The American Chestnut Foundation logo

The American Chestnut Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Asheville, NC EIN: 41-1483019 Website

TO RETURN THE ICONIC AMERICAN CHESTNUT TO ITS NATIVE RANGE.

Key facts about The American Chestnut Foundation

EIN
41-1483019
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$335,652
Grants made (2025)
10
Average grant
$33,565
Median grant
$20,108
New grantees (estimate)
30% first-time grantees (3 of 10, 2025)
Total assets
$10,700,404
Primary geography
Pennsylvania (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who The American Chestnut Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The American Chestnut Foundation's 10 itemized 2025 grants were Pennsylvania (32%), Georgia (24%) and Virginia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were University Park, PA (2 grants) and Blacksburg, VA (2 grants). None of its 10 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (8 grants).

Is The American Chestnut Foundation open to new grantees?

30%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 10 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $42K. How we count

Medians: $13K first-time, $34K repeat.

  • 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$10.7M

+7.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$336K

+107.5% YoY

Grant Count

10

+66.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$34K

+24.5% YoY

About The American Chestnut Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The American Chestnut Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Asheville, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $10.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 10 grants totaling $336K. Net investment income was $437K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

14states

Share of all 10 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

BlacksburgUniversity ParkAthensBiddefordClemsonSyracuseNotre DameChatanoogaNew HavenAshevilleAtlantaBangorCharlemontColumbusHuntsvilleMorganton

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$10,700,404$9,943,661$9,203,547
Revenue$3,881,634$3,367,085$3,707,009
Expenses$3,892,850$3,683,761$3,418,320
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$437,309$207,850$-29,622
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 21, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 11, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 11, 2024)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$141K$283K$424K$566K10 grants20208 grants20217 grants20225 grants20236 grants202410 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Pennsylvania State University: $83KPennsylvania State University$83KUniv of Georgia Research Foundation: $81KUniv of Georgia ResearchFoundation$81KVirginia Polytechnic University: $58KVirginia PolytechnicUniversity$58KClemson University: $34KClemson University$34KPa Chapter of the American Chestnut: $25KPa Chapter of the AmericanChestnut$25KHudsonalpha Institute for: $15KHudsonalpha Institute for$15KMassachusetts Chapter of Tacf: $13KMassachusetts Chapter of Tacf$13KMaine Chapter of Tacf: $11KMaine Chapter of Tacf$11KUniversity of New England: $10KUniversity of New England$10KVirginia Polytechnic Institute: $6KVirginia Polytechnic Institute$6K

Grant Size Distribution

36 grants across all recorded years

24<$50K8$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Pennsylvania State University ($83,254), Univ of Georgia Research Foundation ($81,058), Virginia Polytechnic University ($57,999).

RecipientPurposeAmount
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY University Park, PARESEARCH/SALARY SUPP$83,254
UNIV OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION Athens, GARESEARCH$81,058
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY Blacksburg, VARESEARCH$57,999
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY Clemson, SCRESEARCH$33,502
PA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT University Park, PAORCHARD MANAGER$25,000
HUDSONALPHA INSTITUTE FOR Huntsville, ALRESEARCH$15,216
MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER OF TACF Charlemont, MARESEARCH$13,000
MAINE CHAPTER OF TACF Bangor, MERESEARCH$11,000
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND Biddeford, MERESEARCH$10,000
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Blacksburg, VARESEARCH$5,623

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

William C Pitt PHD — Pres/CEO THR: $218KWilliam C Pitt PHDPres/CEO THR$218KShaomin Li — Controller T: $73KShaomin LiController T$73K

From 2025 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Dr Elizabeth KramerChair15—
Dr John ScrivaniVice Chair15—
James SearingSecretary/Tr15—
Anna Sproul-LatimerPromo/Outrea5—
Dr Dennis LiuScience/Tech5—
Betty AllisonDirector5—
Stephen BlackDirector5—
Rebecca CarterDirector5—
Dr Martin CipolliniDirector5—
William J Cude IIIDirector5—
Dr Deborah DelmerDirector5—
Catherine NovelliDirector5—
Dr Jeanne Romero-SeversonDirector5—
Jack SwattDirector5—
Barbara TormoehlenDirector THR5—
William C Pitt PHDPres/CEO THR40$218,325
Bruce LevineInterim CEO1—
Michael GoergenPresident/Ce40—
Shaomin LiController T40$72,959

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The American Chestnut Foundation?

The American Chestnut Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Asheville, NC. It holds $10.7M in total assets as of 2025.

How large is The American Chestnut Foundation?

As of 2025, The American Chestnut Foundation holds $10.7M in total assets with $3.9M in annual revenue. It awarded 10 grants totaling $336K in 2025.

Where does The American Chestnut Foundation operate?

The American Chestnut Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.

What size grants does The American Chestnut Foundation award?

In 2025, The American Chestnut Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $336K — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is The American Chestnut Foundation's EIN?

The American Chestnut Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1483019. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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