The Byrne and Pamela Murphy Family Foundation concentrates its giving on higher-education scholarships and business-school initiatives at the University of Virginia alongside substantial investments in Chesapeake Bay and regional environmental conservation efforts. They also support community needs and housing programs, and make occasional large gifts to faith-based institutions. Grants tend to be large, targeted awards that reflect multi-year relationships with a small set of repeat grantees.
A defining feature of the Byrne and Pamela Murphy Family Foundation is its repeated support for the University of Virginia, especially Darden scholarship and program funds. The foundation gave $250,000 in both 2023 and 2024 to the University of Virginia- Darden Women’s Scholarship Fund Current Use, and in 2025 it added $100,000 to the University of Virginia-darden School-robert F Bruner Fund for Transformatio. That university-centered giving sits alongside major conservation grants, including $240,000 in 2025 and $200,000 in 2024 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis, Maryland. The foundation’s broader grantmaking also reaches community and religious institutions in Washington, DC, housing and community organizations in Maine, and food-system work in New York. Several recipients appear across multiple years, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The pattern is one of targeted grants to a small set of organizations, with amounts that can range from modest support to six-figure commitments. In addition to education and conservation, the foundation has backed community needs, affordable housing, and selected cultural or faith-based institutions.
Education is a major line of giving. The foundation supported the University of Virginia- Byrne and Pamela Murphy Scholarship- Endowment with $100,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and also gave $20,000 in 2023 to the University of Virginia- Darden Annual Fund in Charlottesville. Environmental grantmaking includes food-waste work and watershed conservation. In 2025, it gave $150,000 to Refed Inc for environmental work, following a $50,000 grant to Refed in 2023 and a $20,000 grant in 2024. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation received $200,000 in 2024 and $240,000 in 2025 for conservation. Community needs and housing also appear in the portfolio. North Haven Sustainable Housing received $110,500 in 2024, while Waterman’s Community Center in North Haven, Maine, received $85,000 in 2023 and $80,000 in 2024. In Washington, DC, the foundation gave $125,000 to Building Bridges Across the River Inc (bbar) in 2025 for environmental work and another $125,000 in 2023 for creating parks in DC.
Typical grants are relatively concentrated at the high end for a family foundation of this size: the p25 grant is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the p75 is $82,500. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, including several three-year runs. That pattern points to ongoing support rather than one-time project funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grantmaking is national, though it is especially active in a small set of recurring relationships.
$1.3M
$23.5M
$814K
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $83K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$83K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants with repeat funding to a core group of beneficiaries; a mix of multi‑year/endowment gifts and large current‑use awards rather than many small one‑off grants.
Notable grantees: University of Virginia (Darden Women’s Scholarship; Byrne and Pamela Murphy Scholarship), Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Building Bridges Across the River, Inc. (BBAR), Washington National Cathedral, ReFED, Inc.
Grants are spread nationally, but the highest concentration by recipient count is in Maine. Washington, DC is also a major center of giving, with 23% of grants going to recipients in the headquarters city’s state. Other recurring recipient locations include Charlottesville, Virginia; Annapolis, Maryland; and Long Island City, New York. On the larger geographic map, the foundation’s awards cluster around a few places rather than being evenly distributed across the country.
The foundation’s recent grants center on higher education, environmental conservation, community needs, housing, food-waste reduction, and selected religious or cultural institutions. Recurring recipients include University of Virginia scholarship and business-school funds, Chesapeake Bay conservation groups, and community organizations in Washington, DC and Maine.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years. For example, the University of Virginia- Byrne and Pamela Murphy Scholarship- Endowment received $100,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Refed Inc received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is weighted toward larger awards. The p25 grant is $10,000, the median grant is $20,000, and the p75 grant is $82,500.
