The Kneisel Foundation Inc

BEVERLY, MA EIN: 04-3136120

The Kneisel Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Beverly, Massachusetts, established in 1992. The foundation was founded by financier Bill Kneisel and his wife Anne Hooper Kneisel. Bill Kneisel joined Morgan Stanley in 1974 and eventually became head of Morgan's Worldwide Equity Capital Market Group. The foundation operates without a public website, making it a relatively low-profile funder in the philanthropic landscape.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.6M

-6.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$362K

+0.1% YoY

Grant Count

62

-7.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

+8.2% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Kneisel Foundation primarily funds grantmaking in four key areas:

  • Education: The foundation supports schools with personal connections to the founders, including Harvard Business School and Dartmouth College (Bill's alma maters) and Pingree School (Anne's school). Other education grantees include Babson College, The Highlands School, Hopkins School, Teach for America, The Taft School Corporation, and Brookwood School.

  • Arts and Culture: The foundation supports museums and arts organizations, with past grantees including Bruce Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, Cape Ann Museum, Mint Museum Auxiliary, and New York City Ballet. The foundation also supports public radio, including WSHU Public Radio.

  • Health and Human Services: The foundation provides support to hospitals and organizations in the health and human services sector.

  • General Purpose: The foundation makes general purpose grants to various nonprofit organizations.

Grantmaking

The foundation does not maintain a website and does not provide a clear public application process or guidelines. Networking is noted as the primary avenue for grantseekers to connect with the foundation.

Grant Range

$2,000

Average Grant

$4,300

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily supports nonprofits in the New England area, with particular focus on Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.

Grant Distribution by State

17states
+9 more states

Cities

AlbanyAuroraBabson ParkBaltimoreBeverlyBlue HillBostonBranfordBrooklynCharlestownCharlotteClintonCos CobDedhamDurhamFairfieldFort LauderdaleGloucesterGlouchesterGreensboro

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 2024:

  • Total assets: $2,600,610
  • Total revenues: $203,259
  • Total expenses: $374,596
  • Investment income and dividends: $83,504
  • Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $117,303

Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since May 1992 (EIN: 04-3136120)

Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$103K$206K$309K$412K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$2,600,610$2,774,721$3,004,840
Revenue$203,259$143,475$173,269
Expenses$374,596$371,244$344,684
Qualifying Distributions$366,996$368,644$342,234
Net Investment Income$198,207$138,038$168,589
Distributable Amount$222,649$197,187$203,423

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$90K$181K$271K$362K67 grants202064 grants202179 grants202267 grants202362 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

CAPE ANN MUSEUM$41KDARTMOUTH COLLEGE$40KBROOKWOOD SCHOOL$28KTHE TAFT SCHOOL$28KPINGREE SCHOOL$25KSANGER HEART & VASCULAR …$20KBRUCE MUSEUM$15KHOOPER FUND$15KCHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY SC…$13KHOPKINS SCHOOL$12K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

249<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • William J Kneisel: President & Director, Treasurer
  • Anne H Kneisel: Vice President & Director

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
WILLIAM J KNEISELPRESIDENT & DIRECTOR
ANNE H KNEISELVICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR
WILLIAM J KNEISELTREASURER
ANTHONY P FUSCOCLERK
WILLIAM J PARSONS JRDIRECTOR
PAULA A RYANDIRECTOR

Related Funders

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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