The Fourten Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send it a cold proposal and should approach it only through an existing connection or an invitation.
- Its recorded grants cover environmental research and conservation, schools and education, a legal centre and a humane organisation, many of them for general operations, so a charity in one of these fields has the closest fit.
- Typical grants fall between $13,500 and $120,000, with a median of $50,000 and half of its grants at $50,000 or less, so a request in that region is realistic, although its largest grant of $1,200,000, made to Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, shows that this band is not a ceiling.
- The filing shows that 96% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had already funded in earlier filings, so giving appears relationship-led and only a small share of its dollars has gone to new recipients.
- The filing states no geographic focus, so the states where most of its grants have gone are a record of past giving rather than a rule about who may apply.
Overview
The Fourten Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cranford, NJ.
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
Its recorded grants went to a mix of charitable organisations: environmental research and conservation groups, schools and education charities, a university department, a legal centre, a community foundation and a humane organisation. Many grants were for general operations. Other recorded purposes included teacher housing, environmental-law work, conservation research and education, civic education, a neurosurgery professorship and a Ukraine-related initiative. The record also includes a major contribution through a charitable endowment programme. Grants reached several states, with the largest shares recorded in Rhode Island and Montana, followed by the District of Columbia, Virginia and California. The filings do not give a wider statement of funding priorities or applicant eligibility.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Rhode Island, Montana, District of Columbia, Virginia and California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 96% 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 37 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
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 55% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations The Fourten Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 59% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 15 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · The salmson fund$1,100,0002024 tax year
- Reason Foundation · General operations$120,0002024 tax year
- Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurology · General operations$100,0002024 tax year
- Adventure Scientists · General operations$75,0002024 tax year
- Wakefield School · General operations$75,0002024 tax year
- Toothpick Project · General operations$70,0002024 tax year
- North Yellowstone Education Foundation · Gardiner school-second capital - campaign to fund teacher housing$60,0002024 tax year
- Southern Environmental Law Center · Funding of southern environmental law centers work to battle back the destructive biomass industry$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Winifred O Nichols - Co Pkfod LLP — Director
- Wright Ohrstrom - Co Pkfod LLP — Director
- Clarke Ohrstrom - Co Pkfod LLP — VP, Treasurer, & Director
- George F Ohrstrom - Co Pkfod LLP — President, Secretary & Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,068,292 | $445,000 | $36,581,556 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,131,892 | $1,853,500 | $40,996,719 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,179,502 | $1,885,000 | $45,348,132 | 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 Fourten Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Cranford, NJ
Applying to The Fourten Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cranford, NJ