Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust is a private foundation, based in Nantucket, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $730K. Net investment income was $293K.
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust gave $730K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $104K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $730,000
- +13.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $104,286
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $120,000
- Total assets
- $1,663,477
- -20.9% vs 2024
- 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 September 2026.
Who Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was A Safe Place ($120K). Together the top 7 received $730K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 23 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust gives
- Giving grew 3550% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 525% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2022) to $730K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $730K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Safe Place Nantucket, MA | Contribution to charitable organization committed to improving quality of life. | $120,000 |
| Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs Nantucket, MA | Contribution to charitable organization committed to improving quality of life. | $120,000 |
| NFFRA Food Bank Nantucket, MA | Contribution to charitable organization committed to improving quality of life. | $120,000 |
| The Homestead Nantucket, MA | Contribution to charitable organization committed to improving quality of life. | $120,000 |
| Nantucket Preservation Trust Nantucket, MA | Contribution to charitable organization committed to improving quality of life. | $100,000 |
| Pascon Nantucket, MA | Contribution to charitable organization committed to improving quality of life. | $100,000 |
| The Trustees Boston, MA | Contribution to charitable organization committed to improving quality of life. | $50,000 |
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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 | $1,663,477 | $297,124 | $736,940 | $730,000 | 7 | $731,470 | $293,154 | $139,249 |
| 2024 | $2,103,293 | $259,325 | $648,969 | $645,000 | 6 | $646,680 | $257,925 | $151,718 |
| 2023 | $2,492,937 | $43,035 | $70,179 | $64,000 | 4 | $69,294 | $42,035 | $123,507 |
| 2022 | $2,520,081 | $37,030 | $22,149 | $20,000 | 2 | $20,000 | $37,504 | $115,436 |
| 2021 | $2,505,200 | $2,625,200 | $120,000 | $120,000 | 4 | $120,000 | — | $12,245 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $139K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
L. Teal Colliton
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Sziklas
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust
How much does Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust give each year?
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust gave $730K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $645K across 6 grants.
What is Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $120,000, and its average grant was $104,286, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust give grants?
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust 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 Nantucket, MA (6 grants).
Does Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include A Safe Place ($120,000), Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs ($120,000) and NFFRA Food Bank ($120,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust?
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $731K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $139K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's EIN?
Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2889015. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harriet W Backus Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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