Rosamond Thaxter Foundation

PORTLAND, ME EIN: 01-6019476 Website

The Rosamond Thaxter Foundation is a private charitable foundation based in Portland, Maine, established in 1964 by Rosamond Thaxter, a lifelong resident of Kittery Point, Maine. Rosamond Thaxter was a philanthropist, writer, public speaker, and world traveler who created the foundation to continue supporting local non-profit organizations she had been involved with throughout her life. The foundation carries forward her legacy of community philanthropy in the Maine and New Hampshire regions.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3M

+1.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$88K

+8.1% YoY

Grant Count

+14.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

-5.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rosamond Thaxter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $97K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Health and Human Services
Environmental Protection and Land Conservation
History and Historic Preservation
Education and Recreation
Visual and Performing Arts

Grantmaking

Rosamond Thaxter Foundation

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily supports charitable organizations located in:

Kittery, Maine
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
The Isles of Shoals

Grant Distribution by State

Maine $192K (48%)

New Hampshire $182K (46%)

Massachusetts $22K (6%)

States

Massachusetts Maine New Hampshire

Cities

BedfordBostonBrunswickDurhamGreenlandKennebunkKitteryKittery PointNew CastleNewmarketPortsmouthSacoStrathamWest KennebunkYarmouthYork

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $1,341,198
Total Revenue: $136,000
Total Expenses: $118,000
Total Giving: $87,985
Total Liabilities: $0

Tax Status: Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since January 1964. EIN: 01-6019476

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$1,341,198	$1,325,654	$1,352,115
Revenue	$136,222	$59,053	$101,640
Expenses	$118,020	$108,941	$82,743
Qualifying Distributions	$95,444	$100,288	$57,007
Net Investment Income	$112,130	$48,753	$80,838
Distributable Amount	$97,028	$85,978	$85,797

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 2024

Grant Size Distribution

145 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Rosamond Thaxter Foundation

Foundation

Thaxter Foundation Grant

ROSAMOND THAXTER FOUNDATION

Amount

Up to US $3,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mainspring ($10,000), Kittery Land Trust ($5,000), Footprints Food Pantry ($5,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
PORTSMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY PORTSMOUTH, NH	GENERAL PURPOSE	$3,000
PORTSMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY PORTSMOUTH, NH	GENERAL PURPOSE	$785
ARTS IN REACH PORTSMOUTH, NH	GENERAL PURPOSE	$2,500
STARR ISLAND CORPORATION PORTSMOUTH, NH	RELIGION AND EDUCATION	$2,500
KITTERY LAND TRUST KITTERY, ME	GENERAL PURPOSE	$5,000
FOOTPRINTS FOOD PANTRY KITTERY, ME	GENERAL PURPOSE	$5,000
PORTSMOUTH ANTHENAEUM PORTSMOUTH, NH	GENERAL PURPOSE	$1,200
PORTSMOUTH MUSIC HALL PORTSMOUTH, NH	GENERAL PURPOSE	$3,500
FAIR TIDE KITTERY, ME	GENERAL PURPOSE	$5,000
GUNDALOW COMPANY PORTSMOUTH, NH	GENERAL PURPOSE	$3,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Elizabeth Small serves as Trust Associate for the foundation, handling grant applications and administrative matters.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
MELISSA PALY	TRUSTEE	1	$3,972
JOAN RICE	TRUSTEE	1	$934
HM PAYSON CO	TRUSTEE	1	$17,555
BEVERLY A DANIEL	TRUSTEE	1	$3,972
John Rice	Trustee	1	$1,725

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rosamond Thaxter Foundation fund?

The Rosamond Thaxter Foundation's mission is to support charitable organizations in and around Kittery, Maine; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and the Isles of Shoals. While the Foundation's trustees have broad grant-making authority, they focus on supporting local non-profit organizations involved in the following areas: • Health and Human Services • Environmental Protection and Land Conservation • History and Historic Preservation • Education and Recreation • Visual and Performing Arts

How do I apply for a grant from Rosamond Thaxter Foundation?

**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $10,000, with grants up to $3,000 commonly available. **Eligibility:** The Foundation awards charitable grants only to organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It does not award grants to private foundations under Section 509 of the Code. **Application Process:** • Applications must be submitted by October 1 annually • Applicants should submit a brief cover letter (not to exceed three pages) toge…

Where does Rosamond Thaxter Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily supports charitable organizations located in: • Kittery, Maine • Portsmouth, New Hampshire • The Isles of Shoals

What size grants does Rosamond Thaxter Foundation award?

In 2024, Rosamond Thaxter Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $88K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Rosamond Thaxter Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rosamond Thaxter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $97K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.