The Janet Malser Humanities Trust
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust is a private foundation based in Webster, Massachusetts. Established in 2009, it supports educational, cultural, historic, and charitable causes in Dudley, Oxford, and Webster.
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust at a glance
In short: The Janet Malser Humanities Trust gave $193K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Massachusetts. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $192,607
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- -12.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,755
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,100
- Total assets
- $4,941,562
- +3.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (8 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% 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 Janet Malser Humanities Trust
- 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: PO Box 458, Webster, MA 01570-0458
Phone: (508) 213-2170
Website: https://janetmalsertrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Janet Malser Humanities Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish ($25K). Together the top 10 received $137K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 97 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s stated geographic focus is the towns of Dudley, Oxford, and Webster, Massachusetts. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Janet Malser Humanities Trust open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 22 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2018–2025). 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 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $149K (2021) to $240K (2023). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $193K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Webster, MA | Chruch Improvements | $25,000 |
| Umass Memorial Health Harrington Hospital Webster, MA | Building Improvements | $20,000 |
| United Church of Christ Federated Webster, MA | Aid to the Needy | $20,000 |
| Park Avenue Elementary School Webster, MA | Art and Music in School | $12,265 |
| Webster - Dudley Food Share Webster, MA | Aid to the Needy | $12,265 |
| Friends of the Gladys Kelly Library Webster, MA | Library Improvement | $10,000 |
| Gladys E Kelly Public Library Webster, MA | Musical Performances in Public | $10,000 |
| Town of Oxford Community Center Oxford, MA | Musical Performances in Public | $10,000 |
| Nicols College Dudley, MA | Historic Preservation | $8,799 |
| One Bright Future Dudley, MA | Art and Music in School | $8,349 |
Ready to take the next step with The Janet Malser Humanities 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,941,562 | $846,634 | $242,645 | $192,607 | 22 | $196,782 | $844,605 | $221,282 |
| 2024 | $4,756,050 | $472,985 | $259,664 | $213,900 | 25 | $222,215 | $470,626 | $223,570 |
| 2023 | $4,601,132 | $242,974 | $279,926 | $239,971 | 21 | $244,047 | $238,158 | $208,300 |
| 2022 | $4,162,354 | $196,500 | $264,859 | $207,508 | 17 | $218,996 | $193,142 | $219,402 |
| 2021 | $5,223,612 | $383,042 | $192,202 | $149,116 | 12 | $152,909 | $379,760 | $235,384 |
| 2020 | $4,497,077 | $-118,982 | $247,023 | $199,280 | 21 | — | $77,419 | $196,237 |
| 2018 | $3,881,443 | $202,082 | $247,210 | $204,538 | 19 | — | $199,454 | $207,315 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Janet Malser Humanities Trust reported a distributable amount of $221K 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 Trust’s stated purpose is to fund educational, cultural, historic, and charitable causes in Dudley, Oxford, and Webster. Its website also identifies the arts, history, nature, music, community service, and conservation as interests inspired by Janet Malser.
Its 2025 grants included support for school arts and music, library improvements and musical performances, historic preservation, cemetery improvements, aid to people in need, and building improvements. The 2025 filing also lists a $20,000 grant to UMASS Memorial Health Harrington Hospital. Harrington Memorial Hospital Inc., identified separately among the Trust’s supported organizations, describes its mission as providing high-quality medical services cost-efficiently to residents of south central Massachusetts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Trust reported 22 grants totaling $192,607. Grants ranged from $400 to $25,000, with a median of $7,100.
Among the largest grants listed for 2025 were $25,000 to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish for church improvements; $20,000 each to UMASS Memorial Health Harrington Hospital for building improvements and United Church of Christ Federated for aid to the needy; and $12,265 each to Park Avenue Elementary School for art and music in school and Webster-Dudley Food Share for aid to the needy. Other listed grants included $10,000 to Friends of the Gladys Kelly Library for library improvement and $10,000 each to Gladys E. Kelly Public Library and Town of Oxford Community Center for musical performances in public.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Thomas G. Smith, Kenneth J. Deary, Ann L. Lada, Debra Horan, Paul J. Macek, Keith Kirkland, and Allison Lane.
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust's 2025 filing lists 7 officers; 6 of 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Allison Lane
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$300 (2021) → $0 (2025)
Ann L. Lada
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$450 (2020) → $450 (2025)
Debra Horan
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$450 (2021) → $450 (2025)
Keith Kirkland
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$300 (2021) → $300 (2025)
Kenneth J. Deary
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$300 (2021) → $300 (2025)
Paul J. Macek
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$300 (2021) → $300 (2025)
Thomas G. Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$450 (2021) → $450 (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $450, to Thomas G Smith (Trustee). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Janet Malser Humanities Trust
How much does The Janet Malser Humanities Trust give each year?
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust gave $193K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $214K across 25 grants.
What is The Janet Malser Humanities Trust's typical grant size?
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust's median grant in 2025 was $7,100, and its average grant was $8,755, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Janet Malser Humanities Trust that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Janet Malser Humanities Trust give grants?
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Webster, MA (10 grants), Dudley, MA (9 grants) and Oxford, MA (2 grants).
Does The Janet Malser Humanities Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on The Janet Malser Humanities Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Art and Music in School" (6 grants), "Historic Preservation" (4 grants) and "Aid to the Needy" (4 grants).
Who are The Janet Malser Humanities Trust's largest grantees?
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish ($25,000), Umass Memorial Health Harrington Hospital ($20,000) and United Church of Christ Federated ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Janet Malser Humanities Trust?
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust reported $4.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $197K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $221K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Janet Malser Humanities Trust fund?
The Trust’s stated purpose is to fund educational, cultural, historic, and charitable causes in Dudley, Oxford, and Webster. Its website also identifies the arts, history, nature, music, community service, and conservation as interests inspired by Janet Malser. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Janet Malser Humanities Trust?
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 Janet Malser Humanities Trust's EIN?
The Janet Malser Humanities Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4203944. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Does The Janet Malser Humanities Trust 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS August 23, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Janet Malser Humanities Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-janet-malser-humanities-trust-morg_dca4bdd17810455a99f7e8e536a78213
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_264203944_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Janet Malser Humanities Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-janet-malser-humanities-trust-morg_dca4bdd17810455a99f7e8e536a78213},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. 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 Janet Malser Humanities 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.
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