Norwell Fund
Norwell Fund is a private foundation based in Big Timber, Montana. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2024 filing states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Norwell Fund at a glance
In short: Norwell Fund gave $97K across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Montana. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $97,485
- +8.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,708
- +27.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $983,666
- -0.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Montana (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Norwell Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its filing says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The stated application materials are a written application with a charitable purpose.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1650, Big Timber, MT 59011
Phone: (406) 587-4265
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Norwell Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
187 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 187 grants of 187 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Montana, 12% to New York, 6% to New Jersey, 5% to Utah, and 5% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Norwell Fund gives
- Giving grew 49% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2019) to $97K (2024). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $97K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 36 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $97,485 |
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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 | $983,666 | $96,944 | $100,824 | $97,485 | 36 | $97,485 | $96,944 | $86,574 |
| 2023 | $987,546 | $778,524 | $90,482 | $89,500 | 42 | $89,500 | $49,242 | $63,856 |
| 2022 | $299,504 | $63,767 | $50,977 | $48,950 | 32 | $48,950 | $62,502 | $44,557 |
| 2021 | $286,714 | $44,232 | $67,681 | $65,250 | 45 | $65,250 | $43,042 | $48,730 |
| 2020 | $310,163 | $76,608 | $40,023 | $37,800 | 32 | — | $75,845 | $37,405 |
| 2019 | $273,578 | $11,519 | $36,459 | $35,200 | 39 | — | $31,879 | $35,964 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Norwell Fund reported a distributable amount of $87K 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
No mission statement or formal focus areas are stated in the available information. The 2024 filing lists grants for purposes including tuition assistance and furthering recipient organizations’ charitable work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Norwell Fund reported 36 grants totaling $97,485. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $12,000, with a median of $1,000. Among the largest grants were $12,000 to Sweet Grass Arts Alliance, $7,000 to Keuka College Scholorship for tuition assistance to students, and $6,485 to Hospitality House Senior Center. Other grants included $5,000 each to two individual recipients, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, MEIC, Union of Concerned Scientists, The Carter Center Inc, and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Linda McMullen as President and Jason Smith as Director.
Norwell Fund is led by Linda McMullen, President since 2022 (on filings since 2019); none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Linda McMullen
President
Secretary → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jason Smith
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Farwell Smith (2019–2021) — President
- Former: Matthew Smith (2019–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Norwell Fund
How much does Norwell Fund give each year?
Norwell Fund gave $97K across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $90K across 42 grants.
What is Norwell Fund's typical grant size?
Norwell Fund's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,708, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Norwell Fund give grants?
Norwell Fund gives mostly in Montana: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (12%) and New Jersey (6%).
Does Norwell Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Norwell Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To further the charitable acts of the organization." (34 grants).
How large is Norwell Fund?
Norwell Fund reported $984K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $97K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $87K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Norwell Fund fund?
No mission statement or formal focus areas are stated in the available information. The 2024 filing lists grants for purposes including tuition assistance and furthering recipient organizations’ charitable work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Norwell Fund?
The foundation 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 Norwell Fund's EIN?
Norwell Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6063686. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does Norwell Fund 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 23, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Figures come from Norwell Fund'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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