The Palmer Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Palmer Foundation is a private foundation in Oakton, Virginia. In tax year 2025 it gave $950,000 in 34 grants; the typical grant was $25,000 and the largest $113,250. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$950,000
- Number of grants34
- Typical grant$25,000
- Largest grant$113,250
- Assets$27.9 million
- New grantees68%
Giving in 2025 was up from $800,000 the year before.
68% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $842,000 | 34 | $22.5 million |
| 2024 | $800,000 | 28 | $25.3 million |
| 2025 | $950,000 | 34 | $27.9 million |
How to apply
The Palmer Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Palmer Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 15 states, the most to Maryland.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 3 | $213,000 |
| Virginia | 3 | $112,000 |
| California | 3 | $100,000 |
| Wisconsin | 7 | $87,000 |
| North Carolina | 2 | $75,000 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | $65,000 |
| Connecticut | 3 | $52,000 |
| Illinois | 1 | $50,000 |
| Indiana | 1 | $50,000 |
| Georgia | 1 | $45,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation | General support and research support for ibd | $113,250 |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation | Help build a new state of the art oyster restoration center | $92,750 |
| Fotokids | To further education and technology skills enabling options for a successful future and increased opportunities for employment. | $50,000 |
| Icare Corporation | To support the rescue of wild corals and their reestablishment on coral reefs, as well as the restoration of reef-based sponge species to improve water quality in coral reef communities in the florida keys | $50,000 |
| Southern Environmental Law Center | To build on that epa objection and require north carolinas department of environmental quality to enforce the clean water act at all such facilities discharging pfas and other industrial toxins and will continue to push the state to set numeric standards for these pollutants. | $50,000 |
| Operation Job Ready Veterans | To sponsor an in-person training so employees can gain skills and knowledge to work one-on-one with clients to assist them in all aspects of their transition from active-duty careers to civilian employment ($30k). Funding will also support a consultant to train employment transition managers in the federal resume writing process ($20k). | $50,000 |
| Environmental Law & Policy Center | To fund efforts to educate the next generation of lawmakers and legislative staff on the great lakes compact | $50,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity International | To support the building of a home in door county ($3k) and to serve 100 of the most vulnerable families in ethiopia with permanent shelter solutions | $45,000 |
| Root NS Inc | To provide stipends to students in the root culinary training program | $45,000 |
| Workforce Alliance | Funding for workforce alliance's skill up for manufacturing program. This funding will be used to fund stipends, support services, and on-the-job training wage subsidies for participants in skill up for manufacturing cohorts to be offered in the 2025-2026 program year. | $35,000 |
| University of Virginia Darden School Foundation | To fund the pel entrepreneurship initiative, including the damon devito venture velocity fund supports newly graduated entrepreneurs' initiatives | $32,000 |
| Partner for Surgery | To support the infant nutrition program in rural guatemala to reduce mortality among babies born with cleft lip and palate and to qualify them for essential surgeries | $30,000 |
| Upavim | To install solar panels at the upavim cooperative in guatemala city | $26,000 |
| The Miracle Foundation | To expand miracles thrivewell platform | $25,000 |
| BABY2BABY | To support emergency disaster relief work and fund the distribution of supplies to families impacted by hurricanes helene and milton as well as the la fires | $25,000 |
| Center for Land-Based Learning | The center's farms leadership program works with high school students to explore careers related to agriculture and natural resources that go beyond farming and veterinary science. To do so, the center takes cohorts of students across ca on "field days" multiple times a year to get hands on experience in different professional focuses. This grant will support the salaries of the coordinators that run these impactful field days. | $25,000 |
| Embrace Compassion | Increasing services to include volunteer work and skill building with adults with intellectual disabilities. There is a lot of demand for this skill building employment service we can provide at the farm and very few providers in oregon. These volunteers would build skills and help us maintain the animals and gardens. We desperately need more physical help. | $25,000 |
| The Foundation of Firsthealth Inc | The grant will be used to provide education sponsorships through local community colleges for regional students and adult learners to earn their certifications or degrees to become future staff at first health of the carolinas. | $25,000 |
| Kemper Center | General | $20,000 |
| Doorway to Learning | To fund the doorway to learning campaign, opening the door to a brighter future, which supports sustainable childcare by securing a well designed early education facility that provides high quality childcare for 120 working families in door county. | $20,000 |
| Boston Area Gleaners | To purchase a used 50 to 75 horsepower 4x4 tractor with an open station and dual hydraulic remotes | $15,000 |
| Peninsula School of Art | To support peninsula school of art's free public programs, including family art days and school partnerships | $14,000 |
| Creative Waves Foundation | To purchase apple laptops for the childrens enrichment center of belle glade, florida | $13,000 |
| Door Community Auditorium Corp | To provide gibraltar public K-12 schools with experiential learning projects in the arts and sciences | $13,000 |
| Neighbor to Neighbor | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Wisconsin German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue Inc | To cover veterinary costs including spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations for incoming dogs to our breed specific rescue | $10,000 |
| Gibraltar Historical Association | Preservation of the heritage house, creating a cultural center, and sustaining our historic streetscape. | $8,000 |
| Somerset County Historical Trust | To renovate the historic early 19th century teackle tenant house in princess anne, md | $7,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich | Funding to support the boys & girls club's clubhouse renovation. | $7,000 |
| Georgetown University - McDonough School of Business | To foster enrepreneurship on campus | $5,000 |
| ASPCA | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Sweet Paws Rescue | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Altrusa International Foundation of Door County Wi Inc | To support the 2025 back to school fair in giving 600 economically disadvantaged children from door county grade appropriate school supplies and athletic shoes/socks at the 2025 back to school fair. | $2,000 |
| Forest Planet | Visit to tanzania to review project status | $2,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Mary P Enroth
- Grant Lischick
- Jay L Owen
- Karen E Lischick
- Susan L Enroth
- Peter Lischick
- Megan Butler
- Brendt Enroth
- Brandon Enroth
- Caitlyn Enroth
- Caity Lischick
Questions people ask
Does The Palmer Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Palmer Foundation give?
$950,000 in tax year 2025, across 34 grants, with a typical grant of $25,000.
Who runs The Palmer Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Mary P Enroth (Chairman), Grant Lischick (Director), Jay L Owen (Secretary) and Karen E Lischick (President) among 11 officers and trustees.
What does The Palmer Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, science and research and community development.