Beard Family Charitable Trust
The Beard Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation located in Wayland, Massachusetts. It receives investment income and distributes it to preselected charitable organizations qualifying under IRC 501(c)(3).
Beard Family Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Beard Family Charitable Trust gave $166K across 90 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Massachusetts. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $165,700
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 90
- +1.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,841
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $1,102,384
- -5.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (12 of 90, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Beard Family Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Carriage House 134 Boston Post Roa, Wayland, MA 01778
Phone: (508) 358-7098
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Beard Family Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was First Parish Wayland ($28K). Together the top 10 received $112K.
Grant Size Distribution
463 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 462 grants of 463 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 10% to Maine, 7% to Washington, DC, 6% to Connecticut, and 1% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 90 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Beard Family Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 90 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 72% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2024) to $268K (2021). In 2025 it made 90 grants totaling $166K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Parish Wayland Wayland, MA | General Purpose | $28,000 |
| Home for Little Wanderers Boston, MA | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Appalachian Mountain Club Boston, MA | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Bridgeport Public Ed Foundation Bridgeport, CT | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust Topsham, ME | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Trustees of Phillips Academy Andover, MA | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Sudbury Valley Trustees Sudbury, MA | General Purpose | $8,000 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra Boston, MA | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| Unitarian Universalist Association Boston, MA | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| Ploughshares Fund Washington, DC | General Purpose | $4,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Beard Family Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,102,384 | $115,191 | $176,672 | $165,700 | 90 | $165,700 | $109,275 | $231,499 |
| 2024 | $1,163,865 | $198,986 | $156,645 | $149,650 | 89 | $149,650 | $191,978 | $219,248 |
| 2023 | $1,121,524 | $110,844 | $167,370 | $162,025 | 97 | $162,025 | $106,793 | $189,080 |
| 2022 | $1,178,050 | $136,354 | $196,193 | $185,500 | 89 | $185,500 | $123,789 | $181,802 |
| 2021 | $1,237,889 | $416,673 | $275,201 | $268,180 | 98 | $268,180 | $253,581 | $187,476 |
| 2020 | $1,248,303 | $119,055 | $186,786 | $182,005 | 94 | — | $113,774 | $152,462 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Beard Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $231K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust states that it distributes investment income to preselected qualifying charitable organizations. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose work includes conservation, music and arts education, community services, and other charitable activities. These are grantee activities, not stated focus areas of the trust.
For example, Maine Coast Heritage Trust describes its work as advancing conservation of Maine’s lands and waters. The Appalachian Mountain Club says it promotes protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the Appalachian region’s mountains, forests, waters, and trails. The Boston Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as making music and providing educational and training programs. New England Conservatory of Music says it educates and trains musicians of all ages.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust reported 90 grants totaling $165,700. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $28,000, with a median of $500. The largest reported grants included $28,000 to First Parish Wayland and $20,000 to Home for Little Wanderers. Other grants included $10,000 each to Appalachian Mountain Club, Bridgeport Public Education Foundation, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and Trustees of Phillips Academy; and $8,000 to Sudbury Valley Trustees. The listed grant purposes were general purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John E. Beard and Mary S. Beard as trustees. Directors listed are Sarah H. Beard, Andrew D. Beard, Susan S. Beard, Daniel P. Beard, Rosanne O. Beard, Thomas S. Beard, Christine S. Beard, and James H. Steggall.
Beard Family Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 11 officers; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andrew D. Beard
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christine S. Beard
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Daniel P. Beard
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James H. Steggall
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John E. Beard
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary E. Steggall
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary S. Beard
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rosanne O. Beard
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sarah H. Beard
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan S. Beard
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Thomas S. Beard
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Beard Family Charitable Trust
How much does Beard Family Charitable Trust give each year?
Beard Family Charitable Trust gave $166K across 90 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $150K across 89 grants.
What is Beard Family Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Beard Family Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,841, across 90 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Beard Family Charitable Trust that year got $1K on average.
Where does Beard Family Charitable Trust give grants?
Beard Family Charitable Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maine (10%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (24 grants), Washington, DC (9 grants), Wayland, MA (6 grants) and Cambridge, MA (5 grants).
Does Beard Family Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Beard Family Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (90 of 90) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Beard Family Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Beard Family Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include First Parish Wayland ($28,000), Home for Little Wanderers ($20,000) and Appalachian Mountain Club ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Beard Family Charitable Trust?
Beard Family Charitable Trust reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $166K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $231K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Beard Family Charitable Trust fund?
The trust states that it distributes investment income to preselected qualifying charitable organizations. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose work includes conservation, music and arts education, community services, and other charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Beard Family Charitable Trust?
The trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Beard Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
Beard Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6133161. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Beard Family Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Beard Family Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/beard-family-charitable-trust-morg_43a2fb13eb8a426f9e03dd22910c4ba0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046133161_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Beard Family Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/beard-family-charitable-trust-morg_43a2fb13eb8a426f9e03dd22910c4ba0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Beard Family Charitable Trust'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.
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