Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 81-3984747

Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in Boston, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $284K. Net investment income was $313K.

Key facts about Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation

In short: Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation gave $284K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $57K), mostly in Maine. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
81-3984747
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$284,484
Grants made (2025)
5
Average grant
$56,897
Median grant
$50,000
Total assets
$2,222,247
Primary geography
Maine (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.2M

+0.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$284K

+38.8% YoY

Grant Count

5

+25.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$57K

+11.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $153K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 58% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 192% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of all 5 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

Boothbay HarborBar HarborJamaica PlainBoothbayBremenBristolWoburnBostonPortland

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K10 grants20207 grants20211 grants20224 grants20234 grants20245 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $115K (2023) to $284K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $284K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2025

Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund: $100KBoothbay Region Student AidFund$100KBoothbay Region YMCA: $100KBoothbay Region YMCA$100KHearty Roots: $50KHearty Roots$50KBoothbay Harbor Rotary Club Foundation: $30KBoothbay Harbor Rotary ClubFoundation$30KBoothbay Region Food Pantry: $4KBoothbay Region Food Pantry$4K

The largest 2025 recipient was Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund ($100K). Together the top 5 received $284K.

Grant Size Distribution

21 grants across all recorded years

13<$50K5$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 21 (62%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund Boothbay Harbor, MEGeneral Charitable Purpose$100,000
Boothbay Region YMCA Boothbay Harbor, MEGeneral Charitable Purpose$100,000
Hearty Roots Bremen, MEGeneral Support$50,000
Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club Foundation Boothbay Harbor, MEGeneral Charitable Purpose$30,000
Boothbay Region Food Pantry Boothbay Harbor, MEGeneral Charitable Purpose$4,484

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,222,247$2,221,501$2,108,360
Revenue$337,313$370,613$345,947
Expenses$337,526$257,861$154,196
Qualifying Distributions$293,775$215,237$123,269
Net Investment Income$312,619$327,133$313,836
Distributable Amount$152,775$147,695$133,553

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 23, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 6, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Robert B. Murphy Jr.

    Co-Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $9K (2020) → $9K (2025)

  • Susan M. Reece

    Co-Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $9K (2020) → $9K (2025)

  • Eastern Bank

    Co-Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    $444 (2024) → $0 (2025)

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Cambridge Trust Company (2020–2023) — Co-Trustee

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Robert B Murphy Jr — Co-Trustee: $9KRobert B Murphy JrCo-Trustee$9KSusan M Reece — Co-Trustee: $9KSusan M ReeceCo-Trustee$9K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $9K, to Robert B Murphy Jr (Co-Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation

How much does Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation give each year?

Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation gave $284K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $205K across 4 grants.

What is Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $56,897, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation give grants?

Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boothbay Harbor, ME (4 grants).

Does Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?

Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund ($100,000), Boothbay Region YMCA ($100,000) and Hearty Roots ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation?

Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $294K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $153K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3984747. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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