and policy institutes, civic-engagement groups, advocacy coalitions, research and journalism-related bodies, community foundations, and local health, arts and food organisations, so a group in one of those areas may suit it if it can reach the foundation through an existing contact.
- Typically about 8 in 10 grants fall between $5,000 and $170,000, and the median grant was $50,000, so a request near that level matches its usual giving, although its largest grant was $505,000 and the band is not a ceiling.
- The filing shows 86% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to groups it had also funded in an earlier filing, which points to a relationship-led funder where returning grantees are common.
- No geographic focus is stated, so a group outside the places where most grants have gone should not rule itself out on that basis.
Overview
Limestone Foundation is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
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
The grant record is chiefly general operating or general operations support, rather than support for specified projects. Recipients include budget and policy institutes, civic-engagement organisations, advocacy coalitions and groups working on public affairs. It also includes research and journalism-related recipients, community foundations, and local organisations in health, arts and food assistance. Grants have gone to organisations based in multiple states, and the filings show repeat support as well as grants to a broad range of organisations. The stated application information limits contributions to preselected charitable organisations and says unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in District of Columbia, Kentucky, New Mexico and the United States.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% 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 101 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 15%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 12%
- The largest single recipient received 18% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations Limestone Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 18% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 29 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities · Greenstein fund for a just future$505,0002024 tax year
- New Mexico Voices for Children · General operating support$300,0002024 tax year
- Kentucky Center for Economic Policy · General operations$275,0002024 tax year
- Kentucky Civic Engagement Table · General operating support$150,0002024 tax year
- State Power Fund · General operating support$150,0002024 tax year
- Kentucky Coalition · General operations$150,0002024 tax year
- Oklahoma Policy Institute · General operating support$75,0002024 tax year
- Alluvial Collective · General operating support$75,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- David Wood — Trustee
- Alan Rottenberg — Trustee
- Gabriel Deknatel — Trustee
- Maria Deknatel — Trustee
- Elizabeth Deknatel — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,047,964 | $2,105,000 | $54,915,120 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,279,740 | $3,270,000 | $56,756,623 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,408,853 | $2,470,000 | $59,370,877 | 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 Limestone Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to Limestone Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA