The Abelard Foundation Inc
The Abelard Foundation is a family foundation that has been making grants to nonprofit organizations across the United States in support of progressive social change since 1958. The foundation was incorporated in New York in 1958 as the successor to the Albert B. Wells Charitable Trust, which was established in Massachusetts in 1950. The foundation was created by Albert B. Wells and funded with profits from the American Optical Company.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.9M
+1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$396K
+175.0% YoY
Grant Count
14
+27.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+116.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Abelard Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $545K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Abelard Foundation's mission emphasizes giving seed money to new organizations and model projects, with particular focus on:
- Protection of civil rights and civil liberties
- Programs designed to achieve social, political, and economic equality for urban and rural poor
- Giving voice to marginalized communities in decisions about their environment
- Supporting early-stage grassroots groups and community organizers striving to establish a more equitable society
The foundation is committed to supporting local progressive social change activities that expand and protect civil liberties and civil and human rights, and promote and strengthen community involvement in decisions that affect their lives.
As a signatory to Philanthropy's Promise, an initiative of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, the foundation has committed to allocating the majority of its grantmaking dollars to marginalized communities and at least 25 percent to social justice strategies, including advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
& Frequency:**
Average Grant
$10,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Abelard Foundation funds nonprofit organizations across the United States. The foundation's grantmaking is split by the Mississippi River, with separate operations for Eastern and Western applicants. The foundation supports organizations located east and west of the Mississippi River.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Financial data varies across reporting periods:
- Total assets: $7,854,815 (most recent)
- Total giving: $396,000 (most recent)
- Annual revenue: $384,700–$906,413 (varies by year)
- Number of grants: Approximately 15 per year
The foundation's financial data is sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,854,815 | $7,740,023 | $7,267,817 |
| Revenue | $634,465 | $752,302 | $384,715 |
| Expenses | $519,673 | $280,096 | $530,216 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $433,416 | $188,793 | $443,860 |
| Net Investment Income | $559,188 | $660,999 | $301,558 |
| Distributable Amount | $544,534 | $491,729 | $499,803 |
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
127 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Abelard Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund ($250,000), Adelante Student Voices ($15,000), Struggle for Miami's Affordable & Sustainable Housing ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADELANTE STUDENT VOICES POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| FAIRNESS WEST VIRGINIA CHARLESTON, WV | SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| MICHIGAN FAITH IN ACTION FLINT, MI | SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| PHILADELPHIA JOBS WITH JUSTICE PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| STRUGGLE FOR MIAMI'S AFFORDABLE & SUSTAINABLE HOUSING MIAMI, FL | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| THE PEOPLE'S PORT AUTHORITY PROVIDENCE, RI | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| WISCONSIN CONSERVATION VOICES MADISON, WI | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE GIFT FUND BOSTON, MA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $250,000 |
| GA LATINO ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ATLANTA, GA | SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| DECARCERATE MIAMI INC - FOR BEYOND THE BARS MIAMI, FL | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Travis Buck (President, as of 2015)
- Melissa Blessing (Board Member)
- Pat Flowers (Board Member)
- Rachael Blessing (Board Member)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAT FLOWERS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RACHAEL BLESSING | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SARA BLESSING | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KRISTEN WELLS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TRAVIS BUCK | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| HEATHER BUCK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| HALERYN DUNLAP | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ADAM DUNLAP | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| GEORGE WELLS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SHEA BREAUX WELLS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DANIEL SCHRECK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TERESA JUAREZ SCHRECK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHARLES SCHRECK | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| CHRISTINE SCHRECK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHARLES HAMLIN SCHRECK | CO-PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| AUDREY SCHRECK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| THOMAS SCHRECK | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| CELESTE SCHRECK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MASON SCHRECK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SANDRA RENTERIA SCHRECK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| THOMAS AG SCHRECK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ADELE BERNHARD | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| PETER NEUFELD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SHANE NEUFELD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CLAIRE STAPLETON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LENA NEUFELD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL BERNHARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| NANCY DOLL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANNA BERNHARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PETER WORKMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANDREW BUDDY BERNHARD | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| SUSAN COLLINS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DONALD COLLINS | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| BRIAN COLLINS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| GARRETT COLLINS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ASHLEY CRAWFORD | CO-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CECIL CRAWFORD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| STEVEN BERNHARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SHERYL BERNHARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JESSICA BERNHARD | SECRETARY/ASS'T TREASURER | 1 | — |
| PETER CARTY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW BERNHARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JULIA BERNHARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA HEWITT | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| DAVE GUTMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CJ CRAWFORD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ALICE HOUGH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Abelard Foundation Inc fund?
The Abelard Foundation's mission emphasizes giving seed money to new organizations and model projects, with particular focus on: • Protection of civil rights and civil liberties • Programs designed to achieve social, political, and economic equality for urban and rural poor • Giving voice to marginalized communities in decisions about their environment • Supporting early-stage grassroots groups and community organizers striving to establish a more equitable society The foundation is committed t…
How do I apply for a grant from The Abelard Foundation Inc?
**Grant Size & Frequency:** • Average grant size: $10,000 • Typical award range: $5,000–$250,000 • The foundation makes approximately 15 grants per year, of which generally five are new grants • Most grants are for general support **Grant Terms:** • Grants are approved for one year • The foundation will consider two renewal requests **Application & Decision Timeline:** • The board of directors meets in the late spring and late fall each year to make grantmaking decisions
Where does The Abelard Foundation Inc make grants?
The Abelard Foundation funds nonprofit organizations across the United States. The foundation's grantmaking is split by the Mississippi River, with separate operations for Eastern and Western applicants. The foundation supports organizations located east and west of the Mississippi River.
What size grants does The Abelard Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Abelard Foundation Inc awarded 14 grants totaling $396K — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Abelard Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Abelard Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $545K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Abelard Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Abelard Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6064580. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Abelard Foundation Inc'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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