Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn
The Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation maintains offices at c/o NEIM, 24 Federal Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02110-2516.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
+3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$155K
-76.5% YoY
Grant Count
18
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-64.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn reported a distributable amount of $150K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation maintains a general fund that supports charitable purposes across these areas.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded grants totaling $664,986 in its most recent fiscal year (2024), with the last grants awarded in 2024.
Grant Range
$5,000–$85,000
Average Grant
amount: $23,659
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, with grants also extending to other states including California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Filing Year: 2024
- Total Assets: $1,387,553
- Total Giving: $664,986
- Total Revenue: $462,244
- Total Expenses: $697,001
- Giving Rate: 44.2%
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,430,276 | $1,387,553 | $1,622,310 |
| Revenue | $232,902 | $462,244 | $570,301 |
| Expenses | $190,179 | $697,001 | $656,880 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $159,828 | $664,986 | $620,182 |
| Net Investment Income | $232,902 | $462,244 | $570,301 |
| Distributable Amount | $150,365 | $156,558 | $168,510 |
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
127 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Community Servings ($15,000), Gore Place Society ($15,000), West Roxbury Ymca ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 152 COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $10,000 |
| ARNOLD ARBORETUM OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $10,000 |
| BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $10,000 |
| COMMUNITY SERVINGS JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $15,000 |
| EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| GORE PLACE SOCIETY WATHAM, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $15,000 |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $10,000 |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| NORTH BENNET STREET SCHOOL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John F Francini – Part-time Trustee (1 hour per week)
- Louise C Riemer – Part-time Trustee (1 hour per week)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN F FRANCINISEE STATEMENT | PART-TIME TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LOUISE C RIEMER | PART-TIME TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| THOMAS B MOORE | PART-TIME TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LOUISE C RIEMER II | PART-TIME TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH REECE | PART-TIME TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation maintains a general fund that supports charitable purposes across these areas.
How do I apply for a grant from Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $5,000–$85,000 • Median grant amount: $23,659 • Average grant amount: $23,659 • Number of grants awarded: 36 (based on most recent filing) **Recent Activity:** The foundation awarded grants totaling $664,986 in its most recent fiscal year (2024), with the last grants awarded in 2024.
Where does Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, with grants also extending to other states including California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.
What size grants does Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn award?
In 2025, Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn awarded 18 grants totaling $155K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn reported a distributable amount of $150K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's EIN?
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3432161. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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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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