Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust
Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. The trust operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust
- EIN
- 04-3363695
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $99,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- Average grant
- $2,676
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (10 of 37, 2025)
- Total assets
- $293,445
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (34% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust's 37 itemized 2025 grants were Massachusetts (34%), Maine (24%) and New York (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants), Portland, ME (3 grants) and Boston, MA (3 grants). 78% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 37 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust
- How to evaluate Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$293K
-10.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$99K
+14.5% YoY
Grant Count
37
+15.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-1.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust reported a distributable amount of $108K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science and STEM Education
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 37 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $293,445 |
| Total Annual Giving | $99,000 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $293,445 | $329,499 | $324,657 |
| Revenue | $94,643 | $116,058 | $69,554 |
| Expenses | $130,371 | $111,217 | $119,498 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $100,502 | $87,751 | $94,753 |
| Net Investment Income | $66,704 | $92,796 | $46,352 |
| Distributable Amount | $108,158 | $96,215 | $87,165 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
160 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Trustees of Tufts College ($10,000), Appalachian Mountain Club ($7,000), Afs-USA Inc ($6,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE Medford, MA | A GIFT TO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE ROBERT W. AND GLADYS S. MESERVE SCHOLARSHIP FUND. | $10,000 |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB Charlestown, MA | CONTRIBUTION IS FOR THE MAINE WOODS INITIATIVE FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND/OR TO SUPPORT TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE AND OTHER PROJECTS IN THE MAINE WOODS. | $7,000 |
| AFS-USA INC New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| AFS INTERCULTURAL PROGRAMS INC New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS & SCIENCES Cambridge, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CREATIVE CAULDRON INC Falls Church, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FRIENDS OF CASCO BAY Portland, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL INC Augusta, ME | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| RAZOM INC New York, NY | TO PURCHASE MEDICAL & HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES & TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS IN UKRAINE. | $5,000 |
| PBS FOUNDATION Arlington, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberta M Weil | Co-Trustee | 1 | — |
| William G Meserve | Co-Trustee | 3 | — |
| Richard a Meserve | Co-Trustee | 1 | — |
| Charles R Platt | Co-Trustee | 0.5 | $6,515 |
| Ryan P McManus | Co-Trustee | 0.5 | $6,514 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust fund?
The trust's primary funding priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science and STEM Education
How do I apply for a grant from Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $12,500. **Annual Giving:** The trust distributed $99,000 in total giving based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2025). **Geographic Focus:** The trust primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, Maine, and New York.
What size grants does Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust award?
In 2025, Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust awarded 37 grants totaling $99K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust reported a distributable amount of $108K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust's EIN?
Robert W & Gladys S Meserve Char Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3363695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.