Stanley W Watson Foundation
The Stanley W Watson Foundation is a private foundation based in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Established in 1997, it operates as an independent foundation focused on supporting local charitable organizations and causes within Massachusetts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$31.4M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+18.8% YoY
Grant Count
36
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+15.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stanley W Watson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily to local charities in Massachusetts. Its primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$3,000–$450,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Massachusetts, with a particular emphasis on local Falmouth-area charities and organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $31,364,714
- Total giving: $1,781,525
- Giving rate: 4.8% of assets
As of 2023 (alternate reporting):
- Total assets: $31.0 million
- Total giving: $1.5 million
- Total liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $31,364,714 | $31,003,072 | $30,130,795 |
| Revenue | $2,248,042 | $2,539,290 | $1,873,253 |
| Expenses | $1,886,400 | $1,667,013 | $1,891,749 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,799,289 | $1,517,230 | $1,682,870 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,843,714 | $1,663,389 | $848,410 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,306,629 | $1,815,574 | $1,850,693 |
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
166 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ($450,000), Marine Biological Laboratory ($200,000), Community Health Center of Cape Cod ($188,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE 300 COMMITTEE LAND TRUST FALMOUTH, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| BELONGING TO EACH OTHER INC FALMOUTH, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| BUZZARDS BAY COALITION NEW BEDFORD, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $35,000 |
| CAPE COD CHILDRENS PLACE N EASTHAM, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| CAPE COD POTTERS INC YARMOUTH PORT, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,775 |
| CAPE COD HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION HYANNIS, MA | ALLOCATED TO THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION | $90,000 |
| CAPE COD HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION HYANNIS, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $180,000 |
| CAPE COD YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION INC WEST BARNSTABLE, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| CHILDREN'S SCHOOL OF SCIENCE INC WOODS HOLE, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $4,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH WOODS HOLE, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Carol Chittenden is listed as a contact for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREDERICA W VALOIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROL B CHITTENDEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW WATERBURY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant recipients include the Falmouth Education Foundation ($25,000 in unrestricted support in 2023) and the Rotary Club of Falmouth Cape Cod ($10,000 in unrestricted support in 2023).
The Hyde and Watson Foundation Awarded $3,272,180 in Grants | Council ofSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Stanley W Watson Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily to local charities in Massachusetts. Its primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Stanley W Watson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $1.5–$1.8 million • Number of grants: approximately 35 grants annually • Grant range: $3,000–$450,000 • Median grant size: $15,000–$20,000 **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Geographic Restriction:** Funding is limited to Massachusetts organizations.
Where does Stanley W Watson Foundation make grants?
Massachusetts, with a particular emphasis on local Falmouth-area charities and organizations.
What size grants does Stanley W Watson Foundation award?
In 2024, Stanley W Watson Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Stanley W Watson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Stanley W Watson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Stanley W Watson Foundation's EIN?
Stanley W Watson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3100750. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Stanley W Watson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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