Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, all of which were located in Massachusetts.
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn at a glance
In short: Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn gave $155K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Massachusetts. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $155,000
- -76.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,611
- -64.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,430,276
- +3.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Neim 24 Federal St 9Th Floor, Boston, MA 02110-2516
Phone: (617) 523-3588
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Servings ($15K). Together the top 10 received $115K.
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 121 grants of 127 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 18 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 77% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $155K (2025) to $665K (2022). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $155K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Servings Jamaica Plain, MA | General Funds | $15,000 |
| Gore Place Society Watham, MA | General Funds | $15,000 |
| West Roxbury YMCA West Roxbury, MA | General Funds | $15,000 |
| 152 Commonwealth Foundation Boston, MA | General Funds | $10,000 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MA | General Funds | $10,000 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra Inc Boston, MA | General Funds | $10,000 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | General Funds | $10,000 |
| Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Charlestown, MA | General Funds | $10,000 |
| The Trustees of Reservations Boston, MA | General Funds | $10,000 |
| WGBH Boston, MA | General Funds | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn?
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 | $1,430,276 | $232,902 | $190,179 | $155,000 | 18 | $159,828 | $232,902 | $150,365 |
| 2024 | $1,387,553 | $462,244 | $697,001 | $660,000 | 27 | $664,986 | $462,244 | $156,558 |
| 2023 | $1,622,310 | $570,301 | $656,880 | $615,000 | 26 | $620,182 | $570,301 | $168,510 |
| 2022 | $1,708,889 | $501,824 | $702,347 | $665,000 | 29 | $671,440 | $501,824 | $224,263 |
| 2021 | $1,909,412 | $449,108 | $620,863 | $580,000 | 27 | — | $449,108 | $234,324 |
| 2020 | $2,081,167 | $66,022 | $606,135 | $560,000 | 26 | — | $66,022 | $226,414 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including food and health services, historic preservation, conservation, music, reproductive health, and services for people who are blind or have multiple disabilities. These are examples of the recipient organizations’ work, not stated foundation priorities. For example, Community Servings says it provides medically tailored meals and groceries to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families; Gore Place Society says it preserves and promotes an early 19th-century country estate; and the Trustees of Reservations describes itself as a conservation and preservation nonprofit.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $155,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $15,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest grants were $15,000 each to Community Servings, Gore Place Society, and West Roxbury YMCA. Other reported grants included $10,000 to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Trustees of Reservations, and $5,000 to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Perkins School for the Blind.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following part-time trustees: John F Francinisee Statement, Louise C Riemer, Thomas B Moore, Louise C Riemer II, and Elizabeth Reece.
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John F. Francinisee Statement
Part-Time Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louise C. Riemer
Part-Time Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Reece
Part-Time Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louise C. Riemer II
Part-Time Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas B. Moore
Part-Time Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: K. Davis Riemer (2020–2023) — Part-Time 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.
Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn
How much does Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn give each year?
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn gave $155K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $660K across 27 grants.
What is Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's typical grant size?
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $8,611, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn give grants?
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (10 grants) and Jamaica Plain, MA (2 grants).
Does Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's largest grantees?
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's largest 2025 grantees include Community Servings ($15,000), Gore Place Society ($15,000) and West Roxbury YMCA ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn?
Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $160K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $150K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including food and health services, historic preservation, conservation, music, reproductive health, and services for people who are blind or have multiple disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elizabeth-t-fessenden-charitable-fdn-morg_5bfd4b669371488ea0b8fda8ffda8e77
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223432161_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elizabeth-t-fessenden-charitable-fdn-morg_5bfd4b669371488ea0b8fda8ffda8e77},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Elizabeth T Fessenden Charitable Fdn'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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