The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation
The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation is a private foundation established in 1994 and based in Somerville, Massachusetts. The foundation operates with no employees and is supported by The Estate of Elsie Van Buren. It functions as a grantmaking organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$160K
+68.4% YoY
Grant Count
9
+28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+31.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation reported a distributable amount of $183K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's funding priorities encompass a diverse range of areas including:
- Community and school gardens
- Environmental education
- Environmental conservation
- Beekeeping
- Organic farming and agriculture
- Agricultural education
- Food safety
- Management and technical assistance for nonprofits
Grantmaking
The foundation made 63 grants in 2024, with total giving of $160,000. Recent grantees include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2024:
- Total assets: $3,235,483
- Total revenues: $255,751
- Total expenses: $205,711
- Investment income and dividends: $111,126
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $144,625
Revenue Sources: The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and asset sales rather than contributions or grants received.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,235,483 | $3,184,163 | $3,197,612 |
| Revenue | $255,751 | $115,615 | $-195,983 |
| Expenses | $205,711 | $134,265 | $4,431,648 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $165,205 | $100,200 | $4,361,676 |
| Net Investment Income | $216,663 | $81,550 | $27,531 |
| Distributable Amount | $183,243 | $163,622 | $334,274 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
146 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mass Inc ($25,000), World Central Kitchen ($25,000), Give Directly ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MASS INC BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| GIVE DIRECTLY NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| FEEDING AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| EVERYDAY BOSTON BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| REINBOW RIDING CENTER SHREWSBURY, VT | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOOD BANK PROVIDENCE, RI | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| VERMONT FOOD BANK BARRE, VT | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was established in honor of Dr. Elsie Procter van Buren (May 28, 1927 – March 23, 2020). Dr. van Buren was a 1948 graduate of Radcliffe College and earned a Ph.D. in English Literature from Tufts University in 1979. She taught English Literature at Boston University, Northeastern University, and Tufts University. An accomplished mountain climber, dedicated conservationist, and political activist, she served on the board of the Union of Concerned Scientists and was a devoted supporter of the Peterborough Players. She maintained residences in Hancock, New Hampshire and Peterborough, New Hampshire during her lifetime.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARIANE TORRES | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JESS M TORRES | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation fund?
The foundation's funding priorities encompass a diverse range of areas including: • Community and school gardens • Environmental education • Environmental conservation • Beekeeping • Organic farming and agriculture • Agricultural education • Food safety • Management and technical assistance for nonprofits
How do I apply for a grant from The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 63 grants in 2024, with total giving of $160,000. Recent grantees include: • Feeding America ($25,000) • World Central Kitchen ($25,000) • Everyday Boston ($15,000) **Financial Capacity:** The foundation maintains total assets of $3,235,483 as of December 2024, positioning it to support ongoing grantmaking activities.
What size grants does The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation award?
In 2024, The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $160K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation reported a distributable amount of $183K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation's EIN?
The Elsie Procter Van Buren Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3251802. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Elsie Procter Van Buren 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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