Gilson Family Foundation Inc
Gilson Family Foundation Inc is a private 501(c)(3) family foundation based in Concord, Massachusetts. Established in 2011, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on charitable distributions across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Gilson Family Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 27-4379483
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,533,733
- Grants made (2024)
- 63
- Average grant
- $24,345
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (31 of 63, 2024)
- Total assets
- $29,683,302
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Gilson Family Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Gilson Family Foundation Inc's 63 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (91%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsfield, MA (11 grants), Great Barrington, MA (6 grants), Boston, MA (5 grants) and Concord, MA (4 grants). None of its 63 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Donation" (61 grants).
Is Gilson Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 31 of 63 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 48% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 67% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 124% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Gilson Family Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Gilson Family Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$29.7M
+27.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+17.1% YoY
Grant Count
63
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gilson Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in impact investing and social ventures, with a focus on organizations working in health, education, and human services sectors.
Grantmaking
The foundation has engaged in impact investing activities, including administering a Philanthropic Opportunity Scan with grantees to identify potential program-related investment opportunities in areas such as capital improvements and equipment refinancing.
Ready to take the next step with Gilson Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Massachusetts
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 63 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $23.3 million
- Total Revenue: $3.76 million
- Total Expenses: $1.44 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $29.7 million
- Total Giving: $1.5 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,683,302 | $23,298,924 | $20,819,872 |
| Revenue | $7,442,581 | $3,761,772 | $2,822,933 |
| Expenses | $1,726,272 | $1,442,346 | $1,282,172 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,716,534 | $1,813,931 | $1,232,697 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,556,535 | $1,181,267 | $662,150 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,379,760 | $1,056,377 | $964,711 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
201 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Cradles to Crayons ($150,220), Open Table ($75,500), Essex County Community Foundation ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CRADLES TO CRAYONS Boston, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $150,220 |
| OPEN TABLE Maynard, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $75,500 |
| ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Danvers, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $75,000 |
| JOG YOUR MEMORY Needham, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $60,000 |
| GAINING GROUND Concord, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $50,500 |
| LEVER North Adams, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $50,110 |
| GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK Boston, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $50,000 |
| PLAYBALL FOUNDATION Concord, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $50,000 |
| PITTSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Pittsfield, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $50,000 |
| BERKSHIRE TACONIC COMMUNITY FOUNDAT Sheffield, MA | CHARITABLE DONATION | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Spina Schmidt | President | 40 | $25,000 |
| Peter John Spina | Director | 40 | $25,000 |
| Mary Gilson Spina | Director | 10 | $16,000 |
| Michael J Eschelbacher | Clerk | 2 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has engaged in impact investing strategy development, partnering with organizations to implement investment clubs and opportunity scans. Two of the foundation's three trustees completed a ten-session Impact Finance Fellowship and participated in impact investing education events. The foundation subsequently helped establish the Massachusetts Investor Club, an SEC-compliant platform for pitching social ventures focused on health, education, and human services.
[PDF] IMPACT REPORT | Cradles to CrayonsContact Information
- Address: 199 Independence Road, Concord, MA 01742-2654
- Telephone: 802-598-6508
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gilson Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in impact investing and social ventures, with a focus on organizations working in health, education, and human services sectors.
How do I apply for a grant from Gilson Family Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 20 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $1,547,221 (2024 fiscal year) • Typical award range: $1,500–$150,260 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Jog Your Memory 5K: $60,000 • Gaining Ground: $50,500 • Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF): $50,000 • Pittsfield High School (among grantees) The foundation has engaged in impact investing activities, including administering a Philanthropic Opportunity Scan with grantees to identify potential program-related investment opportunitie…
Where does Gilson Family Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Massachusetts • Colorado • District of Columbia
What size grants does Gilson Family Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Gilson Family Foundation Inc awarded 63 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gilson Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gilson Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2021–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.