Highstead Foundation Inc
Highstead Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, based in Redding, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $214K. Net investment income was $107K.
Highstead Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Highstead Foundation Inc gave $214K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $43K), mostly in New Hampshire. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $213,870
- -14.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $42,774
- +3.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $5,310,287
- +3.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Hampshire (54% 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 Highstead Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University System of New Hampshire ($114K). Together the top 5 received $214K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 22 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Highstead Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 33% from 2022 to 2025. 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 $214K (2025) to $420K (2023). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $214K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University System of New Hampshire Concord, NH | Support Policy Research | $114,485 |
| Harvard Forest Petersham, MA | Research and Communications Support for Wildlands and Woodlands. | $69,455 |
| Pollinator Pathway Inc Wilton, CT | Restoration of Pollinator Pathways | $20,000 |
| Ecological Health Network Cambridge, MA | Website Development, Participant Recruitment and Compensation | $8,890 |
| The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut New Haven, CT | Article, Outreach, and Map Update | $1,040 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,310,287 | $2,287,584 | $2,078,421 | $213,870 | 5 | $2,029,890 | $107,083 |
| 2024 | $5,111,065 | $2,359,199 | $2,037,244 | $249,252 | 6 | $1,988,713 | $109,593 |
| 2023 | $4,785,074 | $2,520,460 | $2,315,165 | $420,329 | 6 | $2,263,859 | $41,491 |
| 2022 | $4,576,986 | $2,886,309 | $2,308,370 | $321,235 | 3 | $2,259,250 | — |
| 2021 | $3,999,047 | $2,411,241 | $2,175,804 | $295,066 | 2 | — | $12,407 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Highstead Foundation Inc is led by George W. Elkins, Director & Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George W. Elkins
Director & Executive Director
Director, Operations Director & Assistant Treasurer → Director & Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$126K (2021) → $149K (2025)
Dorothy Adams
Director, President & Chairperson of
Director, Chairperson of the Board & President → Director, President & Chairperson of, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Del Tredici
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Scot Medbury
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Susan R. Clark
Director & Secretery
Director & Secretery → Director & Secretary, 2022
Director & Secretary → Director & Secretery, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Elisabeth C. Dudley
Director, President Emeritus & Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry C. Dudley
Director, Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Dudley Plimpton
Director & Vice President
Director & Vice President → Director, Vice President & Treasurer, 2022
Director, Vice President & Treasurer → Director & Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frederick Bland
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank E. Shanley
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina McNamara
Assistant Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: David R. Foster (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Irina Fayman (2021–2022) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: John McGlinchey (2021) — Assistant Treasurer
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 $149K, to George W Elkins (Director, Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Highstead Foundation Inc
How much does Highstead Foundation Inc give each year?
Highstead Foundation Inc gave $214K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $249K across 6 grants.
What is Highstead Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Highstead Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $42,774, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Highstead Foundation Inc give grants?
Highstead Foundation Inc gives mostly in New Hampshire: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (37%) and Connecticut (10%).
Does Highstead Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Highstead Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Highstead Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Highstead Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University System of New Hampshire ($114,485), Harvard Forest ($69,455) and Pollinator Pathway Inc ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Highstead Foundation Inc?
Highstead Foundation Inc reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What is Highstead Foundation Inc?
Highstead Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, based in Redding, CT. It holds $5.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Highstead Foundation Inc's EIN?
Highstead Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1108612. 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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