The Kelsey Trust
The Kelsey Trust is a private family foundation established in 1988 and based in Lincoln, Massachusetts. The foundation operates with limited staffing and focuses its philanthropic efforts on a defined set of priority areas.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$224K
-3.7% YoY
Grant Count
30
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-19.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kelsey Trust reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Kelsey Trust's primary areas of interest include:
- Environment
- Children and families
- Education
- Health
Grantmaking
The foundation funds a limited number of unsolicited proposals through a letter of interest application format.
Grant Range
observed: $2,500–$13,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making activities focus primarily on:
- Vermont
- New York
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $3,817,681
Annual Giving: $223,500 (most recent fiscal year)
IRS Status: Active since March 1989
EIN: 04-6609917
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,817,681 | $3,856,686 | $3,643,034 |
| Revenue | $233,866 | $480,287 | $240,941 |
| Expenses | $273,096 | $266,635 | $219,214 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $230,835 | $237,963 | $194,647 |
| Net Investment Income | $186,217 | $480,287 | $219,853 |
| Distributable Amount | $235,591 | $215,105 | $208,531 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Planned Parenthood of Northern New England ($12,500), Adirondack Foundation ($10,000), Committee on Temporary Shelter Inc ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADIRONDACK FOUNDATION LAKE PLACID, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY SHELTER INC BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA FOUNDATION INC (6663-S01) BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,000 |
| HOMESHARE VERMONT INC SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ADDISON COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP INC DBA HOPE MIDDLEBURY, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| HOWARDCENTER INC DBA HOWARD CENTER INC BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| THE JOHN W GRAHAM EMERGENCY SHELTER AND SERVICES VERGENNES, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| LUND FAMILY CENTER INC BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF VERMONT RICHMOND, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND COLCHESTER, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by trustees with limited paid staffing:
- Paula D Johnson (Trustee)
- Stephen P Johnson (Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAULA D JOHNSON | TRUSTEE - As required | — | — |
| STEPHEN P JOHNSON | TRUSTEE - As required | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kelsey Trust fund?
The Kelsey Trust's primary areas of interest include: • Environment • Children and families • Education • Health
How do I apply for a grant from The Kelsey Trust?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $2,500 to $48,500 • Median grant amount: $7,800 • Grant range observed: $2,500–$13,000 **Application Process:** The foundation funds a limited number of unsolicited proposals through a letter of interest application format. **Approachability:** The foundation is possibly open to applications and does not restrict funding to preselected grantees only.
Where does The Kelsey Trust make grants?
The foundation's grant-making activities focus primarily on: • Vermont • New York • Massachusetts
What size grants does The Kelsey Trust award?
In 2025, The Kelsey Trust awarded 30 grants totaling $224K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Kelsey Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Kelsey Trust reported a distributable amount of $236K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kelsey Trust's EIN?
The Kelsey Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6609917. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kelsey Trust'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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