Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust
The Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing describes a competitive scholarship for students of Armenian descent who live in or attend school in Massachusetts, with awards primarily based on the financial need of the student and their parents.
Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust gave $149K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $149,100
- -8.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- -12.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,777
- +3.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,989,864
- +31.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (97% 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 Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust
- Review Cycle
- April 1, as listed on the 2024 filing; this was a past application cycle as of October 2, 2026.
- Deadline
- April 1, as listed on the 2024 filing; this was a past application cycle as of October 2, 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Christopher R Mitchell
Mailing address: 370 Main St Ste 970, Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 792-2800
Email: cmitchell@chwmlaw.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Armenian Museum of America ($50K). Together the top 2 received $55K.
Organizations only. It also paid 20 individual scholarships ($94,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 77 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust is based in Worcester, Massachusetts. In filing year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 3% to recipients in New Hampshire. The scholarship criteria specify students of Armenian descent who live in or attend school in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
How Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust gives
- Giving grew 49% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 148% 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2021) to $164K (2023). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $149K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Armenian Museum of America Watertown, MA | Educational | $50,000 |
| 20 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $94,000 |
| Clark University - Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Worcester, MA | Educational | $5,100 |
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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 | $1,989,864 | $667,871 | $189,697 | $149,100 | 22 | $149,100 | $40,018 | $100,815 |
| 2023 | $1,511,690 | $771,569 | $211,630 | $163,500 | 25 | $163,500 | $246,431 | $57,237 |
| 2022 | $951,751 | $1,157,987 | $162,945 | $147,000 | 22 | $147,000 | $447,550 | $33 |
| 2021 | — | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | 8 | $100,000 | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $101K 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
The available filing does not state a separate mission for the trust. Its scholarship may be used toward college, graduate school, or other educational programs. The filing says consideration is given to character, academic achievement, and involvement in the Armenian community, while awards are based primarily on financial need.
The Armenian Museum of America, a 2024 grantee, describes its mission as preserving and sharing Armenian heritage and promoting awareness of Armenian culture and contributions through exhibitions and educational programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the trust reported 22 grants totaling $149,100. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest listed awards were $50,000 to the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, Massachusetts, and $5,100 to Clark University’s Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Worcester, Massachusetts. The filing also listed grants to individual recipients, primarily for educational scholarships.
The 2024 filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to submit a letter to the trustee. The scholarship is for students of Armenian descent who live in or attend school in Massachusetts; awards may support college, graduate school, or other educational programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christopher R. Mitchell and Michael B. Murray as trustees.
Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher R. Mitchell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael B. Murray
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Stuart A. Hammer (2021) — Trustee · Filing note: Deceased 91321
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust
How much does Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust give each year?
Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust gave $149K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $164K across 25 grants.
What is Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,777, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust give grants?
Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Scholarship" (19 grants).
How large is Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust?
Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $149K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $101K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust fund?
The available filing does not state a separate mission for the trust. Its scholarship may be used toward college, graduate school, or other educational programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust?
Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust's EIN?
Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1575098. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/richard-melik-simonian-charitable-trust-morg_bac6e707724d48198b3b3ee349ba35e7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_851575098_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Richard Melik Simonian Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/richard-melik-simonian-charitable-trust-morg_bac6e707724d48198b3b3ee349ba35e7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Richard Melik Simonian 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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