The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Chestnut Hill, MA EIN: 26-3876011

The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chestnut Hill, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 22 grants totaling $341K. Net investment income was $161K.

Key facts about The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation

EIN
26-3876011
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$340,500
Grants made (2025)
22
Average grant
$15,477
Median grant
$5,500
New grantees (estimate)
5% first-time grantees (1 of 22, 2025)
Total assets
$4,708,564
Primary geography
Massachusetts (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation's 22 itemized 2025 grants were Massachusetts (93%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (5 grants), New Bedford, MA (4 grants), Cambridge, MA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). None of its 22 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support religious activities" (5 grants).

Is The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation open to new grantees?

5%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 1 of 22 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $16K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.7M

+4.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$341K

+17.8% YoY

Grant Count

22

+4.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

+12.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $339K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chestnut Hill, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 22 grants totaling $341K. Net investment income was $161K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of all 22 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

BostonNew BedfordNewportCambridgeNew YorkChestnut HillDorchesterMattapoisettSalemMarionNewton CenterNeedham HeightsPalo AltoPasadena

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$147K$293K$440K$586K20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$4,708,564$4,522,360$4,512,057
Revenue$533,176$302,172$238,617
Expenses$347,786$294,283$275,265
Qualifying Distributions$347,786$294,283$275,265
Net Investment Income$161,162$167,532$157,769
Distributable Amount$339,352$293,669$258,996

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$85K$170K$255K$341K18 grants202121 grants202223 grants202321 grants202422 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Combined Jewish Philanthropies: $160KCombined Jewish Philanthropies$160KMIT Department of Chemistry: $50KMIT Department of Chemistry$50KMIT Hillel: $25KMIT Hillel$25KRevolutionary Spaces: $20KRevolutionary Spaces$20KThe Forward Association: $10KThe Forward Association$10KBuzzards Bay Coalition: $10KBuzzards Bay Coalition$10KPasadena Jewish Temple: $10KPasadena Jewish Temple$10KJewish Journal: $10KJewish Journal$10KMattapoisett Land Trust: $10KMattapoisett Land Trust$10KNew Bedford Art Museum: $6KNew Bedford Art Museum$6K

Grant Size Distribution

105 grants across all recorded years

97<$50K3$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Combined Jewish Philanthropies ($160,000), MIT Department of Chemistry ($50,000), MIT Hillel ($25,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
Combined Jewish Philanthropies Boston, MASupport Religious & Charitable Programs$160,000
MIT Department of Chemistry Cambridge, MASupport research & educ activities$50,000
MIT Hillel Cambridge, MASupport educational and religious activities$25,000
Revolutionary Spaces Boston, MASupport historic preservation$20,000
The Forward Association New York, NYSupport cultural and religious activities$10,000
Buzzards Bay Coalition New Bedford, MASupport research programs$10,000
Pasadena Jewish Temple Pasadena, CASupport recoveryreconstruction$10,000
Jewish Journal Salem, MASupport cultural and religious activities$10,000
Mattapoisett Land Trust Mattapoisett, MASupport open space conservation$10,000
New Bedford Art Museum New Bedford, MASupport educational and cultural activities$6,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2025 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Lee L Selwyn Judith E SelwynTrustees3—
Amanda SelwynTrustee1—
Mark D SelwynTrustee1—
Jeremy G SelwynTrustee1—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation?

The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chestnut Hill, MA. It holds $4.7M in total assets as of 2025.

How large is The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation?

As of 2025, The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation holds $4.7M in total assets with $533K in annual revenue. It awarded 22 grants totaling $341K in 2025.

Where does The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation operate?

The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation has awarded grants in California, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island.

What size grants does The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation award?

In 2025, The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $341K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $339K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation's EIN?

The Lee L and Judith E Selwyn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3876011. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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