Lawrence M Hilton Foundation
The Lawrence M Hilton Foundation is a private foundation based in Trenton, New Jersey. In its 2025 filing, it reported grants to charitable organizations, including arts organizations, radio stations, and community-development organizations.
Lawrence M Hilton Foundation at a glance
In short: Lawrence M Hilton Foundation gave $38K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $37,965
- -5.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +300.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,164
- -76.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,100
- Total assets
- $761,530
- +66.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Lawrence M Hilton Foundation
- 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: 20 S Montgomery St PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: (609) 802-3057
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lawrence M Hilton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Capital Philharmonic ($15K). Together the top 10 received $37K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 22 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey (89%), New York (10%), and Pennsylvania (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How Lawrence M Hilton Foundation gives
- 17% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 90% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 150% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $10K (2023) to $40K (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $38K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Philharmonic Trenton, NJ | To Support the Organizations Mission | $14,885 |
| Trenton Community a-Team Trenton, NJ | To support the organizations mission of promoting the art of home-challenged artists | $5,000 |
| Capital Health Trenton, NJ | To support capital healths mission in exchange for a memorial bench | $4,230 |
| Passage Theatre Company Trenton, NJ | To provide cash and other support to the theatre | $3,000 |
| Woodekin Theatre New York, NY | New Federal Theatre | $3,000 |
| Afar Burlington, NJ | To support afars mission as a sober living umbrella organization | $2,500 |
| WBGO Newark, NJ | To Support Public Radio Station Jazz 88.3 FM | $1,700 |
| New Brunswick Jazz Project New Brunswick, NJ | To Support the Organizations Mission | $1,500 |
| Shiloh Community Development Corporation Trenton, NJ | To support shilohs mission of improving the quality of life for residents of greater trenton | $1,000 |
| The Tank New York, NY | To Support the Theatre and Plays | $500 |
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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 | $761,530 | $365,917 | $63,302 | $37,965 | 12 | $37,965 | $71,032 | $25,231 |
| 2024 | $457,314 | $293,738 | $46,050 | $40,000 | 3 | $45,800 | — | — |
| 2023 | $198,661 | $31,292 | $10,250 | $10,000 | 1 | — | $31,292 | — |
| 2022 | $195,988 | $221,500 | — | $20,000 | 2 | $20,000 | — | — |
| 2021 | — | $38,163 | $16,000 | $16,000 | 4 | $32,000 | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lawrence M Hilton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in the arts, public radio, health, sober living, and community development. For example, Passage Theatre Company describes its work as creating and producing socially relevant new plays and community-devised arts programming. Shiloh Community Development Corporation says it seeks to improve quality of life in Trenton and neighboring communities through services that include cultural arts, education, health education, and financial literacy. The Tank describes itself as a Manhattan-based arts presenter and producer serving emerging artists.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $37,965. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $14,885, with a median of $2,100. Its largest listed grants were $14,885 to Capital Philharmonic, $5,000 to Trenton Community A-Team, $4,230 to Capital Health, and $3,000 each to Passage Theatre Company and Woodekin Theatre.
Other listed recipients included AFAR ($2,500), WBGO ($1,700), New Brunswick Jazz Project ($1,500), Shiloh Community Development Corporation ($1,000), The Tank ($500), WRTI ($450), and Jazz on the Tube ($200).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John D Kelly as president; Bryan Papp as vice president and acting secretary; Dwayne Martin as treasurer; and Karl T Howell, Karla Howell, Karen Hilton, Willard Stanback Esq, Sylvester Bo Gore, and Jim Gordon as members.
Lawrence M Hilton Foundation is led by John D. Kelly, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John D. Kelly
President
Registered Agent → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Karl T. Howell
Member
Foundation Member → Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Karla Howell
Member
Trustee → Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Bryan Papp
Vice President & Acting Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Dwayne Martin
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Jim Gordon
Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Karen Hilton
Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Sylvester Bo Gore
Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Willard Stanback Esq.
Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Bo Gore (2021–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Lawrence M. Hilton (2021–2024) — President
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 Lawrence M Hilton Foundation
How much does Lawrence M Hilton Foundation give each year?
Lawrence M Hilton Foundation gave $38K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $40K across 3 grants.
What is Lawrence M Hilton Foundation's typical grant size?
Lawrence M Hilton Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,100, and its average grant was $3,164, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lawrence M Hilton Foundation give grants?
Lawrence M Hilton Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Trenton, NJ (5 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Lawrence M Hilton Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Lawrence M Hilton Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support the Organizations Mission" (3 grants).
Who are Lawrence M Hilton Foundation's largest grantees?
Lawrence M Hilton Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Capital Philharmonic ($14,885), Trenton Community a-Team ($5,000) and Capital Health ($4,230), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lawrence M Hilton Foundation?
Lawrence M Hilton Foundation reported $762K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $38K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lawrence M Hilton Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in the arts, public radio, health, sober living, and community development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lawrence M Hilton Foundation?
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 Lawrence M Hilton Foundation's EIN?
Lawrence M Hilton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-2589971. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Lawrence M Hilton 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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