Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust
The Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Bath, Maine. It supports charitable organizations selected under guidelines provided in Selden F. von Herten’s will; it states that contributions are made only to preselected organizations.
Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust gave $180K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Maine. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $180,000
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,364
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $1,169,677
- -11.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (100% 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 Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 105 Front Street, Bath, ME 04530
Phone: (207) 443-6296
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland ($25K). Together the top 10 received $175K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 80% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 129% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2022) to $180K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $180K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland Westbrook, ME | Support of Operations | $25,000 |
| Camp Sunshine Casco, ME | Support of Operations | $25,000 |
| Center for Grieving Children Portland, ME | Support of Operations | $25,000 |
| Riding to the Top Windham, ME | Support of Operations | $25,000 |
| Wolfe's Neck Center Freeport, ME | Support of Operations | $25,000 |
| Peace Ridge Sanctuary Brooks, ME | Support of Operations | $15,000 |
| Maine Maritime Museum Bath, ME | Support of Operations | $15,000 |
| Tree Street Youth Lewiston, ME | Support of Operations | $10,000 |
| Ark Pet Shelter Cherryfield, ME | Support of Operations | $5,000 |
| Midcoast Humane Society Brunswick, ME | Support of Operations | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Selden F Von Herten 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 | $1,169,677 | $65,480 | $211,113 | $180,000 | 11 | $183,753 | $39,577 | $142,637 |
| 2024 | $1,315,310 | $96,657 | $213,568 | $170,000 | 11 | $175,071 | $58,668 | $136,351 |
| 2023 | $1,432,221 | $91,255 | $193,450 | $165,000 | 10 | $168,333 | $68,682 | $129,478 |
| 2022 | $1,534,416 | $1,669,641 | $135,225 | $100,000 | 8 | $106,878 | $93,993 | $120,619 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $143K 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 trust’s 2024 filing describes its charitable activity as supporting organizations exempt under specified sections of the tax code, based on guidelines in Selden F. von Herten’s will.
Its 2025 grants included organizations working in animal welfare, equine-assisted services, support for grieving children, youth development, outdoor education, and maritime history. For example, the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland describes its mission as advancing animal welfare and the quality of life in its community. Riding to the Top says its mission is to enhance health and wellness through equine-assisted services. Maine Maritime Museum describes its mission as connecting people to the past, present, and future of Maine’s waterways and their global reach.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the trust awarded 11 grants totaling $180,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, with a median of $15,000. All listed grants were for support of operations.
Among its 2025 grants, the trust awarded $25,000 each to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, Camp Sunshine, Center for Grieving Children, Riding to the Top, and Wolfe’s Neck Center. It awarded $15,000 each to Peace Ridge Sanctuary and Maine Maritime Museum, and $10,000 to Tree Street Youth. Peace Ridge Sanctuary describes its work as providing permanent sanctuary to abused and neglected animals, particularly farmed animals, and promoting compassionate choices through education. Tree Street Youth says it supports Lewiston-Auburn youth through academics, arts, and athletics while providing a safe space for development and unity across differences.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bath Savings Trust Company is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust's only listed officer is Bath Savings Trust Company, Trustee on every filing since 2022 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bath Savings Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$31K (2022) → $29K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 $29K, to Bath Savings Trust Company (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust
How much does Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust give each year?
Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust gave $180K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $170K across 11 grants.
What is Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,364, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust that year got $15K on average.
Where does Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust give grants?
Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust gives mostly in Maine: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support of Operations" (11 grants).
Who are Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland ($25,000), Camp Sunshine ($25,000) and Center for Grieving Children ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust?
Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $184K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $143K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust fund?
The trust’s 2024 filing describes its charitable activity as supporting organizations exempt under specified sections of the tax code, based on guidelines in Selden F. von Herten’s will. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust?
The trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust's EIN?
Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1728440. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Does Selden F Von Herten 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025
Live grants for the work Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/selden-f-von-herten-charitable-trust-morg_978665417b2d4812be76a3365f3b409d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_871728440_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Selden F Von Herten Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/selden-f-von-herten-charitable-trust-morg_978665417b2d4812be76a3365f3b409d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Selden F Von Herten 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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