named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Greek America Corps
Program sending young adults of Greek heritage to volunteer in Greece, fostering cultural connection and service.
Legacy Society
Planned giving program recognizing donors who include the foundation in their wills or estate plans, with benefits including event invitations and tax planning support.
Olympia Dukakis Prize
Endowed award supporting women in film, theater, and creative arts who demonstrate courage, substance, and cultural purpose, awarded annually on June 20.
Project Hope for Greece
Humanitarian fundraising initiative supporting vulnerable populations in Greece, including children, refugees, and disaster survivors through grants to accredited charities and direct aid.
Semester in Athens Scholarships
Study abroad program providing scholarships for North American students to study in Athens, promoting educational and cultural exchange.
activities · 13 groups
What they do
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Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
- Funding grants to support child well-being and refugee services in GreeceAwards grants to organizations in Greece such as Kivotos Tou Kosmou Aegean, SOS Children’s Villages Greece, HOPEgenesis, METAdrasi, and Desmos to support child well-being, refugee services, and community development.
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
- Funding the Olympia Dukakis Prize for women in the artsEstablished and funds the Olympia Dukakis Prize to support women in film, theater, and the creative arts, and is establishing a $250,000 endowed fund to permanently support the prize.
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Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
- Funding youth-led grantmaking through a youth giving circleEngages teens in reviewing grant proposals, debating funding decisions, voting on grants, and preparing impact reports via a youth-led giving fund supported by participant contributions.
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Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
- Marketing foundation-themed merchandise to support programsSells foundation-themed merchandise with proceeds directed toward philanthropic and charitable programs.
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Student-Led Community Service Programs 1 activity
- Operating Project Philotimo for pre-teen service engagementRuns a year-round program engaging pre-teen children in hands-on service activities, including four seasonal service days annually in New York City where they prepare and deliver meals to individuals and families in need.
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Youth Cultural and Educational Travel Programs 1 activity
- Operating the Greek America Corps volunteer programProvides life-changing volunteer and cultural immersion experiences in Greece for hundreds of young North Americans through the Greek America Corps program.
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Charity Event Organization 1 activity
- Operating virtual athletic fundraising campaignsRuns a virtual athletic fundraising team that enables individuals to convert participation in races, walks, rides, or endurance challenges into philanthropic support for the foundation.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Operating youth service and leadership programs for Greek-American teensRuns a selective leadership, philanthropy, and service program for 25 Greek-American teens annually, ages 13–18, involving monthly virtual meetings, quarterly in-person gatherings in New York City, and youth-led grantmaking through a giving fund.
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Indigenous and Diaspora Cultural Preservation 1 activity
- Promoting and preserving Greek culture and heritage in North AmericaAdvances Greek culture, history, heritage, and ideals in North America through educational and cultural programming.
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Study Abroad and Global Immersion Programs 1 activity
- Providing scholarships for study abroad in AthensOffers study abroad opportunities for North American students through the Semester in Athens Scholarships program.
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LGBTQ+ Community Grantmaking 1 activity
- Supporting LGBTQI+ helpline services in GreeceProvides funding for professional psychologists to conduct phone and face-to-face counseling through Greece's LGBTQI+ Helpline 11528, which serves over 1,000 people annually.
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Disaster Relief and Recovery Services 1 activity
- Supporting crisis relief and charitable aid in GreeceImplements charitable aid programs in Greece, including distributing food certificates, providing school supplies, delivering essential items to shelters, repairing fishing boats, and funding food provision for refugees.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Funding youth fundraising campaigns for service projectsRequires each child participating in Project Philotimo to run a $75 GoFundMe campaign before each quarterly project to support the program.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$367K
Contributions & grants$179K49%
Program service revenue$156K43%
Investment income$21K6%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$401K
Program expenses50%
Admin / overhead41%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$65K
Grants paid out$89K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$354K
Cash$72K
Investments$277K
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$352K
Liquid reserves10.4 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +64.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREGORY PAPPAS | PRESIDENT | 40 | $44K |
board members · 8
- CHRIS PAPAVASILIOU — DIRECTOR
- DR EVANGELINE BELTSOS — DIRECTOR
- EMMANUEL YAKUMITHIS — DIRECTOR
- GEORGE LOGOTHETIS — DIRECTOR
- JOHN VARVATOS — DIRECTOR
- MANOS SIFAKIS — CO-CHAIR
- PATRICIA LAMBRECHT — CO-CHAIR
- SPIRO VERRAS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- Anthoula Katsimatides Partner — Chairwoman of the Olympia Dukakis Prize Campaign and donor to the endowment.
