Doris L Benz Trust
The Doris L Benz Trust is a private foundation established in 1984, based in Exeter, New Hampshire. The trust supports charitable organizations and awards scholarships to students in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The foundation was created by Doris L. Benz, who maintained homes in Lynn, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire and was an avid book collector, with many of her books donated to the Dartmouth College Library.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.1M
-2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$517K
+10.3% YoY
Grant Count
20
+5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+4.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Doris L Benz Trust reported a distributable amount of $570K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's primary funding areas include:
- Higher education
- Social and human services
- Health and wellness
- Children and youth services, including those in foster care
- Arts and culture
- Scholarships for students
The foundation provides both operating funds to local nonprofits and scholarship support for students.
Grantmaking
The trust has also provided six-figure grants to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, which manages the Doris L. Benz Trust scholarship program.
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
Average Grant
amount: $27,600
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily supports organizations and students in:
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
Scholarship Focus:
- Students graduating from Interlakes Regional High School in Sandwich, New Hampshire
- Students graduating from any high school in Carroll County, New Hampshire
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $6,148,188–$6,285,019
Annual Giving: $517,418–$525,200
Total Revenues: $281,500–$476,188
Total Expenses: $595,014
Investment Income: $326,194 (with 4.4% increase year-over-year)
EIN: 04-6504871
IRS Classification: 501(c)(92) – Private Foundation
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,148,188 | $6,285,019 | $6,399,939 |
| Revenue | $522,893 | $476,188 | $281,525 |
| Expenses | $659,724 | $595,014 | $680,704 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $553,352 | $503,259 | $561,350 |
| Net Investment Income | $424,165 | $384,433 | $218,982 |
| Distributable Amount | $570,309 | $527,309 | $514,822 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include New Hampshire Charitable Foundation ($251,367), Doris Benz Community Center ($35,000), New England Equine Rescue ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NEW HAMPSHIRE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION CONCORD, NH | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $251,367 |
| FRIENDS OF ROWLEY COUNCIL ON AGING ROWLEY, MA | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| ENDICOTT COLLEGE BEVERLY, MA | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| HUGGINS HOSPITAL WOLFEBORO, NH | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $22,500 |
| DORIS BENZ COMMUNITY CENTER CTR SANDWICH, NH | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $35,000 |
| PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT IPSWICH, MA | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| RED SOX FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| SOUTHERN NH UNIVERSITY MANCHESTER, NH | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| SANDWICH CHILDRENS CENTER SANDWICH, NH | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| NEW ENGLAND EQUINE RESCUE NEWBURY, MA | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ronald P. Weyland – Co-Trustee
- Janice W. Sinclair – Co-Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RONALD P WEYLAND | CO-TRUSTEE | 7 | $35,934 |
| JANICE W SINCLAIR | CO-TRUSTEE | 7 | $35,934 |
Contact Information
Address: 20 Dogtown Road, Exeter, NH 03833-4518
Telephone: 603-303-1128
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Doris L Benz Trust fund?
The trust's primary funding areas include: • Higher education • Social and human services • Health and wellness • Children and youth services, including those in foster care • Arts and culture • Scholarships for students The foundation provides both operating funds to local nonprofits and scholarship support for students.
How do I apply for a grant from Doris L Benz Trust?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $259,087 • Average grant amount: $27,600 • Median grant amount: $15,000 • Total giving: $517,418–$525,200 (most recent fiscal year) • Number of grants: 19 **Recent Grants:** • New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: $239,342 (2024) • Building Dreams for Marines: $20,000 (2024) • Center Harbor Firefighters Association: $20,000 (2024) The trust has also provided six-figure grants to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, which…
Where does Doris L Benz Trust make grants?
The trust primarily supports organizations and students in: • New Hampshire • Massachusetts **Scholarship Focus:** • Students graduating from Interlakes Regional High School in Sandwich, New Hampshire • Students graduating from any high school in Carroll County, New Hampshire
What size grants does Doris L Benz Trust award?
In 2025, Doris L Benz Trust awarded 20 grants totaling $517K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Doris L Benz Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Doris L Benz Trust reported a distributable amount of $570K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Doris L Benz Trust's EIN?
Doris L Benz Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6504871. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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