Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust logo

Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust

Foundation · Grantmaker Garden City, NY EIN: 06-6399636 Website

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.

Key facts about Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust

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.

EIN
06-6399636
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$1,219,874
Grants made (2025)
26
Average grant
$46,918
Median grant
$16,500
New grantees (estimate)
35% first-time grantees (9 of 26, 2025)
Total assets
$19,161,375
Primary geography
Connecticut (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
Deadline
There are Spring and Fall cycles.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$19.2M

-0.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.2M

+10.4% YoY

Grant Count

26

+23.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$47K

-10.8% YoY

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.

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.

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.

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.

How to Apply

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**.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust

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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

1state

Share of all 26 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

States

Cities

LitchfieldBantamNorthfieldTorringtonGoshenLakevilleMiddleburyThomaston

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M21 grants202015 grants202121 grants202221 grants202321 grants202426 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Litchfield Community Center: $548KLitchfield Community Center$548KLitchfield Department of Public Works Parks & Recreation: $125KLitchfield Department ofPublic Works Parks &…$125KArethusa Farm Foundation: $80KArethusa Farm Foundation$80KLitchfield Fire Company: $60KLitchfield Fire Company$60KMorgan-Weir Post #27 American Legion: $50KMorgan-Weir Post #27 AmericanLegion$50KLitchfield Housing Authority: $45KLitchfield Housing Authority$45KLitchfield Historical Society: $40KLitchfield Historical Society$40KLitchfield Land Trust: $35KLitchfield Land Trust$35KNorthfield Volunteer Fire Company: $35KNorthfield Volunteer FireCompany$35KOliver Wolcott Library: $35KOliver Wolcott Library$35K

Grant Size Distribution

104 grants across all recorded years

77<$50K15$50–100K7$100–250K1$250–500K4$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
LITCHFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER Litchfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$548,094
LITCHFIELD DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PARKS & RECREATION Litchfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$125,199
ARETHUSA FARM FOUNDATION Litchfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$80,000
LITCHFIELD FIRE COMPANY Litchfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$60,100
MORGAN-WEIR POST #27 AMERICAN LEGION Litchfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$50,000
LITCHFIELD HOUSING AUTHORITY Bantam, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$45,000
LITCHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY Litchfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$40,206
LITCHFIELD LAND TRUST Litchfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$35,000
NORTHFIELD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY Northfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$35,000
OLIVER WOLCOTT LIBRARY Litchfield, CTGENERAL SUPPORT$34,750

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grant total Number of grants
2025 $1,219,874 26
2024 $1,104,531 21
2023 $1,145,626 21
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$19,161,375$19,205,684$16,456,232
Revenue$1,242,689$3,986,933$958,012
Expenses$1,363,279$1,242,170$1,176,990
Qualifying Distributions$1,234,344$1,119,010$1,156,922
Net Investment Income$1,114,643$3,953,858$943,554
Distributable Amount$1,431,300$1,232,816$1,124,205

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
  8. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
  9. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  10. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
  11. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
  12. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)

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.

Contact

Mailing address: Co Bessemer 1325 Franklin Ave 5, Garden City, NY 11530
Phone: (516) 508-9623
Website: https://seherr-thoss.org

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).

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. 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 Litchfiel…

How do I apply for a grant from Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust?

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 grant…

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.

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