Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation
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.
Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $284,484
- +38.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $56,897
- +11.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $2,222,247
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maine (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
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
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 21 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $115K (2023) to $284K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $284K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund Boothbay Harbor, ME | General Charitable Purpose | $100,000 |
| Boothbay Region YMCA Boothbay Harbor, ME | General Charitable Purpose | $100,000 |
| Hearty Roots Bremen, ME | General Support | $50,000 |
| Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club Foundation Boothbay Harbor, ME | General Charitable Purpose | $30,000 |
| Boothbay Region Food Pantry Boothbay Harbor, ME | General Charitable Purpose | $4,484 |
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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 | $2,222,247 | $337,313 | $337,526 | $284,484 | 5 | $293,775 | $312,619 | $152,775 |
| 2024 | $2,221,501 | $370,613 | $257,861 | $205,000 | 4 | $215,237 | $327,133 | $147,695 |
| 2023 | $2,108,360 | $345,947 | $154,196 | $115,000 | 4 | $123,269 | $313,836 | $133,553 |
| 2022 | $1,955,350 | $152,482 | $224,267 | $180,000 | 1 | $190,407 | $118,849 | $141,458 |
| 2021 | $2,035,485 | $323,607 | $184,346 | $135,150 | 7 | $146,676 | $285,737 | $156,062 |
| 2020 | $1,886,249 | $93,843 | $256,637 | $206,478 | 10 | — | $82,615 | $140,780 |
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.
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
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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
Live grants for the work Chester & Muriel Dawes Charitable Foundation funds
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