Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust
The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine. Established in 1988 by Joan Morton Kelly and her mother, Mildred Duncan Morton, the Trust supports work connecting people and place through arts, culture, and the natural environment in Maine.
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust gave $1.3M across 123 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Maine. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,300,936
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 123
- +12200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,577
- -99.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $21,561,298
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maine (98% 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 Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
The Trust accepts applications through an online portal during its annual application period. The 2026 application period ran from June 1 to October 1 and is now past. The application form is available only during the application period; submitted applications receive an email acknowledgment.
- Review Cycle
- October 1 each year. The Trust states that it cannot grant extensions.
- Deadline
- October 1 each year.
- Next open deadline
- October 1, 2027 (Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust Grant)
- Contact
Application contact: Lissa Widoff Program Advisor
Mailing address: Jensen Baird 10 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 775-7271
Email: programs@morton-kelly.org
Website: https://www.morton-kelly.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust
Who Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Preble Street ($65K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $245K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 122 grants of 127 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust describes itself as a Maine-based philanthropy and says its program areas concern Maine. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to Maine recipients: 98% to Maine, 1% to Vermont, and 1% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 123 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust gives
- Giving grew 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $958K (2020) to $1.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 123 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Preble Street Portland, ME | Capital Campaign | $50,000 |
| Bomazeen Land Trust Portland, ME | Cultural Transmission, Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Friends of the Veterans' Memorial Library Patten, ME | Friends of the Veterans Memorial Library and Community Center | $20,000 |
| Greater Portland Landmarks Portland, ME | Operating Support: Strategic Plan in Action | $20,000 |
| Indigo Arts Alliance Portland, ME | Indigo Arts Alliance | $20,000 |
| Maine Environmental Education Association Brunswick, ME | Maine Environmental Education Association Operating Support 2025 | $20,000 |
| Maine Historical Society Portland, ME | Maine Historical Society - Revolutionary Maine: America at 250 | $20,000 |
| Maine Humanities Council Portland, ME | Operating Support: Humanities in Need | $20,000 |
| Maine Preservation Yarmouth, ME | Operating Support Technical Assistance | $20,000 |
| Wabanaki Community Foundation Pembroke, ME | Start-up Operations | $20,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,561,298 | $2,868,446 | $1,582,195 | $1,300,936 | 123 | $1,404,004 | $2,775,885 | $1,438,209 |
| 2024 | $20,243,296 | $3,731,306 | $1,495,859 | $1,305,500 | 1 | $1,388,309 | $3,623,756 | $1,304,137 |
| 2023 | $17,851,579 | $1,247,086 | $1,422,642 | $1,252,057 | 1 | $1,343,363 | $1,167,807 | $1,141,332 |
| 2022 | $18,136,423 | $414,275 | $1,320,142 | $1,047,000 | 1 | $1,115,187 | $214,445 | $1,149,465 |
| 2021 | $19,003,514 | $4,559,589 | $1,355,748 | $1,203,600 | 1 | $1,247,641 | $4,451,482 | $1,179,877 |
| 2020 | $15,797,482 | $1,343,123 | $1,100,263 | $957,500 | 1 | — | $1,248,080 | $1,003,268 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — 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 Trust describes its overarching interest as connecting people and place through the arts, culture, and the natural environment in Maine. Its arts, culture, and historic preservation priorities include improving access to cultural experiences, fostering creative expression, supporting cultural facility improvements, preserving historic resources, and celebrating Maine’s diverse cultural heritage. Environmental initiatives include land conservation and stewardship, watershed protection, restoration, and environmental outdoor learning.
The Trust’s 2025 grants included organizations whose missions illustrate several of these areas. Maine Preservation says it promotes and preserves historic places, buildings, downtowns, and neighborhoods to strengthen Maine communities. Bomazeen Land Trust says it enables Abenaki/Wabanaki descendants to resume stewardship of lands and waters significant to their people. Maine Environmental Education Association says it amplifies efforts to build environmental awareness and action in Maine. Indigo Arts Alliance says it provides a creative-production center for artists from diverse backgrounds.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Trust gave $1,300,936 through 123 grants. Grants ranged from $3,350 to $50,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest listed award was $50,000 to Preble Street for a capital campaign. Other notable grants included $20,000 each to Bomazeen Land Trust, Friends of the Veterans’ Memorial Library, Greater Portland Landmarks, Indigo Arts Alliance, Maine Environmental Education Association, Maine Historical Society, Maine Humanities Council, Maine Preservation, and Wabanaki Community Foundation. The Trust also gave $15,000 each to Aroostook Arts and Education Center, doing business as Wintergreen Arts Center, and Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.
The Trust’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications are submitted online. New applicants and organizations that have not received a grant in the past three years are asked to check with the Trust before applying to confirm alignment with its priorities. Grantees that have received grants for two consecutive years must take a year off before applying again. The Trust’s stated award restrictions are at the discretion of its Board of Directors, with grants generally for environmental, cultural, and historical organizations and activities in Maine.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Douglas M Henry as President/Director; Marilyn A Lalumiere as Director/Past President; Michael J Quinlan as Treasurer/Secretary/Director; and Janet Henry, Erik C Jorgensen, D Tyler Kidder, and Mari Jones as directors. Sheila Jans is listed as a past director.
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust is led by Douglas M Henry, President & Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Douglas M Henry
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Erik C Jorgensen
Director
Director Administrator Tee → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$24K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Janet Henry
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Marilyn A Lalumiere
Director & Past President
President & Director → Director & Past President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $6K (2025)
D Tyler Kidder
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$6K (2025)
Mari Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.7 hrs/week
$4K (2025)
Michael J Quinlan
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
Secretary Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, Secretary & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Jans
Past Director
Director → Past Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
$5K (2024) → $0 (2025)
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $6K, to Douglas M Henry (President/Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust
How much does Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust give each year?
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust gave $1.3M across 123 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 1 grant.
What is Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,577, across 123 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust give grants?
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust gives mostly in Maine: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (28 grants), Augusta, ME (7 grants), Brunswick, ME (4 grants) and Rockland, ME (4 grants).
Does Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 47% of Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (58 of 123) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Preble Street ($65,000 across 2 grants), Bomazeen Land Trust ($20,000) and Friends of the Veterans' Memorial Library ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust?
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust reported $21.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (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 Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust describes its overarching interest as connecting people and place through the arts, culture, and the natural environment in Maine. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust?
The Trust accepts applications through an online portal during its annual application period. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust's EIN?
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0442078. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/morton-kelly-charitable-trust-morg_987d1de8ae7c4459a2b1c21cf464d24a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010442078_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/morton-kelly-charitable-trust-morg_987d1de8ae7c4459a2b1c21cf464d24a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust'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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