Dedicated to improving the lives of young people in low-income neighborhoods throughout New York City by helping them develop the skills, self-reliance and strong values necessary to live up to their full potential.
Focus Areas
Youth developmentEducationCareer readinessAfter-school programsSummer learningSTEM educationCollege accessYouth justiceFamily justiceFoster care transitionCultural enrichmentEmployment training
Who They Fund
school-aged youth (K–12)
About Pinkerton Foundation
Pinkerton Foundation’s recent grantmaking shows a strong, repeated commitment to New York City youth development, with several organizations receiving six-figure support across both 2023 and 2025. Good Shepherd Services appears twice at $850,000 and again at $500,000, all for after-school and summer learning, while the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School received $600,000 in both years for youth and family justice. Those repeat awards point to a funder that stays with organizations over time rather than making only one-off awards.
The foundation’s portfolio also includes large grants for career readiness and justice-related youth support, such as The Door - A Center of Alternatives Inc, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation Inc, and Workforce Professionals Training Institute. Across these awards, the pattern is consistent: direct service, youth-centered programming, and support for organizations working with school-aged youth, justice-involved youth, and young people transitioning toward work. Pinkerton Foundation also backs leadership development through its active networks for senior leaders and leaders of color in the youth development field, extending its support beyond program delivery to the people running these organizations.
What Pinkerton Foundation Funds
After-school and summer learning is a major part of Pinkerton Foundation’s youth strategy. In this area, it gave $850,000 to Good Shepherd Services for After School & Summer Learning and $425,000 to Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation Inc for the same general work. Friends of the Children New York also received $400,000 for After School and Summer Learning.
Career readiness is another clear focus. The foundation awarded $350,000 to The Door - A Center of Alternatives Inc for Career Readiness, $340,000 to Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation Inc for Career Readiness, and $330,000 to Workforce Professionals Training Institute for Career Readiness.
Youth and family justice appears throughout the grant list as well. Pinkerton Foundation gave $500,000 to Community Connections for Youth Inc and $500,000 to Tomorrow's Leaders NYC Inc, both for Youth and Family Justice. It also supported Exodus Transitional Community with $300,000 for that purpose.
How Pinkerton Foundation Gives
Typical award sizes cluster in the mid-five-figure to low-six-figure range: p25 is $25,000, median is $62,500, and p75 is $100,000. The recent grant list shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including awards in 2023 and 2025 to Good Shepherd Services, the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, The Door - A Center of Alternatives Inc, and others. Pinkerton Foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF or program-related investor. It also accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry through its Grant Portal as the first step in the application process.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$39M
Total Assets
$746.1M
Total Revenue
$72.3M
Total Expenses
$48.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $63K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$63K
75th Percentile
$100K
Geographic Reach
Local27 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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youth from families impacted by the justice system
young people transitioning to work / career-seeking youth
participants in out-of-school-time programs
Funding Style
direct service / program fundingtargeted youth development supportflexible/trustee-discretionary funding
Topics
after-school programssummer learning programscareer readiness and workforce pathways for youthyouth and family justice (juvenile justice diversion, supports for justice-involved youth)out-of-school-time enrichment
Where Pinkerton Foundation Makes Grants
Pinkerton Foundation’s grantmaking is concentrated in New York City, with 86% of grants going to recipients in New York State. The recent grant list is heavily centered on New York, New York, alongside Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Forest Hills. Examples include Good Shepherd Services in New York, Community Connections for Youth Inc in the Bronx, Tomorrow's Leaders NYC Inc in Brooklyn, and Queens Community House Inc in Forest Hills. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pinkerton Foundation
How does Pinkerton Foundation accept applications?
It accepts Letters of Inquiry through its Grant Portal as the first step for organizations seeking grants. The guidelines also say nonprofit public charitable organizations can submit a brief letter of inquiry, and if the idea is promising, program staff may request additional materials and schedule site visits or meetings.
What kinds of organizations does Pinkerton Foundation fund?
The foundation funds nonprofit public charitable organizations serving young people in New York City, especially through youth development, education, career readiness, after-school and summer learning, and youth and family justice. Its active programs also support organizations funded by the foundation and leaders in the youth development field.
What is the typical grant size?
Its grant-size distribution centers at $62,500 median, with a p25 of $25,000 and a p75 of $100,000. The recent grants list also includes larger six-figure awards, including several $300,000 to $850,000 grants.
Does Pinkerton Foundation make repeat grants to the same organizations?
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated awards in both 2023 and 2025 to organizations such as Good Shepherd Services, the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, The Door - A Center of Alternatives Inc, and several others, which suggests ongoing support rather than single-year-only funding.
What geographic area does Pinkerton Foundation focus on?
Its giving is local and heavily concentrated in New York City. 86% of grants go to recipients in New York State, and the recent grants list includes recipients in New York, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Forest Hills.
Current and upcoming funding from Pinkerton Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Varies
After-School and Summer Learning
after-school learningsummer learningyouth development+1 more
Who can apply: Grants are awarded only to nonprofit public charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and align with the Foundation's interests; generally limited to programs operating in New York City or directly serving the City's youth.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. Board grantmaking meetings occur in May and December.
youth justicealternative-to-incarcerationreentry+3 more
Who can apply: Grants are awarded only to established 501(c)(3) programs serving disadvantaged young people; generally limited to organizations operating in New York City or directly serving the City's youth.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. Board grantmaking meetings occur in May and December.
Who can apply: Grants are awarded only to nonprofit public charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and align with the Foundation's interests; generally limited to programs operating in New York City or directly serving the City's youth.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. Board grantmaking meetings occur in May and December.
STEM educationcareer explorationresearch mentoring+2 more
Who can apply: Grants are awarded only to nonprofit public charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation generally supports programs operating in New York City or directly serving the City's youth.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. Board grantmaking meetings occur in May and December.
After-school and summer learningAcademic development and educationCareer readiness+6 more
Who can apply: Grants are awarded only to nonprofit public charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Grants must support programs operating in New York City or directly serving New York City youth. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals, provide emergency assistance, or support medical research, direct health care, or religious education. It rarely supports conferences, publications, or media. Capital grants are rare and generally limited to long-time Pinkerton grantees for projects that directly improve or expand supported programs.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. The Board of Trustees has grantmaking meetings in May and December, with decisions announced immediately afterward.
Open nowRolling / open intake
Pinkerton Fellows Program (Serving & Learning)
youth justiceinternshipscareer development+1 more
Who can apply: Community-based organizations working in the youth justice field and aligned with the Foundation's interests.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
