The Massachusetts State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 26-3987455

Tern Foundation

A private foundation in Eastham, MA. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 43 grants and $250,538 paid in grants.

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2025

    $250,538

    Grants listed
    43
    Assets, end of year
    $2,322,884
  • Tax year 2024

    $231,898

    Grants listed
    37
    Assets, end of year
    $2,267,777
  • Tax year 2023

    $168,532

    Grants listed
    29
    Assets, end of year
    $1,663,377
  • Tax year 2022

    $216,006

    Grants listed
    25
    Assets, end of year
    $1,642,757
  • Tax year 2021

    $103,000

    Grants listed
    23
    Assets, end of year
    $2,174,454
  • Tax year 2020

    $223,559

    Grants listed
    22
    Assets, end of year
    $2,041,719
  • Tax year 2019

    $87,250

    Grants listed
    23
    Assets, end of year
    $2,032,824

Grants paid in 2025

43 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Heritage Museum and Gardens IncSandwich, MA

    Ternsolar grant in support of solar array

    $60,000
  2. Berkshire Botanical GardensStockbridge, MA

    Ternsolar grant in support of solar array

    $45,132
  3. Asociation to Preserve Cape CodDennis, MA

    Ternsolar grant in support of solar array

    $38,000
  4. Asociation to Preserve Cape CodDennis, MA

    General support

    $23,000
  5. Summer of SassProvincetown, MA

    Ternsolar grant in support of solar array

    $15,000
  6. Coolidge Corner Theatre FoundationBrookline, MA

    General support

    $5,000
  7. Hampshire CollegeAmherst, MA

    In support of change in the making campaign

    $5,000
  8. Massachusetts Audubon SocietyLincoln, MA

    In support of cape cod sanctuaries/boston nature center

    $5,000
  9. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)New York, NY

    General support

    $5,000
  10. Third Sector New Englandfuture ChefsBoston, MA

    In support of future chefs

    $3,500
  11. 909 WburBoston, MA

    General support

    $2,500
  12. Arts Foundation of Cape CodHyannis, MA

    General support

    $2,500
  13. Center for Coastal StudiesProvincetown, MA

    General support

    $2,500
  14. Payomet Performing Arts CenterTruro, MA

    General support

    $2,500
  15. Wcai Cape & Islands NPR StationWoods Hole, MA

    General support

    $2,500
  16. Wellfleet Preservation HallWellfleet, MA

    General support

    $2,500
  17. WGBHBoston, MA

    General support

    $2,500
  18. Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill IncTruro, MA

    General support

    $2,000
  19. Wellfleet Affordable Housing TrustWellfleet, MA

    General support

    $2,000
  20. International Fund for Animal Welflare (ifaw)Yarmouth Port, MA

    General support

    $1,500
  21. Coastal Maine Botanical GardenBoothbay, ME

    General support

    $1,068
  22. Fine Arts Work CenterProvincetown, MA

    General support

    $1,057
  23. New York Restoration ProjectNew York, NY

    General support

    $1,044
  24. Spontaneous CelebrationsJamaica Plain, MA

    General support

    $1,044
  25. Worcester County Horticultural SocietyBoylston, MA

    In support of new england botanic garden

    $1,040
  26. ZumixEast Boston, MA

    General support

    $1,033
  27. Artists for HumanityBoston, MA

    General support

    $1,030
  28. Barnstable Land TrustBrewster, MA

    General support

    $1,030
  29. Orion SocietyGT Barrington, MA

    General support

    $1,030
  30. Provincetown CommonsProvincetown, MA

    Ternsolar grant in support of solar array

    $1,030
  31. Chatham Orpheum TheaterNorth Chatham, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  32. Claymont Society of Continuous EducationCharles Town, WV

    In support of solar array

    $1,000
  33. Friends of Eastham Public LibraryEastham, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  34. Grow Native MassachusettsLexington, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  35. Helping Our Women (how)Provincetown, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  36. Local Journalism ProjectProvincetown, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  37. Lower Cape Outreach Council (lcoc)Orleans, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  38. Peaked Hill TrustProvincetown, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  39. Provincetown Art Association Museum (paam)Provincetown, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  40. The Lily House IncWellfleet, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  41. Wellfleet Harbor Actors TheaterWellfleet, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  42. Wild Care IncEastham, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  43. Carrie A Seaman Animal Shelter (casas)Provincetown, MA

    General support

    $500

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Youth development1 grant $15,00031% of the total
  2. Arts and culture6 grants $12,56326% of the total
  3. Environment6 grants $11,61424% of the total
  4. Community development3 grants $4,57410% of the total
  5. Animals1 grant $1,0002% of the total
  6. Education1 grant $1,0002% of the total
  7. 2 other causes2 grants $2,0004% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Massachusetts39 grants $242,426
  2. New York2 grants $6,044
  3. Maine1 grant $1,068
  4. West Virginia1 grant $1,000

Officers, directors and trustees

2 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Marianne LampkeDIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT Hours 10Pay $0
  • Elisa LinnehanDIRECTOR AND TREASURER Hours 10Pay $0

The return

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