The Little Engine Foundation Inc
The Little Engine Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Waitsfield, VT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $377K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $3K. Net investment income was $14K.
The Little Engine Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Little Engine Foundation Inc gave $3K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,250
- -92.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -77.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,625
- -67.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,625
- Total assets
- $377,066
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Washington (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Little Engine Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Engedi Refuge ($2K). Together the top 2 received $3K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 14 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Little Engine Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 28% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2025) to $46K (2024). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $3K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Engedi Refuge Lynden, WA | General Use | $1,750 |
| Waitsfield United Church of Christ Waitsfield, VT | General Use | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $377,066 | $14,059 | $5,570 | $3,250 | 2 | $5,343 | $14,059 | $18,749 |
| 2024 | $368,577 | $16,357 | $47,573 | $45,519 | 9 | $47,395 | $16,357 | $16,176 |
| 2023 | $399,793 | $12,825 | $8,813 | $8,000 | 2 | $8,813 | $12,825 | $14,476 |
| 2022 | $395,781 | $23 | $23,075 | $23,000 | 1 | $23,075 | $23 | $15,905 |
| 2021 | $416,620 | $17 | $601 | — | — | $601 | $17 | $17,664 |
| 2020 | $417,204 | $40 | $628 | — | — | — | $40 | $2,949 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Little Engine Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Little Engine Foundation Inc is led by Jason Desantis, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jason Desantis
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Schwartz
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erika Desantis
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Little Engine Foundation Inc
How much does The Little Engine Foundation Inc give each year?
The Little Engine Foundation Inc gave $3K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $46K across 9 grants.
How large is The Little Engine Foundation Inc?
The Little Engine Foundation Inc reported $377K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (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 is The Little Engine Foundation Inc?
The Little Engine Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Waitsfield, VT. It holds $377K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Little Engine Foundation Inc operate?
The Little Engine Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Connecticut, New York, Vermont, Washington.
What is The Little Engine Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Little Engine Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0651325. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Little Engine Foundation Inc funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Little Engine Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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