Gilson Family Foundation Inc
Gilson Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Concord, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing lists 70 charitable grants totaling $1,764,536, including support for Massachusetts and Colorado organizations working in areas such as food assistance, homelessness prevention, and children’s needs.
Gilson Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Gilson Family Foundation Inc gave $1.8M across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Massachusetts. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,764,536
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,208
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $32,061,214
- +8.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (14 of 69, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (86% 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 Gilson Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 199 Independence Road, Concord, MA 01742
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gilson Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cradles to Crayons ($150K). Together the top 10 received $732K.
Grant Size Distribution
255 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 213 grants of 255 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 9% to Colorado, 2% to the District of Columbia, 2% to New Hampshire, and 1% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gilson Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 69 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 52% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 146% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $517K (2021) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cradles to Crayons Boston, MA | Charitable Donation | $150,000 |
| Essex County Community Foundation Danvers, MA | Charitable Donation | $110,000 |
| Open Table Maynard, MA | Charitable Donation | $100,500 |
| Jog Your Memory Needham, MA | Charitable Donation | $60,000 |
| Gaining Ground Concord, MA | Charitable Donation | $55,500 |
| Playball Foundation Concord, MA | Charitable Donation | $53,500 |
| Metro Caring Denver, CO | Charitable Donation | $52,000 |
| Pittsfield High School Pittsfield, MA | Charitable Donation | $50,000 |
| Berkshire Taconic Community Foundat Sheffield, MA | Charitable Donation | $50,000 |
| Community Foundation for Metrowest Natick, MA | Charitable Donation | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gilson Family Foundation Inc?
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 | $32,061,214 | $2,018,375 | $2,049,784 | $1,764,536 | 70 | $2,044,923 | $2,043,768 | $1,400,197 |
| 2024 | $29,683,302 | $7,442,581 | $1,726,272 | $1,533,733 | 63 | $1,716,534 | $2,556,535 | $1,379,760 |
| 2023 | $23,298,924 | $3,761,772 | $1,442,346 | $1,309,646 | 54 | $1,813,931 | $1,181,267 | $1,056,377 |
| 2022 | $20,819,872 | $2,822,933 | $1,282,172 | $1,157,963 | 46 | $1,232,697 | $662,150 | $964,711 |
| 2021 | $19,167,493 | $3,824,329 | $614,495 | $516,775 | 22 | $536,150 | $833,299 | $505,820 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gilson Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M 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 include organizations whose work, as described by the organizations themselves, addresses a range of community needs. Cradles to Crayons says it provides essential items to children in homeless or low-income situations. Open Table describes its work as providing healthy, culturally appropriate food through pantry and meal programs. Gaining Ground says it grows and distributes fresh, organic produce for hunger relief and provides environmental education. Metro Caring describes its work as meeting immediate needs for nutritious food while addressing the root causes of hunger.
Other 2025 grantees include Community Foundation for MetroWest, which says it provides financial and educational resources to local nonprofits and shares regional data; the Greater Boston Food Bank, which describes its work as acquiring, sorting, and distributing food; Dignity Matters, which says it provides feminine hygiene products to women in need; and Families in Transition, which says it works to prevent and break the cycle of homelessness.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 70 grants totaling $1,764,536. Awards ranged from $500 to $150,000, with a median grant of $20,000. Its largest grants included $150,000 to Cradles to Crayons, $110,000 to Essex County Community Foundation, $100,500 to Open Table, $60,000 to Jog Your Memory, and $55,500 to Gaining Ground. Other notable awards included $53,500 to Playball Foundation, $52,000 to Metro Caring, and $50,000 each to Pittsfield High School, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Community Foundation for MetroWest, and the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michelle Spina Schmidt as president and Peter John Spina and Mary Gilson Spina as directors.
Gilson Family Foundation Inc is led by Michelle Spina Schmidt, President on every filing since 2021; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michelle Spina Schmidt
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $50K (2025)
Peter John Spina
Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $50K (2025)
Mary Gilson Spina
Director
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
$16K (2024) → $32K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Michael J. Eschelbacher (2021–2024) — Clerk
- Former: Lucy Gilson (2021–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $50K, to Michelle Spina Schmidt (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Gilson Family Foundation Inc
How much does Gilson Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Gilson Family Foundation Inc gave $1.8M across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 63 grants.
What is Gilson Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Gilson Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $25,208, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gilson Family Foundation Inc that year got $11K on average.
Where does Gilson Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Gilson Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsfield, MA (11 grants), Great Barrington, MA (8 grants), Boston, MA (5 grants) and Denver, CO (5 grants).
Does Gilson Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 70 grants with a stated purpose on Gilson Family Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Donation" (68 grants).
Who are Gilson Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Gilson Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Cradles to Crayons ($150,000), Essex County Community Foundation ($110,000) and Open Table ($100,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gilson Family Foundation Inc?
Gilson Family Foundation Inc reported $32.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gilson Family Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose work, as described by the organizations themselves, addresses a range of community needs. Cradles to Crayons says it provides essential items to children in homeless or low-income situations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gilson Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it 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 Gilson Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Gilson Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4379483. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Gilson Family Foundation Inc 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gilson Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gilson Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gilson-family-foundation-inc-morg_ae9d7598e19d4a60a0701d9232fb273d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_274379483_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gilson Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gilson-family-foundation-inc-morg_ae9d7598e19d4a60a0701d9232fb273d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Gilson Family Foundation Inc'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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