By recipient count, Maine is the top state, while Washington, DC is also prominent: 23% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipients in Maine include North Haven and Rockland organizations, while DC recipients include community, religious, and historical groups.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOME | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY NEEDS |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $240,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - CONSERVATION |
| REFED INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER INC (BBAR) | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- BYRNE AND PAMELA MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP- ENDOWMENT | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA-DARDEN SCHOOL-ROBERT F BRUNER FUND FOR TRANSFORMATIO | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN | FAIRFIELD, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| ALIBI PRESERVATION FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | HISTORICAL |
| NORTH HAVEN FOUNDATION | ROCKLAND, ME | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $12,114 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN ANNUAL FUND | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NORTH HAVEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY-40TH REUNION | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NEW COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BETHESDA, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY NEEDS |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY BETTERMENT (GO BO) | ARNOLD, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITIES |
| WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER - ANNUAL ANNIVERSITY BENEFIT | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY NEEDS |
| NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART | LANDOVER, MD | $3,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND CURRENT USE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $250,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $200,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENTAL - CONSERVATION |
| NORTH HAVEN SUSTAINABLE HOUSING | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $110,500 | 2024 | COMMUNITY NEEDS |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- BYRNE AND PAMELA MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP- ENDOWMENT | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $80,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY NEEDS |
| CHRIST CHURCH GEORGETOWN | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $25,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY NEEDS |
| REFED INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | FOOD WASTE REDUCTION |
| BISHOP JOHN T WALKER SCHOOL FOR BOYS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY-40TH REUNION | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| POTOMAC CONSERVANCY | SILVER SPRING, MD | $10,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENTAL - CONSERVATION |
| NORTH HAVEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| GIBSON ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY | GIBSON ISLAND, MD | $5,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITIES |
| GULF OF MAINE INSTITUTE | PORTLAND, ME | $5,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH AND EDUCATION |
| WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER - 2022 BENEFIT | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $5,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY NEEDS |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY BETTERMENT (GO BO) | ARNOLD, MD | $5,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITIES |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND CURRENT USE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $250,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER INC (BBAR) | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2023 | CREATING PARKS IN DC |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- BYRNE AND PAMELA MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP- ENDOWMENT | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $100,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $85,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY NEEDS |
| REFED | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | FOOD WASTE REDUCTION |
| NORTH HAVEN LIBRARY - CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $25,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $25,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION/INSTITUTE AT BROWN FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN ANNUAL FUND | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $20,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| BISHOP JOHN T WALKER SCHOOL FOR BOYS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY-40TH REUNION | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| WOODWELL CLIMATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE | FALMOUTH, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | RESEARCH - CLIMATE |
| POTOMAC CONSERVANCY | SILVER SPRING, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | ENVIRONMENTAL - CONSERVATION |
| CHRIST CHURCH GEORGETOWN | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
$125,000RELIGIOUS
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- BYRNE AND PAMELA MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP- ENDOWMENT
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA-DARDEN SCHOOL-ROBERT F BRUNER FUND FOR TRANSFORMATIO
$100,000EDUCATION
SAVE THE CHILDREN
$50,000HUMANITARIAN
ALIBI PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
$25,000HISTORICAL
NORTH HAVEN FOUNDATION
$20,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
$12,114EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN ANNUAL FUND
$10,000EDUCATION
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$10,000EDUCATION
NORTH HAVEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATION
HARVARD UNIVERSITY-40TH REUNION
$10,000EDUCATION
NEW COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000COMMUNITY NEEDS
THE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY BETTERMENT (GO BO)
$5,000COMMUNITIES
WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER - ANNUAL ANNIVERSITY BENEFIT
$5,000COMMUNITY NEEDS
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND CURRENT USE
$250,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- BYRNE AND PAMELA MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP- ENDOWMENT
$100,000EDUCATION
WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER
$80,000COMMUNITY NEEDS
CHRIST CHURCH GEORGETOWN
$50,000RELIGIOUS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
$25,000RELIGIOUS
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$25,000COMMUNITY NEEDS
BISHOP JOHN T WALKER SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$20,000EDUCATION
HARVARD UNIVERSITY-40TH REUNION
$10,000EDUCATION
NORTH HAVEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATION
GIBSON ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$5,000COMMUNITIES
GULF OF MAINE INSTITUTE
$5,000RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER - 2022 BENEFIT
$5,000COMMUNITY NEEDS
THE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY BETTERMENT (GO BO)
$5,000COMMUNITIES
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND CURRENT USE
$250,000EDUCATION
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
$125,000RELIGIOUS
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- BYRNE AND PAMELA MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP- ENDOWMENT
$100,000EDUCATION
WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER
$85,000COMMUNITY NEEDS
NORTH HAVEN LIBRARY - CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
$25,000EDUCATION
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$25,000EDUCATION/INSTITUTE AT BROWN FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- DARDEN ANNUAL FUND
$20,000EDUCATION
BISHOP JOHN T WALKER SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$20,000EDUCATION
HARVARD UNIVERSITY-40TH REUNION
$10,000EDUCATION
CHRIST CHURCH GEORGETOWN
$10,000RELIGIOUS