Chestnut Fund
Chestnut Fund is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Chestnut Fund at a glance
In short: Chestnut Fund gave $2.9M across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $978K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,935,000
- -16.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $978,333
- -16.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $350,000
- Total assets
- $54,884,454
- +8.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Ohio (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Chestnut Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Gs 1 Post Office Square Fl 2, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 482-1776
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chestnut Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lupine Fund Co Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($2.5M). Together the top 3 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 29 grants of 97 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to Ohio, 12% to Georgia, and 4% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Chestnut Fund gives
- Giving fell 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.9M (2024) to $6.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lupine Fund Co Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Cincinnati, OH | General Operating Support | $2,465,000 |
| Emmas Fund Decatur, GA | General Operating Support | $350,000 |
| Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Washington, DC | Greenstein Fund for a Just Future | $120,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $54,884,454 | $8,055,965 | $3,991,509 | $2,935,000 | 3 | $3,243,754 | $7,301,114 | $3,348,532 |
| 2023 | $50,821,793 | $2,730,883 | $4,604,665 | $3,505,000 | 3 | $3,808,877 | $1,971,940 | $3,266,377 |
| 2022 | $52,696,026 | $3,505,414 | $6,089,755 | $4,926,685 | 25 | $5,289,794 | $2,806,539 | $3,451,684 |
| 2021 | $55,278,121 | $8,262,026 | $5,554,263 | $4,225,000 | 28 | $4,597,119 | $7,354,213 | $3,711,358 |
| 2020 | $52,570,358 | $3,621,528 | $7,958,735 | $6,859,500 | 38 | — | $2,985,328 | $3,209,232 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chestnut Fund reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for Chestnut Fund is provided. One 2024 grantee, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, describes its mission as promoting public understanding and providing factual information, data, and analysis about government programs and policies affecting low- and moderate-income families and individuals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Chestnut Fund reported three grants totaling $2,935,000. Grant amounts ranged from $120,000 to $2,465,000, with a median of $350,000.
The largest grants were $2,465,000 to LUPINE FUND CO FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT FUND for general operating support; $350,000 to EMMAS FUND for general operating support; and $120,000 to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for the Greenstein Fund for a Just Future.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jane Stein, Adam Stein, Gerda Stein, and Alan Rottenberg as trustees.
Chestnut Fund's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adam Stein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alan Rottenberg
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerda Stein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Stein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Chestnut Fund
How much does Chestnut Fund give each year?
Chestnut Fund gave $2.9M across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 3 grants.
What is Chestnut Fund's typical grant size?
Chestnut Fund's median grant in 2024 was $350,000, and its average grant was $978,333, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Chestnut Fund give grants?
Chestnut Fund gives mostly in Ohio: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (12%).
Does Chestnut Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Chestnut Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Chestnut Fund?
Chestnut Fund reported $54.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.3M (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 Chestnut Fund fund?
No mission statement for Chestnut Fund is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chestnut Fund?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chestnut Fund's EIN?
Chestnut Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-7017184. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Chestnut Fund 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Chestnut Fund'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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