Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $298,760 through 10 grants to preselected charitable organizations.
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust gave $299K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in Massachusetts. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $298,760
- +5.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,876
- +5.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $29,876
- Total assets
- $2,267,565
- -3.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 780 Main Street P O Box 827, Fitchburg, MA 01420-0056
Phone: (978) 343-4856
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Stevens Memorial Library ($45K). Together the top 10 received $299K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 50 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 5% to New Mexico, and 5% to Montana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $277K (2021) to $300K (2023). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $299K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stevens Memorial Library Ashburnham, MA | Unrestricted | $44,814 |
| YMCA of Central Massachusetts Worcester, MA | Unrestricted | $44,814 |
| Ashburnham Community Church Ashburnham, MA | Unrestricted | $29,876 |
| Girl Scouts Montachusett Council Inc Worcester, MA | Unrestricted | $29,876 |
| Heart of New England Council BSA Inc Rutland, MA | Unrestricted | $29,876 |
| Opportunities for Hope (Formerly Our Father's House) Fitchburg, MA | Unrestricted | $29,876 |
| St Dennis Church St Vincent De Paul Soc Ashburnham, MA | Unrestricted | $29,876 |
| United Way of North Central MA Fitchburg, MA | Unrestricted | $29,876 |
| Southwest Indian Foundation P O Box 86 Gallup, NM | Unrestricted | $14,938 |
| St Labre Indian School Education Assn Ashland, MT | Unrestricted | $14,938 |
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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 | $2,267,565 | $259,362 | $328,486 | $298,760 | 10 | $298,760 | $229,636 | $288,958 |
| 2024 | $2,336,690 | $192,390 | $312,157 | $282,340 | 10 | $282,340 | $162,573 | $298,754 |
| 2023 | $2,456,457 | $187,290 | $329,405 | $299,500 | 10 | $299,500 | $161,346 | $282,332 |
| 2022 | $2,598,572 | $181,051 | $322,095 | $291,060 | 10 | $291,060 | $150,025 | $299,500 |
| 2021 | $2,739,616 | $189,527 | $304,410 | $277,140 | 10 | $277,140 | $162,257 | $291,072 |
| 2020 | $2,854,499 | $188,078 | $319,430 | $287,580 | 10 | — | $156,967 | $277,146 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $289K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including libraries, churches, youth organizations, and community-serving organizations. The Heart of New England Council BSA says its mission is “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust gave $298,760 through 10 grants. Grants ranged from $14,938 to $44,814, with a median of $29,876. The largest grants were $44,814 each to Stevens Memorial Library and YMCA of Central Massachusetts. Other grants of $29,876 each went to Ashburnham Community Church, Girl Scouts Montachusett Council, Heart of New England Council BSA, Opportunities for Hope, St Dennis Church St Vincent de Paul Society, and United Way of North Central Massachusetts. Southwest Indian Foundation and St Labre Indian School Education Association each received $14,938. All listed grants were unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David G Southcotte Sr and Elisha W Erb as trustees.
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David G. Southcotte Sr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$14K (2020) → $14K (2025)
Elisha W. Erb
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$14K (2020) → $14K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $14K, to David G Southcotte Sr (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust
How much does Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust give each year?
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust gave $299K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $282K across 10 grants.
What is Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $29,876, and its average grant was $29,876, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust that year got $30K on average.
Where does Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust give grants?
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Mexico (5%) and Montana (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ashburnham, MA (3 grants), Worcester, MA (2 grants) and Fitchburg, MA (2 grants).
Does Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Stevens Memorial Library ($44,814), YMCA of Central Massachusetts ($44,814) and Ashburnham Community Church ($29,876), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust?
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $299K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $289K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including libraries, churches, youth organizations, and community-serving organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust's EIN?
Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6916255. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-b-whittemore-charitable-trust-morg_361e48041b6747018b11c8c3d872a814
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046916255_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ruth B Whittemore Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-b-whittemore-charitable-trust-morg_361e48041b6747018b11c8c3d872a814},
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 Ruth B Whittemore 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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