Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 04-6462394

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust is a private foundation, based in Boston, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $502K in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 8 grants totaling $35K. Net investment income was $29K.

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust at a glance

In short: Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust gave $35K across 8 grants in 2026 (avg $4K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2026)
$35,000
-10.3% vs 2025
Grants made (2026)
8
+14.3% vs 2025
Average grant
$4,375
-21.5% vs 2025
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$502,166
-4.0% vs 2025
Primary geography
Massachusetts (94% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated September 2026.

Who Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2026

Carroll Center for the Blind: $5KCarroll Center for the Blind$5KMassachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary: $5KMassachusetts Eye & EarInfirmary$5KMilton Academy: $5KMilton Academy$5KWellfleet Food Pantry: $5KWellfleet Food Pantry$5KYMCA of Greater Boston: $5KYMCA of Greater Boston$5KFleet Fund Inc: $4KFleet Fund Inc$4KMa Audobon Society: $4KMa Audobon Society$4KConsequence Forum: $2KConsequence Forum$2K

The largest 2026 recipient was Carroll Center for the Blind ($5K). Together the top 8 received $35K.

Grant Size Distribution

41 grants across all recorded years

41<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.

Cities

BostonLincolnNewtonWellfleetBrooklineHarwich PortLas VegasLynnVershireDanversMiltonWellesley

How Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust gives

  • Giving fell 31% from 2023 to 2026. Method
  • In 2026 it paid out 75% 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

$0$20K$40K$60K8 grants2021 7 grants2022 10 grants2023 9 grants2024 7 grants2025 8 grants2026

From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2026) to $51K (2023). In 2026 it made 8 grants totaling $35K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Carroll Center for the Blind Newton, MAGeneral Fund$5,000
Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Boston, MAGeneral Fund$5,000
Milton Academy Milton, MAGeneral Fund$5,000
Wellfleet Food Pantry Wellfleet, MAGeneral Fund$5,000
YMCA of Greater Boston Boston, MAGeneral Fund$5,000
Fleet Fund Inc Wellfleet, MAGeneral Fund$4,000
Ma Audobon Society Lincoln, MAGeneral Fund$4,000
Consequence Forum Las Vegas, NVGeneral Fund$2,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2026$502,166$44,253$65,106$35,0008$49,744$28,891$66,482
2025$523,014$23,889$90,176$39,0007$64,134$10,426$63,388
2024$589,229$40,018$83,366$44,0009$68,485$25,137$61,303
2023$632,577$38,739$71,942$51,00010$63,848$30,645$61,262
2022$665,782$40,327$55,523$40,0007$50,058$27,741$59,660
2021$680,978$33,000$61,806$36,0008—$28,087$50,683

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust reported a distributable amount of $66K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust's 2026 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.

Officers on the 2026 filing

  • F. Curtis Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    $4K (2021) → $5K (2026)

  • Cameron Curtis Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    $10K (2025) → $5K (2026)

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Elizabeth Van Dorn Dec'd (2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Elizabeth Van Dorn (2021–2022) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2026 IRS filing

F Curtis Smith — Trustee: $5KF Curtis SmithTrustee$5KCameron Curtis Smith — Trustee: $5KCameron Curtis SmithTrustee$5K

The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $5K, to F Curtis Smith (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust

How much does Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust give each year?

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust gave $35K across 8 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $39K across 7 grants.

What is Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust's typical grant size?

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust's median grant in 2026 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,375, across 8 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust give grants?

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Nevada (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants) and Wellfleet, MA (2 grants).

Does Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust's largest grantees?

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust's largest 2026 grantees include Carroll Center for the Blind ($5,000), Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary ($5,000) and Milton Academy ($5,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.

How large is Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust?

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust reported $502K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66K (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 is Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust's EIN?

Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6462394. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 20, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Ellen Abbott Gilman Trust'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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