Amherst College Trustees
Amherst College Trustees is a public charity based in Amherst, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports 11 grants totaling $867,418, all to recipients in Massachusetts; the listed grants were for general support.
Amherst College Trustees at a glance
In short: Amherst College Trustees gave $867K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $79K), mostly in Massachusetts. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $867,418
- -17.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $78,856
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $6,205,673,227
- +11.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Amherst College Trustees
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 5000 Controllers Office, Amherst, MA 01002
Phone: (413) 542-2101
Website: https://amherst.edu
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Amherst College Trustees
ASECS/Folger Fellowship
Amherst College Trustees
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
ASECS/Folger Short Term Fellowships Grant
Amherst College Trustees
Amount
US $4,000 - US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Folger Institute Long-term Fellowship Grant
Amherst College Trustees
Amount
US $70,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Amherst College Trustees funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Friends of the Jones Library System Inc ($250K). Together the top 10 received $856K.
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 52 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Amherst College Trustees open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $72K; repeat grants $80K. How we count
Medians: $72K first-time, $43K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $337K (2019) to $1.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $867K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of the Jones Library System Inc Amherst, MA | General Support | $250,000 |
| Town of Amherst Amherst, MA | General Support | $225,000 |
| Amherst Public Schools Amherst, MA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Framingham, MA | General Support | $71,900 |
| Amherst Golf Club Inc Amherst, MA | General Support | $55,000 |
| Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc Northampton, MA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Woodside Children's Center Amherst, MA | General Support | $35,225 |
| Amherst Business Improvement District Inc Amherst, MA | General Support | $32,000 |
| The Downtown Amherst Foundation Inc Amherst, MA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Amherst, MA | General Support | $11,750 |
Ready to take the next step with Amherst College Trustees?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,205,673,227 | $775,712,238 | $454,190,460 | $867,418 | 11 | $537,222,044 |
| 2024 | $5,575,113,189 | $433,011,031 | $419,424,157 | $1,057,055 | 14 | $198,099,738 |
| 2023 | $5,302,371,715 | $379,275,079 | $401,185,430 | $447,688 | 8 | $161,133,221 |
| 2022 | $5,256,232,111 | $604,902,946 | $387,228,754 | $630,773 | 13 | $366,092,418 |
| 2021 | $5,830,785,672 | $531,451,791 | $359,863,522 | $495,617 | 6 | $342,647,907 |
| 2020 | $4,260,760,426 | $407,702,412 | $360,484,214 | $479,804 | 11 | $210,686,240 |
| 2019 | $4,074,344,424 | $411,454,340 | $338,253,116 | $336,563 | 7 | $189,082,561 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing states that the endowment’s mission is to provide financial support so the College can offer a quality education to all admitted students, while supporting current and future spending needs and preserving the endowment in perpetuity. It says endowment distributions support, among other things, financial aid, named professorships, faculty and student research, academic support, scientific equipment, athletics, internships, and fellowships and prizes.
The 2025 grants listed were all for general support. Among the recipients, the Downtown Amherst Foundation describes its mission as building culture, beauty, and programming in downtown Amherst; the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce says it promotes the educational, civic, social, commercial, agricultural, and economic welfare of Amherst and the vicinity; and New England Public Media says it enriches lives in western Massachusetts through programming that nurtures community, civility, and curiosity.
The Trustees also fund Folger short-term fellowships for scholars conducting collection-based research. Listed programs include fellowships in Shakespeare studies and early modern culture, including research on women, genders, and sexualities. These provide support to participating scholars rather than grants to outside organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trustees reported 11 grants totaling $867,418. Grants ranged from $11,543 to $250,000, with a median of $50,000. Each itemized grant was designated for general support.
The largest listed awards were $250,000 to Friends of the Jones Library System, $225,000 to the Town of Amherst, $100,000 to Amherst Public Schools, $71,900 to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and $55,000 to Amherst Golf Club. Other recipients included Cooley Dickinson Hospital ($50,000), Woodside Children’s Center ($35,225), Amherst Business Improvement District ($32,000), the Downtown Amherst Foundation ($25,000), Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce ($11,750), and New England Public Media ($11,543).
No application process or instructions for the Trustees’ organizational grants are stated in the available materials.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Elliott as president. Listed trustees are Mindy Berman, Mary Elizabeth Cisneros, Bonnie Barsamian Dunn, Naana Frimpong, Douglas Grissom, Jason Grosfeld, Rejji Hayes, Matthew Hulsizer, and Phillip Jackson.
