The Mathis Pfohl Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, unrestricted gifts to institutional recipients. Recent giving shows a dual interest in supporting higher education (a substantial gift to Duke University) and facilitating international philanthropy in Asia (a comparable grant to Give2Asia), suggesting flexible support for both domestic academic institutions and cross-border charitable initiatives.
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants of roughly equal size split between domestic higher education and international philanthropy; appears to favor institutional recipients over small local nonprofits.
A $69,000 grant to Duke University stands out in the Mathis Pfohl Foundation’s recent giving, which combines higher-education support with recurring gifts to organizations in New York City and select national charities. The foundation’s largest recent awards also include $68,500 to Give2asia and $27,100 to Culture Lab Lic, showing a pattern of institutional grants rather than individual assistance. Most of the recent grants are recorded as charitable-purpose gifts, and the recipient mix ranges from universities and annual funds to museums, libraries, schools, and community organizations. The foundation’s work reaches beyond one sector. In 2025, it funded Queens institutions such as Queens Museum, Queens College Foundation, and Queens Library Foundation, while earlier grants went to Fordham Law School, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, and Americares. Its giving also includes support for organizations with broader charitable roles, such as the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn & Queens, Sunnyside Community Services, and Citizens Budget Commission Inc. The picture that emerges is a funder using flexible institutional grants to support education, culture, community services, and intermediary philanthropy.
Higher education is a clear theme in the Mathis Pfohl Foundation’s grant history. In 2025, it gave $69,000 to Duke University for charitable purposes, and it also supported Duke Annual Fund with $14,500 and Duke Law School with $6,000. A similar pattern appears in New York, where it gave $15,000 to Queens College Foundation and $10,000 to Fordham Law School. Cultural and civic institutions are another visible area. The foundation granted $27,100 to Culture Lab Lic, $17,500 to Queens Museum, and $13,500 to Creart Box, all for charitable purposes. It also supported public-serving organizations such as Queens Library Foundation at $13,500 and Urban Design Forum at $6,000. Community and social-service organizations also appear in the record, including $10,500 to Queens Community House and $10,000 to Sunnyside Community Services. Earlier grants included $25,000 to Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn & Queens and $14,500 to Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal.
Typical grants are small in number and relatively concentrated in size: p25 is $400, median is $1,000, and p75 is $2,000. That sits alongside several much larger institutional awards, including amounts in the tens of thousands. The grant record shows repeat support to some organizations across years, such as Duke University and Duke-related entities, while many other recipients appear once. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grants are overwhelmingly charitable-purpose awards to institutions.
$596K
$3.1M
$438K
$660K
Most grants fall between $400 and $2K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$400
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$2K
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Notable grantees: Duke University, Give2Asia
The foundation gives most often in Iowa, even though its headquarters are in Long Island City, New York. In the recent-grants list, New York recipients appear frequently, including Queens, Brooklyn, Flushing, Jamaica, Forest Hills, New York City, the Bronx, and Levittown. North Carolina recipients also appear through Durham. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 559 grants to U.S. organizations.
Its recent grants go mainly to institutions rather than individuals, with charitable-purpose awards to universities, annual funds, museums, libraries, schools, community organizations, and intermediary charities. Examples in the record include higher education, cultural institutions, and community services.
The distribution is small at the center: p25 is $400, median is $1,000, and p75 is $2,000. The recent-grants list also includes larger awards, such as $69,000 to Duke University and $68,500 to Give2asia.
Yes. The grant history shows recurring support for some recipients across years, including Duke University and related Duke funds, as well as New York institutions that appear more than once in the recent grants list.
Iowa is the top state by grant count. New York still receives a large share of grants as well, with 45% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state.
The record points to higher education, international grantmaking through an intermediary, and unrestricted charitable support to institutions. Recent examples include Duke University, Give2asia, Queens Museum, Queens College Foundation, and community organizations in New York.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $69,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CULTURE LAB LIC | QUEENS, NY | $27,100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CATHOLIC FOUNDATION FOR BROOKLYN & QUEENS | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| QUEENS MUSEUM | QUEENS, NY | $17,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| QUEENS COLLEGE FOUNDATION | FLUSHING, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| DUKE ANNUAL FUND | DURHAM, NC | $14,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| QUEENS LIBRARY FOUNDATION | JAMAICA, NY | $13,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| QUEENS COMMUNITY HOUSE | FOREST HILLS, NY | $10,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES | QUEENS, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $9,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| INSEAD MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | GREENWICH, CT | $6,250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| DUKE LAW SCHOOL | DURHAM, NC | $6,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| URBAN DESIGN FORUM | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| HUNTERS POINT PARKS CONSERVANCY | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NYC KIDS RISE | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JACOB A RIIS NEIGHBORHOOD SETTLEMENT | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $5,750 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| DEERFIELD ACADEMY | DEERFIELD, MA | $5,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE NOGUCHI MUSEUM | QUEENS, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| DUBUQUE MAIN ST | DUBUQUE, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SCHOOL YEAR ABROAD | NORTH ANDOVER, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| KUPFERBERG CENTER FOR THE ARTS | FLUSHING, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| WEILL CORNELL CENTER ON AGING | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| RPA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PSIS 78Q PTA | QUEENS, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PURSUIT | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| LORAS COLLEGE | DUBUQUE, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| WATERFRONT ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| VARIETY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF QUEENS | QUEENS, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | KEW GARDENS, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| MISSISSIPPI DRIFTLESS REGIONAL FOUNDATION | DUBUQUE, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $4,400 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PENN STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY PARK, PA | $3,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE US DISASTER RELIEF | BOONE, NC | $3,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $3,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | HARLAN, IA | $3,250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS | WORCESTER, MA | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CLARKE UNIVERSITY | DUBUQUE, IA | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NEW YORK BUILDING FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CALMAR, IA | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GROTON SCHOOL | GROTON, MA | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| QUEENS THEATRE | FLUSHING, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE | DUBUQUE, IA | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| QUEENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | EAST ELMHURST, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| MOMA PS1 | MANHATTAN, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | QUEENS, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| HILLS & DALES | DUBUQUE, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| URBAN UPBOUND | QUEENS, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
CULTURE LAB LIC
$27,100CHARITABLE PURPOSES
CATHOLIC FOUNDATION FOR BROOKLYN & QUEENS
$25,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
QUEENS MUSEUM
$17,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES
DUKE ANNUAL FUND
$14,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES
SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
$10,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
$6,250CHARITABLE PURPOSES
DUKE LAW SCHOOL
$6,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
URBAN DESIGN FORUM
$6,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
HUNTERS POINT PARKS CONSERVANCY
$6,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
THE NOGUCHI MUSEUM
$5,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
DUBUQUE MAIN ST
$5,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
SCHOOL YEAR ABROAD
$5,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
KUPFERBERG CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$5,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
PSIS 78Q PTA
$5,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
VARIETY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF QUEENS
$5,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
MISSISSIPPI DRIFTLESS REGIONAL FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$4,400CHARITABLE PURPOSES
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
$3,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES
SAMARITAN'S PURSE US DISASTER RELIEF
$3,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$3,250CHARITABLE PURPOSES
NEW YORK BUILDING FOUNDATION
$3,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$3,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GROTON SCHOOL
$3,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
QUEENS THEATRE
$3,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE
$3,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
QUEENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$2,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES
MOMA PS1
$2,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$2,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES
HILLS & DALES
$2,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES
LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$2,500CHARITABLE PURPOSES