Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation
The Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Eliot, Maine. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations and individual recipients, including educational scholarships for high school seniors.
Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation gave $90K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in New Hampshire. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $90,012
- +88.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,001
- +88.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,068,333
- +5.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Hampshire (59% 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 Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
The filing states that applicants must complete a scholarship application form and provide transcripts from freshman year through the first semester of senior year, a copy of their estimated family contribution, a list…
The filing states that applicants must complete a scholarship application form and provide transcripts from freshman year through the first semester of senior year, a copy of their estimated family contribution, a list of their community and school activities, and an essay written in the past year that they consider their best work. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors based on scholarship need, merit, community service, athletic interests, other specified criteria, and the essay. The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Paul And Helen Goransson
Mailing address: 255 Depot Road, Eliot, ME 03903
Phone: (207) 439-6387
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Seacoast Repertory Theatre ($35K). Together the top 6 received $70K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 39 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 59% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Hampshire, 24% to Maine, 17% to Massachusetts, and 1% to New York. These shares are rounded.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving grew 45% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 124% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $37K (2019) to $129K (2021). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $90K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Seacoast Repertory Theatre Portsmouth, NH | Charitable Contribution | $35,000 |
| Swallow Union School Dunstable, MA | Charitable Contribution | $15,000 |
| Holy Trinity Church Newington, NH | Charitable Contribution | $13,012 |
| 4 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $20,000 |
| Great Works Regional Land Trust Ogunquit, ME | Charitable Contribution | $3,500 |
| MIS Pequenos Telentos- Eliot Rotary South Berwick, ME | Charitable Contribution | $3,000 |
| Life and Hope School Haiti West Babylon, NY | Charitable Contribution | $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 | $1,068,333 | $190,098 | $106,957 | $90,012 | 10 | $90,012 | $50,154 | $72,822 |
| 2024 | $1,015,793 | $154,823 | $65,023 | $47,762 | 10 | $47,762 | $26,954 | $64,620 |
| 2023 | $964,965 | $195,027 | $74,739 | $62,532 | 9 | $62,532 | $38,932 | $51,189 |
| 2022 | $831,122 | $157,600 | $73,524 | $62,212 | 6 | $62,212 | $8,071 | $46,658 |
| 2021 | $698,586 | $213,089 | $136,679 | $129,012 | 4 | $129,012 | $34,252 | $47,211 |
| 2020 | $697,471 | $226,360 | $102,426 | $93,661 | 7 | — | $46,574 | $33,959 |
| 2019 | $587,537 | $152,064 | $45,227 | $37,087 | 7 | — | $12,647 | $28,329 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $73K 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included scholarships and contributions to organizations. One recipient, Seacoast Repertory Theatre, describes its mission as entertaining, educating, and inspiring through live theater. Great Works Regional Land Trust describes its work as conserving properties, overseeing conservation easements, and providing public activities on conservation lands.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $90,012 through 10 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $35,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest grants were $35,000 to Seacoast Repertory Theatre, $15,000 to Swallow Union School, and $13,012 to Holy Trinity Church. It also awarded four $5,000 scholarships to individual recipients.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paul N Goransson as president, Helen Goransson as vice president, Peter A Goransson as treasurer, and Jennifer G Goransson as secretary.
Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation is led by Paul N. Goransson, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul N. Goransson
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Helen Goransson
Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jennifer G. Goransson
Secretary
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Peter A. Goransson
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation
How much does Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation give each year?
Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation gave $90K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $48K across 10 grants.
What is Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $9,001, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation give grants?
Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation gives mostly in New Hampshire: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maine (24%) and Massachusetts (17%).
Who are Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Seacoast Repertory Theatre ($35,000), Swallow Union School ($15,000) and Holy Trinity Church ($13,012), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation?
Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $90K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $73K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included scholarships and contributions to organizations. One recipient, Seacoast Repertory Theatre, describes its mission as entertaining, educating, and inspiring through live theater. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation?
The filing states that applicants must complete a scholarship application form and provide transcripts from freshman year through the first semester of senior year, a copy of their estimated family contribution, a list… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3733695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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 2024 (received by the IRS March 31, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 21, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 1, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/paul-and-helen-goransson-charitable-foundation-morg_13195b2fa7d1420fbbcbc5ddb3aa97dd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_463733695_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/paul-and-helen-goransson-charitable-foundation-morg_13195b2fa7d1420fbbcbc5ddb3aa97dd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Paul and Helen Goransson Charitable Foundation'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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