- Carnegie Diner & Café Partner — Provides kitchen space, staff support, logistical assistance, and below-cost meal production for Project Philotimo.
- Desmos Partner — Received a $5,000 grant from the Greek America Foundation in 2014.
- Dr. George Stoupakis Funder — Provided founding support for the Gen G program.
- Dr. Margarita Lolis Funder — Provided founding support for the Gen G program.
- Greek America Corps Partner — Program providing volunteer and cultural immersion experiences in Greece.
- Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Partner — Coordinated with the Greek America Foundation to repair fishing boats for Thanos and Kostas in Lesvos.
- Gregory C. Pappas Partner — Hosts members-only virtual meetups with program leaders as part of the Philotimo Circle membership benefits.
- Gregory C. Pappas Partner — Hosts members-only virtual meetups with the Foundation's leadership, including Gregory C. Pappas.
- Gregory Pappas Partner — Donor to the Olympia Dukakis Prize endowment campaign.
- GuideStar Government — Recognized with a 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency by GuideStar, the world’s largest charity monitor.
- HOPEgenesis Partner — Received a $5,000 grant from the Greek America Foundation in 2019.
- Kivotos Tou Kosmou Partner — Received a $5,000 grant from the Greek America Foundation in 2020 for its work on Chios and in Athens.
- LGBTQI+ Helpline 11528 – By Your Side Partner — Partner organization receiving funding and awareness support for its helpline services in Greece.
- Ladies Philoptochos Society of SS. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church Funder — Provided a grant to fund a year’s worth of food for Mama Maria’s pantry on Samos Island.
- Local government of Lesvos Partner — Collaborated with to identify displaced families and monitor progress during earthquake relief efforts.
- METAdrasi Partner — Operates a children’s shelter on Chios Island where Greek America Foundation volunteers assessed needs and later delivered purchased supplies.
- METAdrasi Partner — Received a $5,000 grant from the Greek America Foundation in 2019.
- Manos Zervakis Partner — Team captain for the Athens 2026 Marathon team, supporting athlete engagement and team structure development.
- Melina Kanakaredes Partner — Attended the Hollywood Gabby Awards with Olympia Dukakis, participating in Foundation events.
- Michael Dukakis Partner — Reconnected with Olympia Dukakis at the Gabby Awards; cousin and public figure linked to the Foundation's events.
- Philoptochos Society of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church Partner — Provided a $10,000 grant to support Mama Maria of Samos through Project Hope for Greece.
- Reaching for the Stars Children’s Foundation Partner — Facilitated a $10,000 grant from the Greek America Foundation to SOS Children’s Villages Greece.
- SOS Children’s Villages Greece Partner — Received a $10,000 grant from the Greek America Foundation in 2019.
- U.S. Consul General in Thessaloniki Elizabeth Lee Government — Provided introductions and support enabling diaspora organizations to support LGBTQI+ initiatives in Greece.
- Vasilopoulos grocery store Partner — Collaborated with to issue food gift certificates redeemable by Mama Maria for cooking supplies.
- Vios Advisors at Rockefeller Capital Management Partner — Manages the Greek America Foundation's endowment fund.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cultural-Values-Driven Youth Developmentmethodology: values-based_youth_developmentBy grounding youth programs in ancient Greek ideals such as philotimo, excellence, and philanthropy, the organization fosters a lived ethic of service, leadership, and mutual responsibility because these values provide a moral framework that motivates sustained engagement and personal transformation.
- Intergenerational Stewardship Through Enduring Philanthropymethodology: intergenerational_stewardshipBy treating philanthropy as a lifelong, values-driven practice and investing in endowments and planned gifts, the organization ensures long-term cultural continuity because sustainable funding and intergenerational responsibility together preserve Greek ideals beyond the lifespan of individual donors.
- Reciprocal Service and Solidarity Modelmethodology: solidarity_not_charityBy designing service experiences that create direct human connection between youth volunteers and recipients—especially in crisis contexts—the organization transforms both giver and receiver because mutual solidarity, rather than one-way charity, deepens empathy, accountability, and the internalization of cultural values.
- Transparent and Participatory Giving Cyclemethodology: full-cycle_philanthropyBy involving donors and youth in a full-cycle process of fundraising, grantmaking, impact assessment, and follow-up reporting, the organization builds trust and deepens engagement because transparency and participation make philanthropy tangible, accountable, and educationally transformative.