Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust
The Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Garden City, New York, that supports organizations and projects serving the Town of Litchfield, Connecticut, and nearby communities. Its stated purpose is to support cultural, educational, health-related, religious, and civic organizations serving Litchfield, including Bantam, East Litchfield, Milton, and Northfield.
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust gave $1.2M across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $47K), mostly in Connecticut. 35% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,219,874
- +10.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +23.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $46,918
- -10.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,500
- Total assets
- $19,161,375
- -0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (9 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Review Cycle
- There are Spring and Fall cycles. Deadlines for the next cycle are determined by the Board at each meeting and posted on the website. Distribution meetings are held in April and November.
- Deadline
- There are Spring and Fall cycles.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Bessemer 1325 Franklin Ave 5, Garden City, NY 11530
Phone: (516) 508-9623
Website: https://seherr-thoss.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust
Who Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Litchfield Community Center ($548K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 104 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundations state that they support Litchfield projects almost exclusively and may fund out-of-town organizations if they serve Litchfield residents. Their stated service area includes Litchfield, Bantam, East Litchfield, Milton, and Northfield. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 26 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $21K repeat.
- 23% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $1.1M (2020) to $1.3M (2022). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Litchfield Community Center Litchfield, CT | General Support | $548,094 |
| Litchfield Department of Public Works Parks & Recreation Litchfield, CT | General Support | $125,199 |
| Arethusa Farm Foundation Litchfield, CT | General Support | $80,000 |
| Litchfield Fire Company Litchfield, CT | General Support | $60,100 |
| Morgan-Weir Post #27 American Legion Litchfield, CT | General Support | $50,000 |
| Litchfield Housing Authority Bantam, CT | General Support | $45,000 |
| Litchfield Historical Society Litchfield, CT | General Support | $40,206 |
| Litchfield Land Trust Litchfield, CT | General Support | $35,000 |
| Northfield Volunteer Fire Company Northfield, CT | General Support | $35,000 |
| Oliver Wolcott Library Litchfield, CT | General Support | $34,750 |
Ready to take the next step with Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust?
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 | $19,161,375 | $1,242,689 | $1,363,279 | $1,219,874 | 26 | $1,234,344 | $1,114,643 | $1,431,300 |
| 2024 | $19,205,684 | $3,986,933 | $1,242,170 | $1,104,531 | 21 | $1,119,010 | $3,953,858 | $1,232,816 |
| 2023 | $16,456,232 | $958,012 | $1,176,990 | $1,145,626 | 21 | $1,156,922 | $943,554 | $1,124,205 |
| 2022 | $16,673,495 | $400,431 | $1,344,067 | $1,299,014 | 21 | $1,310,211 | $383,059 | $1,158,688 |
| 2021 | $17,612,581 | $1,667,197 | $1,228,318 | $1,187,603 | 15 | $1,198,528 | $1,650,982 | $1,300,322 |
| 2020 | $17,173,731 | $894,488 | $1,118,406 | $1,078,113 | 21 | — | $878,624 | $1,203,865 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.4M 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
The foundations’ stated purpose is “to support the cultural, educational, health-related, religious, and civic organizations” serving the people and communities of Litchfield and the named surrounding areas. Their grantmaking has included large capital improvement projects and smaller projects, such as medical and rescue equipment for local volunteer ambulance and fire companies.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of community work represented among grantees. The Litchfield Community Center says it provides a setting for creative, intellectual, and recreational pursuits. Arethusa Farm Foundation says it operates a farm that serves as a home for vocational, agricultural, and sustainability education. The Litchfield Land Trust describes its work as protecting open space and educating the public about preserving Litchfield’s rural character. Greenwoods Counseling & Referrals says it works to ensure access to mental healthcare for people living and working in Litchfield County.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Trust awarded 26 grants totaling $1,219,874. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $548,094, with a median grant of $16,500. The largest awards included $548,094 to Litchfield Community Center, $125,199 to Litchfield Department of Public Works Parks & Recreation, $80,000 to Arethusa Farm Foundation, and $60,100 to Litchfield Fire Company. The 2025 filing listed the purposes of these grants as general support.
The Trust’s grant information says it gives priority to large capital grants, while also accepting proposals for smaller requests from smaller organizations and seed money for vital start-up programs. It looks favorably on matching-grant requests. The stated restrictions rule out grants to individuals, annual appeals, and general endowment funds, and say grants are not made for programs, salaries, operating expenses, trips, concerts, events, and similar purposes.
Eligible applicants must be exempt under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, affiliated with a municipal entity within or associated with Litchfield, or a recognized religious organization. Applications are not accepted from municipalities or departments other than those in Litchfield. The website describes a new application process launching in Spring 2026, beginning with an Organization Profile. However, the Trust’s 2025 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michele Saunders as president, Matt Karpas as treasurer, and Tracy Keilty as secretary. It also lists Ann Borzilleri, Andrew Roraback, Denise Raap, and Hilary Barhydt as board members. The foundations’ 2026 board listing identifies Denise Raap as 1st Selectman.
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust is led by Michele Saunders, President since 2024 (on filings since 2022); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michele Saunders
President
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Roraback
Board Member
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Borzilleri
Board Member
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Raap
Board Member
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Karpas
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Keilty
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Barhydt
Board Member
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Patrick Boland (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Bruce Schnitzer (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Henry W. Seherr-Thoss (2020–2021) — Executive Managing Director
- Former: John Boyd (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Leo Paul (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Rose Brooks (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Rosie Furniss (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Stacie Kavle (2020–2021) — Board Member
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.
Frequently asked questions about Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust
How much does Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust give each year?
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust gave $1.2M across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 21 grants.
What is Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $16,500, and its average grant was $46,918, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust that year got $33K on average.
Where does Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust give grants?
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Litchfield, CT (19 grants), Torrington, CT (3 grants) and Northfield, CT (2 grants).
Does Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Litchfield Community Center ($548,094), Litchfield Department of Public Works Parks & Recreation ($125,199) and Arethusa Farm Foundation ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust?
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust reported $19.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust fund?
The foundations’ stated purpose is “to support the cultural, educational, health-related, religious, and civic organizations” serving the people and communities of Litchfield and the named surrounding areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust?
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check seherr-thoss.org for any change to that policy.
What is Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust's EIN?
Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6399636. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Live grants for the work Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/seherr-thoss-charitable-trust-morg_3c10a76b1d0e4f0b988063e8f86db316
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_066399636_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/seherr-thoss-charitable-trust-morg_3c10a76b1d0e4f0b988063e8f86db316},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Seherr-Thoss 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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