Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc. (MWI) is a public charity based in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. It encourages and assists landowners in responsibly managing their woodlands, and administers woodland-management programs in partnership with state and conservation organizations.
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute at a glance
In short: Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute gave $140K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Massachusetts. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $139,722
- +30.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +42.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,972
- -8.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,264
- Total assets
- $1,132,951
- -2.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (5 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 450, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Phone: (413) 397-8800
Website: https://masswoodlands.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Town of Reading ($29K). Together the top 10 received $140K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 30 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website describes the Forest Stewardship Program as statewide in Massachusetts. The 10 grants listed for 2025 were all to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 10 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 30% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2020) to $140K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $140K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Reading Reading, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $28,750 |
| Town of Monson Monson, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $27,361 |
| Town of Sherborn Sherborn, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $17,850 |
| Town of Stockbridge Stockbridge, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $14,884 |
| Weymouthbraintreeregrecreationconservdist Braintree, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $14,777 |
| Town of Egremont Egremont, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $9,750 |
| Town of Hatfield Hatfield, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $9,562 |
| Town of Windsor Windsor, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $5,884 |
| Town of Blandford Blandford, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $5,484 |
| Town of Bernardston Bernardston, MA | Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment | $5,420 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,132,951 | $1,973,434 | $1,963,281 | $139,722 | 10 |
| 2024 | $1,164,697 | $1,647,893 | $1,626,953 | $107,417 | 7 |
| 2023 | $654,033 | $897,384 | $883,296 | $63,694 | 4 |
| 2022 | $427,126 | $684,697 | $689,190 | $118,262 | 6 |
| 2021 | $534,538 | $996,628 | $909,710 | $44,204 | 3 |
| 2020 | $179,405 | $616,769 | $687,632 | $40,102 | 4 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
MWI’s stated mission is to encourage and assist landowners in responsibly managing their woodlands. The organization says responsible woodland management can benefit wildlife, local communities and economies, and provide financial, recreational and personal rewards.
Its programs address forest stewardship, bird habitat and climate forestry. The Forest Stewardship Program supports management for timber, soil and water quality, wildlife and fish habitat, climate resilience and recreation. MWI also describes helping landowners develop stewardship plans and administering cost-share payments through state programs.
Grantmaking
MWI’s 2025 filing reports 10 grants totaling $139,722. Grants ranged from $5,420 to $28,750, with a median of $12,264. The listed grants were all to Massachusetts recipients and were described as “forest stewardship landowner payment.” The filing’s largest grants included $28,750 to the Town of Reading, $27,361 to the Town of Monson, $17,850 to the Town of Sherborn, and $14,884 to the Town of Stockbridge.
MWI’s website describes cost-share assistance for eligible landowners through its partner programs; it does not state that these are general grants for outside organizations. The Forest Stewardship Program is available to Massachusetts woodland owners, with funds for new plans available first-come, first-served until allocated. The website also describes bird-habitat and climate-assessment cost-share eligibility for private landowners with at least 10 wooded acres. Applicants for those assessments must have, or apply for, a Forest Stewardship Management Plan.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Brian Donahue as president, William Sloan Anderson as treasurer, and Laura Eve-Cowles as secretary/clerk. Directors listed are David Bowman, John O’Keefe, Nicole St Clair-Knobloch, and Jack Lochhead.
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute is led by Brian Donahue, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brian Donahue
President
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Bowman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack Lochhead
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John O'Keefe
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole St Clair-Knobloch
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Eve-Cowles
Secretary & Clerk
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Sloan Anderson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Brain Donahue (2020–2021) — President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute
How much does Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute give each year?
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute gave $140K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $107K across 7 grants.
What is Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute's typical grant size?
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute's median grant in 2025 was $12,264, and its average grant was $13,972, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute that year got $12K on average.
Where does Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute give grants?
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Forest Stewardship Landowner Payment" (10 grants).
Who are Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute's largest grantees?
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute's largest 2025 grantees include Town of Reading ($28,750), Town of Monson ($27,361) and Town of Sherborn ($17,850), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute?
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What does Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute fund?
MWI’s stated mission is to encourage and assist landowners in responsibly managing their woodlands. The organization says responsible woodland management can benefit wildlife, local communities and economies, and provide financial, recreational and personal rewards. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute?
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check masswoodlands.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute's EIN?
Massachusetts Woodlands Institute Inc DBA Ma Woodlands Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3562879. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 31, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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