Jane's Trust Foundation
Jane's Trust Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing lists grants to organizations working in areas including ocean science, climate solutions, conservation, education, reproductive equity, and social justice.
Jane's Trust Foundation at a glance
In short: Jane's Trust Foundation gave $3.3M across 41 grants in 2024 (avg $81K), top state New Hampshire. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,318,880
- -7.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- -12.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $80,948
- +6.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $66,088,327
- -0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (7 of 41, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New Hampshire (27% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jane's Trust Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Hemenway Barnes Llp PO Box 96120, Boston, MA 02196-1209
Phone: (617) 227-7940
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jane's Trust Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
191 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 76 grants of 191 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in New Hampshire (27%), Massachusetts (22%), Vermont (20%), Maine (19%), and New York (8%). The listed grants also included a $125,000 award to Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Jane's Trust Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 41 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $46K; repeat grants $88K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $80K repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2020) to $3.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 41 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences East Boothbay, ME | Climate Change-Related Oceanographic Research | $200,000 |
| Resist Inc Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Island Institute Rockland, ME | Climate Solutions for Our Blue Future | $150,000 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | A Steele Labs Fellowship | $125,000 |
| Mote Marine Laboratory Sarasota, FL | Next Generation Science: Postdoctoral Fellows Program | $125,000 |
| Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc New York, NY | The Climate Catalyst Program | $125,000 |
| Reproductive Equity Now Foundation Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $125,000 |
| University System of New Hampshire Durham, NH | Expanding and Sustaining the UNH Sustainability Fellows | $125,000 |
| Hip Hop Theater Festival Inc New York, NY | General Operating Support | $125,000 |
| Shelburne Farms Shelburne, VT | Climate Change Education Programs | $122,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $66,088,327 | $4,247,606 | $4,550,429 | $3,318,880 | 41 | $3,464,686 | $3,171,018 | $3,743,845 |
| 2023 | $66,333,263 | $2,696,621 | $4,657,048 | $3,579,000 | 47 | $3,685,647 | $1,722,049 | $3,591,712 |
| 2022 | $67,428,443 | $6,862,784 | $5,230,866 | $3,795,704 | 41 | $3,907,663 | $3,478,893 | $3,672,534 |
| 2021 | $65,737,655 | $13,873,859 | $3,973,614 | $2,748,303 | 31 | $2,839,675 | $8,621,019 | $3,883,576 |
| 2020 | $51,990,111 | $10,038,523 | $3,092,595 | $2,459,222 | 31 | — | $5,393,899 | $2,795,578 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jane's Trust Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available grant descriptions show support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences describes its work as research, education, and technology transfer to understand ocean ecosystems. Island Institute says it works with island and coastal communities to navigate climate and economic change. Shelburne Farms describes its mission as cultivating learning for a sustainable future.
Other 2024 recipients include RESIST, which says it supports movements for justice and liberation through resource redistribution and storytelling, and Open Space Institute Land Trust, which says it supports land protection for clean water, recreation, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 41 grants totaling $3,318,880. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $200,000, with a median of $75,000. Notable grants included $200,000 to Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences for climate change-related oceanographic research and $200,000 to RESIST for general operating support. Other grants included $150,000 to Island Institute for climate solutions, $125,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital for a Steele Labs fellowship, and $125,000 to Reproductive Equity Now Foundation for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nancy B. Gardiner, Kurt F. Somerville, Jessica Griffiths, Jean B. Stevenson, and Elizabeth Steele as trustees.
Jane's Trust Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; 2 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kurt F. Somerville
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.3 hrs/week
$38K (2020) → $119K (2024)
Nancy B. Gardiner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.3 hrs/week
$38K (2020) → $119K (2024)
Elizabeth Steele
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean B. Stevenson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Griffiths
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Martha S. Robes (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $119K, to Nancy B Gardiner (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Jane's Trust Foundation
How much does Jane's Trust Foundation give each year?
Jane's Trust Foundation gave $3.3M across 41 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.6M across 47 grants.
What is Jane's Trust Foundation's typical grant size?
Jane's Trust Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $80,948, across 41 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jane's Trust Foundation that year got $46K on average.
Where does Jane's Trust Foundation give grants?
Jane's Trust Foundation's top state is New Hampshire, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (22%) and Vermont (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (7 grants), Concord, NH (5 grants), Portland, ME (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Jane's Trust Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 68% of Jane's Trust Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Jane's Trust Foundation's largest grantees?
Jane's Trust Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences ($200,000), Resist Inc ($200,000) and Island Institute ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Jane's Trust Foundation?
Jane's Trust Foundation reported $66.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.7M (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 does Jane's Trust Foundation fund?
The available grant descriptions show support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences describes its work as research, education, and technology transfer to understand ocean ecosystems. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jane's Trust Foundation?
The foundation 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 Jane's Trust Foundation's EIN?
Jane's Trust Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3422536. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Jane's Trust Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Jane's Trust Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jane-s-trust-foundation-morg_60f1079f661b4398855f6bb15c6ac6cb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273422536_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Jane's Trust Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jane-s-trust-foundation-morg_60f1079f661b4398855f6bb15c6ac6cb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Jane's Trust Foundation'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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