The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations in Massachusetts, and states that grantmaking focuses primarily on the Shrewsbury area or on organizations in which the trust’s grantor showed interest during his lifetime.
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust gave $140K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Massachusetts. 64% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $140,000
- +6.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -15.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,727
- +26.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,286,322
- +1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (7 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that the trust does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Submit an application letter with proof of tax-exempt status, current-year budget figures, and prior-year financial statements. The stated geographic and interest restrictions are that grants focus primarily on the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts area or on organizations in which the trust’s grantor showed interest during his lifetime.
- Review Cycle
- The filing says applications should be received before the annual December meeting; it does not specify a year for that meeting.
- Deadline
- The filing says applications should be received before the annual December meeting; it does not specify a year for…
- Contact
Application contact: Warner S Fletcher
Mailing address: 100 Front Street 5Th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 459-8000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($30K). Together the top 10 received $138K.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 49 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust’s 2024 filing states that grantmaking focuses primarily on the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts area or on organizations in which the grantor showed interest during his lifetime. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 11 grantees (64%) 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 $11K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $17K repeat.
- 27% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $121K (2020) to $140K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $140K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA | Support | $30,000 |
| First Congregational Church Worcester, MA | Support | $26,000 |
| United Way of Centeral Massachusetts Worcester, MA | Support | $25,000 |
| Regional Environmental Council Worcester, MA | Support | $15,000 |
| Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts Worcester, MA | Support | $10,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Metro Westgreater Worcester, MA | Support | $10,000 |
| McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys Leicester, MA | Support | $8,000 |
| Shrewsbury Public Library Shrewsbury, MA | Support | $7,000 |
| Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester Worcester, MA | Support | $5,000 |
| India Society of Worcester (ISW) Shrewsbury, MA | Support | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Albert J Gifford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,286,322 | $220,192 | $201,274 | $140,000 | 11 | $168,615 | $171,112 | $161,715 |
| 2023 | $1,268,634 | $106,059 | $178,073 | $131,027 | 13 | $152,800 | $79,912 | $146,887 |
| 2022 | $1,340,648 | $184,712 | $187,309 | $130,000 | 8 | $152,640 | $150,804 | $146,957 |
| 2021 | $1,289,525 | $152,121 | $182,175 | $136,035 | 10 | $156,128 | $116,062 | $147,999 |
| 2020 | $1,319,579 | $133,786 | $163,919 | $120,571 | 7 | — | $110,004 | $120,267 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $162K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in higher education, food justice, English-language education, transitional housing, arts, libraries, and other areas. These descriptions reflect the grantees’ own missions, not a stated mission of the trust. For example, Worcester Polytechnic Institute says it uses education, projects, and research to address global challenges and advance STEM; the Regional Environmental Council describes its work as creating a just food system and building healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities; and Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester says it provides culturally compassionate English-language education for social and economic empowerment. Dismas House of Massachusetts describes providing transitional housing and support services for men recently released from prison.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the trust gave $140,000 through 11 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the recipients were Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($30,000), First Congregational Church in Worcester ($26,000), United Way of Central Massachusetts ($25,000), Regional Environmental Council ($15,000), Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts ($10,000), and Habitat for Humanity Metro Westgreater ($10,000).
The filing says applications should be submitted as a letter and include proof of tax-exempt status, current-year budget figures, and prior-year financial statements. It names Warner S Fletcher as the application contact. The trust does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Warner S Fletcher, Gifford C Brown, and Douglas Q Meystre as trustees.
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Douglas Q. Meystre
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Gifford C. Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Warner S. Fletcher
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $5K, to Warner S Fletcher (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust
How much does The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust give each year?
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust gave $140K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $131K across 13 grants.
What is The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,727, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust that year got $11K on average.
Where does The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust give grants?
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Worcester, MA (8 grants) and Shrewsbury, MA (2 grants).
Does The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (11 grants).
Who are The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($30,000), First Congregational Church ($26,000) and United Way of Centeral Massachusetts ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust?
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $169K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $162K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in higher education, food justice, English-language education, transitional housing, arts, libraries, and other areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust?
The filing states that the trust does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6023790. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Greater Worcester Community Foundation Inc
Worcester, MA
The Foundation supports nonprofits working in arts and creativity, basic needs, economic opportunity, health and wellbeing, youth development, and other local priorities across Worcester County, Massachusetts. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,100 to $565,464, with a median of $15,875. It offers online applications for listed grant programs; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$273.5M
Grants
286
Total Given
$8.6M
Stoddard Charitable Trust
Worcester, MA
Stoddard Charitable Trust reported one grant of $5,625,200 in 2024, to a recipient in Worcester, Massachusetts; its 2022 filing reported 152 grants totaling $4,870,649, so typical grant size is not specified. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and the filing directs applicants to contact Warner S Fletcher; whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.
Assets
$43.8M
Grants
1
Total Given
$5.6M
The Fletcher Foundation
Worcester, MA
The Fletcher Foundation supports a broad range of arts, education, environmental, animal-welfare, and community organizations, with nearly all 2024 grant dollars going to Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $10,500. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$30.6M
Grants
66
Total Given
$3.3M
Hoche-Scofield Foundation-Equity
Dallas, TX
The foundation funds tax-exempt organizations in Worcester County, Massachusetts, supporting work in areas such as arts and culture, education, health, community services, and child advocacy. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $103,599, with a median of $10,000. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and an application is available; deadlines occur four times a year.
Assets
$21.5M
Grants
48
Total Given
$1.0M
The George I Alden Trust
Worcester, MA
The trust primarily funds capital projects supporting undergraduate education at eligible independent colleges in New England and nearby states, as well as educational nonprofits, YMCAs, and vocational and independent secondary schools in the Worcester area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $15,000 to $1 million, with a median of $100,000; the filing says proposals may be submitted in any letter form, and the website lists an unsolicited year-end grant category.
Assets
$214.4M
Grants
79
Total Given
$11.5M
Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc
Pittsfield, MA
The foundation supports nonprofits working in small business, financial inclusion, housing, health and wellness, food insecurity, youth development, and arts and culture across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. In 2024, grants ranged from $50 to $33,333, with a median of $2,500. It accepts written applications from eligible 501(c)(3) public charities and lists quarterly deadlines.
Assets
$17.1M
Grants
478
Total Given
$2.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-albert-j-gifford-charitable-trust-morg_a08b5a73b67841cca7e86dcabb53f1ca
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046023790_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-albert-j-gifford-charitable-trust-morg_a08b5a73b67841cca7e86dcabb53f1ca},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 The Albert J Gifford 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.
The Albert J Gifford Charitable Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?