Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr logo

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr

Private foundation · Grantmaker Plymouth, MA EIN: 04-6382377 Website

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr is a private foundation based in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Massachusetts.

Key facts about Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr

In short: Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr gave $1.1M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $95K), mostly in Massachusetts. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
04-6382377
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$1,136,285
Grants made (2025)
12
Average grant
$94,690
Median grant
$27,500
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2025)
Total assets
$7,344,513
Primary geography
Massachusetts (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.3M

-11.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.1M

+6.2% YoY

Grant Count

12

+9.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$95K

-2.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $112K. How we count

Medians: $25K first-time, $30K repeat.

  • 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 99% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $1,070,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $750,000, with a median of $30,000. The largest awards included $750,000 to Forges Foundation and $60,000 to Pilgrim Society, both for general support. Other notable grants were $50,000 to RI Hospital and $45,000 to Plymouth Philharmonic, also for general support.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts (90%), Rhode Island (5%), Virginia (2%), Washington, DC (2%), and Ohio (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

PlymouthProvidenceArlingtonAlexandriaGambierWashingtonBostonCambridgeManometNorwellAuroraBurlingtonNew BedfordNorwood

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M14 grants2020 15 grants2021 17 grants2022 15 grants2023 11 grants2024 12 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $850K (2020) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $1.1M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Wildlands Trust: $725KWildlands Trust$725KPilgrim Hall Museum: $100KPilgrim Hall Museum$100KBid Plymouth Family Fund: $69KBid Plymouth Family Fund$69KRI Hospital: $50KRI Hospital$50KPlymouth Philharmonic: $46KPlymouth Philharmonic$46KBlack Feather Horse Rescue: $30KBlack Feather Horse Rescue$30KKenyon College: $25KKenyon College$25KManomet Conservation Sciences: $25KManomet Conservation Sciences$25KThe Salvation Army: $25KThe Salvation Army$25KGrange Foundation: $20KGrange Foundation$20K

The largest 2025 recipient was Wildlands Trust ($725K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

70 grants across all recorded years

38<$50K16$50–100K12$100–250K2$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 70 (54%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Wildlands Trust Plymouth, MAGeneral Support$725,000
Pilgrim Hall Museum Plymouth, MAGeneral Support$100,000
Bid Plymouth Family Fund Plymouth, MAGeneral Support$69,000
RI Hospital Providence, RIGeneral Support$50,000
Plymouth Philharmonic Plymouth, MAGeneral Support$46,285
Black Feather Horse Rescue Plymouth, MAGeneral Support$30,000
Kenyon College Gambier, OHGeneral Support$25,000
Manomet Conservation Sciences Plymouth, MAGeneral Support$25,000
The Salvation Army Alexandria, VAGeneral Support$25,000
Grange Foundation Washington, DCGeneral Support$20,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $8,277,150 $371,789 $1,085,564 $1,070,000
2023 $8,990,908 $402,502 $940,259 $925,000
2022 $9,528,665 $332,349 $951,710 $921,416
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$7,344,513$8,277,150$8,990,908
Revenue$252,306$371,789$402,502
Expenses$1,184,943$1,085,564$940,259
Qualifying Distributions$1,136,285$1,070,000$925,000
Net Investment Income$344,489$427,773$416,425
Distributable Amount$1,145,191$1,053,255$916,329

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 22, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Nathan N Withington, Meghan Knight, and Heather W Ward as trustees.

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Meghan Knight

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    $4K (2021) → $4K (2025)

  • Heather W. Ward

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    7 hrs/week

    $1K (2023) → $4K (2025)

  • Nathan N. Withington

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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

Meghan Knight — Trustee: $4KMeghan KnightTrustee$4KHeather W Ward — Trustee: $4KHeather W WardTrustee$4K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $4K, to Meghan Knight (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 74 Old Sandwich Road, Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 737-1445
Website: https://pearcefoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr

How much does Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr give each year?

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr gave $1.1M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 11 grants.

What is Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr's typical grant size?

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr's median grant in 2025 was $27,500, and its average grant was $94,690, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr that year got $42K on average.

Where does Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr give grants?

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr gives mostly in Massachusetts: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Plymouth, MA (7 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr's largest grantees?

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr's largest 2025 grantees include Wildlands Trust ($725,000), Pilgrim Hall Museum ($100,000) and Bid Plymouth Family Fund ($69,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr?

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (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.

How do I apply for a grant from Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr's EIN?

Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6382377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Mary Elizabeth Pearce Foundation Tr accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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