Amherst College Trustees is led by Michael Elliott, President on every filing since 2023; 19 of 41 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Elliott
President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$310K (2023) → $698K (2025)
Chantal E. Kordula
Trustee - Chair
Trustee → Trustee - Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Bates
Director of Operations
Director of Operations-Investments → Director of Operations, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$408K (2023) → $476K (2025)
Christine Noyer Seaver
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David A. Novak
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David W. Maclennan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas C. Grissom
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dwight M. Poler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Elizabeth Cisneros
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul M. Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phillip A. Jackson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shirley M. Tilghman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Simon C. Krinsky
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Shelburne
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William O'Malley
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Hulsizer
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rejji Hayes
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Naana Frimpong
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Barsamian Dunn
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gretchen Sisson
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ji-Yeun Lee
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Grosfeld
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mindy Berman
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Austin Sarat
Professor of Poli Sci & Ljst
Prof of Poli Sci & Ljst → Prof of Poli Sci & Law, 2024
Prof of Poli Sci & Law → Professor of Poli Sci & Ljst, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$383K (2019) → $380K (2025)
Catherine Epstein
Provost & Dean Faculty
Provost & Dean of Facult → Provost & Dean of Faculty, 2024
Provost & Dean of Faculty → Provost & Dean Faculty, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$289K (2019) → $440K (2025)
Elizabeth Cannon Smith
Chief Advancement Officer
Chief Adv Officer → Chief Advancement Officer, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$183K (2019) → $424K (2025)
Lisa Rutherford
Chief Policy Officer & General Counsel
General Counsel & Senior Adv to President → General Counsel & Senior Adv to Pr, 2024
General Counsel & Senior Adv to Pr → Chief Policy Officer & General Counsel, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$340K (2019) → $445K (2025)
Michael Witmore
Dir-Folger Sharespeare Lib
Director of Folger Shakespear Lib → Director - Folger Shakespeare Library, 2024
Director - Folger Shakespeare Library → Dir-Folger Sharespeare Lib, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$436K (2019) → $901K (2025)
Stephen Nigro
Controller
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$129K (2019) → $179K (2025)
Letitia Johnson
Chief Investment Officer
Chief Inv. Officer → Chief Investment Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$156K (2020) → $1.7M (2025)
Matthew McGann
Dean of Admission & Finance Aid
Dean of Admission & Finance Aid → Dean of Admission & Financial Aid, 2021
Dean of Admission & Financial Aid → Dean of Admission & Finance Aid, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$223K (2020) → $362K (2025)
Jack Cheney
Professor of Geology
A. Prov. & A. Dean of Faculty → Professor of Geology, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$285K (2021) → $405K (2025)
Ruth Taylor-Kidd
Chief Financial Officer - Folger
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$231K (2022) → $280K (2025)
Thomas Dwyer
Associate CFO & Former Interim CFO
Interim CFO → Associate CFO, 2024
Associate CFO → Associate CFO & Former Interim CFO, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$235K (2022) → $344K (2025)
Michael Thomas
Chief Finance & Administrator Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$383K (2024) → $504K (2025)
Shane Levy
Investment Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$346K (2023) → $404K (2025)
Angie Tissi-Gassoway
Chief Student Aff & Dean Students
Chf Stud Aff & Dean Stu → Chief Student Aff & Dean Students, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$271K (2024) → $291K (2025)
Farah Karim-Cooper
Dir-Folger Shakespeare Lib
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$125K (2025)
Gregory Prickman
Int Dir-Folger Shakesp. Lib
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$399K (2025)
Martha Umphrey
Provost & Dean of Faculty
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$262K (2025)
Former officers (33)
- Former: Andrew J. Nussbaum (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Carolyn Biddy Martin (2019–2024) — President Emeritius
- Former: Eunei Lee (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: James Brassord (2019–2024) — Former Chief of Campus Ops
- Former: Nicolas D. Zerbib (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Sandra Genelius (2019–2024) — Chief Communications Officer
- Former: Theodore W. Beneski (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Elizabeth Cannon-Smith (2020–2024) — Chief Advancement Officer
- Former: Liz Agosto (2023–2024) — Dean of Students
- Former: Arthur W. Koenig (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffery L Bleich (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Sarah Bloom Raskin (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Abbey Silberman Fagin (2021–2023) — Folger Chief Adv Officer
- Former: Kathleen Pertzborn (2022–2023) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Bett K. Schumacher (2019–2022) — Chief of Staff & Secretary of Trustees
- Former: Gregory Call (2019–2022) — Professor of Mathematics
- Former: Kevin Weinman (2019–2022) — Chief Financial & Administrator Officer
- Former: Kimberlyn R. Leary (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Hikaru Kozuma (2020–2022) — Chief Student Affairs Officer
- Former: Allen Hart (2022) — Professor of Psychology
- Former: Christopher Menard (2019–2021) — Former Chief Adv Officer
- Former: John S. Middleton (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Susannah R. Grant (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffrey L. Bleich (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Christopher S Lehane (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: David A Sutphen (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph F Quinn (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Mauricia Geissler (2019–2020) — Chief Invest. Officer
- Former: Suzanne Coffey (2019–2020) — Assistant to the President
- Former: John Dailey (2020) — Director of Investments
- Former: Gretchen Dwyer (2019) — Executive Director of Development
- Former: Katherine Fretwell (2019) — Fmr Dean Admission & Finance Aid
- Former: Patrick Fitzgerald (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1.7M, to Letitia Johnson (Chief Investment Officer). 19 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Amherst College Trustees
How much does Amherst College Trustees give each year?
Amherst College Trustees gave $867K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 14 grants.
What is Amherst College Trustees's typical grant size?
Amherst College Trustees's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $78,856, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Amherst College Trustees that year got $72K on average.
Where does Amherst College Trustees give grants?
Amherst College Trustees gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Amherst, MA (8 grants).
Does Amherst College Trustees give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Amherst College Trustees's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Amherst College Trustees's largest grantees?
Amherst College Trustees's largest 2025 grantees include Friends of the Jones Library System Inc ($250,000), Town of Amherst ($225,000) and Amherst Public Schools ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Amherst College Trustees?
Amherst College Trustees reported $6.2B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $775.7M.
What does Amherst College Trustees fund?
The filing states that the endowment’s mission is to provide financial support so the College can offer a quality education to all admitted students, while supporting current and future spending needs and preserving the endowment in perpetuity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Amherst College Trustees?
Amherst College Trustees has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check amherst.edu for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Amherst College Trustees's EIN?
Amherst College Trustees's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2103542. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
Live grants for the work Amherst College Trustees funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Amherst College Trustees's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Amherst College Trustees funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/amherst-college-trustees-morg_15f8a11452a24c63b6aae67a3c45a207
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_042103542_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Amherst College Trustees funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/amherst-college-trustees-morg_15f8a11452a24c63b6aae67a3c45a207},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Amherst College Trustees's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Amherst College Trustees down — hundreds of funders to go?