The Mousetrap Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The filing names no specific funding field, but its grants span universities and law schools, medical clinics, environmental and conservation groups, museums and theatres, civic and legal organisations, and charities focused on disability inclusion and child care, so check whether your work sits in one of these areas.
- Grants go only to recognised section 501(c)(3) charitable organisations, so an organisation without that status should not apply.
- Its most recent filing shows grants mainly in District of Columbia, Virginia, California, Illinois and Montana, but no geographic focus is stated, so treat those places as a record rather than a limit.
- Half of its grants to organisations were $50,000 or less and the median was $50,000, while about 8 in 10 fall between $10,000 and $175,000, so a modest request in that region suits its usual pattern.
- No application form or supporting information is prescribed, and the filing gives no deadlines, so ask the foundation about timing before you send a letter; 73% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had funded in earlier filings, so a prior relationship counts for a great deal and a first approach is still worth making.
Overview
The Mousetrap Foundation is a US private foundation based in Reston, VA.
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 filing names no specific funding field: every listed organisation grant is recorded as general support. The grant record spans universities and law schools, medical clinics, environmental and conservation organisations, museums and theatres, civic and legal organisations, and charities focused on disability inclusion and child care. Grants are restricted to recognised section 501(c)(3) charitable organisations. Its recorded grants are general support rather than support labelled for individual projects, and a substantial share goes to organisations funded in an earlier filing.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in District of Columbia, Virginia, California, Illinois and Montana.
How to apply
No application form or supporting information is prescribed.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 73% 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 68 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: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 73% of grant dollars went to organisations The Mousetrap Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 16 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $80,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Howard University · General support$220,9462024 tax year
- Stanford Law School · General support$200,0002024 tax year
- Georgetown University Law Center · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- Ayuda · General support$125,0002024 tax year
- Piedmont Environmental Council · General support$125,0002024 tax year
- National Museum · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- Fauquier Free Clinic · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- Best Buddies · General support$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Matthew Keefer — Director
- J Vander Stoep — Director
- Kendra Harvey — Secretary / Treasurer
- James Lintott — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,852,053 | $1,685,892 | $7,960,894 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,919,642 | $1,754,399 | $15,840,348 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,684,979 | $1,430,946 | $17,046,597 | 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 The Mousetrap Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (703) 437-9720
- Reston, VA
Applying to The Mousetrap Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (703) 437-9720
- Reston, VA