The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Hancock, Maine. It makes grants to charitable organizations, including organizations in Maine and other states.
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation gave $27K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $861.29), mostly in Maine. 57% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $26,700
- +15.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +19.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $861
- -3.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $750
- Total assets
- $645,434
- +7.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (17 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maine (73% 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 Joel Frantzman Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 59, Hancock, ME 04640
Phone: (207) 422-3735
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Downeast YMCA ($3K). Together the top 10 received $13K.
Grant Size Distribution
177 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 177 grants of 177 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Maine received 73% of the foundation’s 2024 grant dollars. Other recipient-state shares included Washington, DC, and New York at 6% each, and Virginia and Colorado at 4% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 30 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $938; repeat grants $827. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $500 repeat.
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% 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 (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 $23K (2023) to $53K (2020). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $27K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Downeast YMCA Ellsworth, ME | General Support | $3,000 |
| University of Maine Museum of Art Bangor, ME | General Support | $1,500 |
| Columbia School of General Studies New York, NY | General Support | $1,500 |
| Crabtree Nect Land Trust Hancock, ME | General Support | $1,000 |
| MCHT (Maine Coast Heritage Trust) Topsham, ME | General Support | $1,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservancy Arlington, VA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Hospice Volunteers of Hancock Ellsworth, ME | General Support | $1,000 |
| Pierce Pond Watershed Trust Augusta, ME | General Support | $1,000 |
| The Good Shepard Hampden, ME | General Support | $1,000 |
| Downeast Coastal Conservency Machias, ME | General Support | $1,000 |
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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 | $645,434 | $78,327 | $46,085 | $26,700 | 31 | $30,610 | $64,386 | $31,221 |
| 2023 | $599,251 | $68,830 | $37,673 | $23,225 | 26 | $23,388 | $52,384 | $28,586 |
| 2022 | $554,153 | $40,892 | $45,476 | $26,403 | 38 | $26,403 | $24,376 | $26,895 |
| 2021 | $544,796 | $85,324 | $52,372 | $31,850 | 41 | $31,850 | $67,133 | $25,385 |
| 2020 | $767,284 | $65,893 | $67,704 | $52,700 | 41 | — | $51,952 | $38,122 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. The American Indian College Fund describes its mission as investing in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities. The Natural Resources Conservancy describes its mission as conserving important, unique, and historic natural resources throughout the United States and territories. Other 2024 grantees include education, outdoor recreation, and conservation organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 31 grants totaling $26,700. Grants ranged from $250 to $3,000, with a median of $750. Larger grants included $3,000 to Downeast YMCA; $1,500 each to the University of Maine Museum of Art and Columbia School of General Studies; and $1,000 each to Crabtree Nect Land Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Natural Resources Conservancy, Hospice Volunteers of Hancock, Pierce Pond Watershed Trust, The Good Shepard, Downeast Coastal Conservency, American Indian College Fund, and Fishes & Loaves.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joel Frantzman is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation is led by Joel Frantzman, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joel Frantzman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation
How much does The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation give each year?
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation gave $27K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $23K across 26 grants.
What is The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $750, and its average grant was $861, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation that year got $938 on average.
Where does The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation give grants?
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (6%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ellsworth, ME (5 grants), Hancock, ME (5 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Portland, ME (2 grants).
Does The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Downeast YMCA ($3,000), University of Maine Museum of Art ($1,500) and Columbia School of General Studies ($1,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation?
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation reported $645K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $31K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $31K (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 Joel Frantzman Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. The American Indian College Fund describes its mission as investing in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation's EIN?
The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-6489367. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Joel Frantzman Family Foundation 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 November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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