The Christopher W Schlesinger
The Christopher W Schlesinger is a private foundation based in Westport, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing says it provides distributions to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, artistic, or educational purposes.
The Christopher W Schlesinger at a glance
In short: The Christopher W Schlesinger gave $39K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Massachusetts. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $39,200
- -6.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -27.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,015
- +30.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $349,914
- +22.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (92% 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 The Christopher W Schlesinger
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 70 3Rd Street, Westport, MA 02790
Phone: (339) 225-2011
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Christopher W Schlesinger funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Marion Institute ($11K). Together the top 10 received $38K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 68 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 5% to Rhode Island, and 3% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Christopher W Schlesinger open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 228% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2020) to $47K (2021). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $39K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Marion Institute Marion, MA | Elevate Health, Food, and Environmental Equity | $10,500 |
| Westport Food Pantry Westport, MA | Food Bank | $6,000 |
| Buzzards Bay Coalition New Bedford, MA | Protect Clean Water | $5,250 |
| New Bedford Light Inc South Dartmouth, MA | To provide public service journalism for free to community | $4,500 |
| Westport Land Trust Westport, MA | Land Conservation | $2,500 |
| Future Chefs Boston, MA | Prepares teens for successful life and work after high school | $2,000 |
| Hope & Main Warren, RI | Community Development | $2,000 |
| Only a Child Jamaica Plain, MA | Support Children in Poverty | $2,000 |
| Our Sisters School New Bedford, MA | Education Devlopment | $2,000 |
| Rainbow Railroad New York, NY | LGBTQ Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Christopher W Schlesinger?
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 | $349,914 | $103,041 | $40,985 | $39,200 | 13 | $39,880 | $2,576 | $17,481 |
| 2024 | $286,692 | $94,002 | $42,898 | $41,750 | 18 | $42,290 | $47,709 | $13,591 |
| 2023 | $234,214 | $16,533 | $30,966 | $28,000 | 15 | $29,760 | $15,327 | $12,320 |
| 2022 | $247,344 | $79,740 | $35,695 | $33,000 | 10 | $35,625 | $19,126 | $11,068 |
| 2021 | $201,548 | $101,824 | $48,919 | $46,750 | 12 | $46,750 | $2,421 | $8,504 |
| 2020 | $148,643 | $60,783 | $25,154 | $25,150 | 11 | — | $73,519 | $6,002 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Christopher W Schlesinger reported a distributable amount of $17K 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 foundation’s filing describes its charitable activity as distributing funds to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations to further their stated purposes. Its 2025 grants include support for food access, clean-water protection, public-service journalism, land conservation, education, community development, arts and culture, and animal services.
The grantees describe their own work in varied ways. Westport Food Pantry says its mission is to help neighbors maintain food security through access to food and community partnerships. Buzzards Bay Coalition describes its work as protecting and restoring Buzzards Bay and its watershed. New Bedford Light says it provides in-depth, fact-based journalism and a platform for diverse community voices. Our Sisters’ School says it educates and inspires economically disadvantaged girls in the New Bedford area. Hope & Main says it helps local entrepreneurs start food-related businesses through shared-use kitchens and other resources.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $39,200. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $10,500, with a median of $2,000. Notable grants included $10,500 to Marion Institute for “elevate health, food, and environmental equity”; $6,000 to Westport Food Pantry for “food bank”; $5,250 to Buzzards Bay Coalition to “protect clean water”; $4,500 to New Bedford Light for public-service journalism; and $2,500 to Westport Land Trust for land conservation. Other listed awards included $2,000 each to Future Chefs, Hope & Main, Only A Child, and Our Sisters School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher W Schlesinger, Dalton Perras, Susan Schlesinger, Alison Sever Westbrook, Bart Bussink, and Lekei Jacobs as trustees.
The Christopher W Schlesinger's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christopher W. Schlesinger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alison Sever Westbrook
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bart Bussink
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Schlesinger
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dalton Perras
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lekei Jacobs
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Suzanne Church (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Albert W. Bussink (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Saul H. Garlick (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Christopher W Schlesinger
How much does The Christopher W Schlesinger give each year?
The Christopher W Schlesinger gave $39K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $42K across 18 grants.
What is The Christopher W Schlesinger's typical grant size?
The Christopher W Schlesinger's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,015, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Christopher W Schlesinger that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Christopher W Schlesinger give grants?
The Christopher W Schlesinger gives mostly in Massachusetts: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Westport, MA (2 grants), New Bedford, MA (2 grants) and Jamaica Plain, MA (2 grants).
Does The Christopher W Schlesinger give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Christopher W Schlesinger's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Christopher W Schlesinger's largest grantees?
The Christopher W Schlesinger's largest 2025 grantees include Marion Institute ($10,500), Westport Food Pantry ($6,000) and Buzzards Bay Coalition ($5,250), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Christopher W Schlesinger?
The Christopher W Schlesinger reported $350K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Christopher W Schlesinger fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its charitable activity as distributing funds to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations to further their stated purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Christopher W Schlesinger?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Christopher W Schlesinger's EIN?
The Christopher W Schlesinger's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6833723. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Christopher W Schlesinger 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Christopher W Schlesinger funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Christopher W Schlesinger's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Joan Shafran and Rob Haimes
Somerville, MA
The foundation supports organizations working in architecture and design, cultural and historic preservation, landscape heritage, science, education, cancer research, and civil liberties, with recent grants concentrated in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Washington, DC. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $250,000, with a median of $1,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
89
Total Given
$459K
Highland Street Connection
Newton, MA
Highland Street Foundation funds programs supporting children and families, including education, youth mentoring, housing, health care, the environment, and the arts, primarily in Massachusetts, with some support in California and elsewhere. Its 2024 grants ranged from $400 to $100,000, with a median of $5,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; eligible organizations may submit a letter of inquiry after completing its online eligibility quiz.
Assets
$60.4M
Grants
410
Total Given
$4.4M
The Rhode Island Community Foundation
Providence, RI
The Rhode Island Community Foundation funds nonprofits and community efforts in areas including education, arts and culture, housing, health, climate action, and economic mobility. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $23,940, with giving concentrated in Rhode Island; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
977
Total Given
$72.0M
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust
Boston, MA
The Trust funds youth development, academic enrichment, and arts and culture programs for underserved young people, mainly through community organizations and schools in Boston; in New Bedford, it supports pathways to economic independence for underserved youth and young adults. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000; new applicants must first submit a letter of intent, while recent grantees may apply directly.
Assets
$47.6M
Grants
100
Total Given
$2.2M
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc
New Bedford, MA
SouthCoast Community Foundation funds nonprofits working in arts and culture, basic needs, education, economic and community development, health and human services, and nonprofit resilience. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $190,000, with a median of $12,550, primarily serving 41 cities and towns across Southeastern Massachusetts. It offers some competitive, fund-specific opportunities, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$62.0M
Grants
92
Total Given
$2.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Christopher W Schlesinger'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 Christopher W Schlesinger down — hundreds of funders to go?