The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation is a private foundation based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing states that donations are restricted to promoting horticultural interests.
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc gave $24K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Massachusetts. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $23,600
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,573
- +21.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $284,301
- -2.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists a letter as the required form and materials. It states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Donations are restricted to promoting horticultural interests.
- Contact
Application contact: The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation
Mailing address: 25 Phipps Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748
Phone: (508) 435-3414
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Horticultural Research Institute ($5K). Together the top 10 received $19K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 68 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 66% of grant dollars went to Massachusetts recipients, 21% to Ohio, and 4% each to New York, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $19K (2019) to $24K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $24K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Horticultural Research Institute Columbus, OH | Research | $5,000 |
| Massachusetts Horticultural Society Wellesley, MA | Education | $5,000 |
| New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill Boylston, MA | Education | $2,000 |
| Cornell Botanical Gardens Ithaca, NY | Education | $1,000 |
| Friends of Bedrock Gardens Lee, NH | Charitable - Cultural and Educational Gardens | $1,000 |
| Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetary Cambridge, MA | Educational Programs/Conservation | $1,000 |
| Grow Native Massachusetts Waltham, MA | Charitable | $1,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,000 |
| Future Farmers America Foundation Abington, MA | Education | $1,000 |
| Ipps Er Foundation Wakefield, RI | Research Education | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $284,301 | $25,305 | $31,511 | $23,600 | 15 | $23,600 | $25,305 | $25,235 |
| 2024 | $290,490 | $15,770 | $25,829 | $20,780 | 16 | $20,780 | $15,770 | $23,513 |
| 2023 | $300,549 | $12,901 | $29,109 | $22,300 | 13 | $22,300 | $12,901 | $20,736 |
| 2022 | $316,757 | $30,147 | $31,594 | $24,250 | 12 | $24,250 | $30,096 | $22,733 |
| 2021 | $318,204 | $26,897 | $29,015 | $22,250 | 12 | $22,250 | $26,576 | $23,871 |
| 2020 | $320,322 | $-7,591 | $26,738 | $20,350 | 11 | — | $4,577 | $22,291 |
| 2019 | $354,651 | $16,136 | $25,488 | $19,150 | 10 | — | $16,136 | $20,338 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its funding restriction as the promotion of horticultural interests. Its 2025 grants show support for research, education, gardens, and horticultural organizations. For example, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society says its mission is to promote the art and science of horticulture for the public good; the Horticultural Research Institute says it funds and communicates horticultural research; and Grow Native Massachusetts says it promotes native plants and healthy ecosystems. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $23,600 through 15 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $600 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000.
Notable 2025 grants included $5,000 to the Horticultural Research Institute for research and $5,000 to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for education. Other grants included $2,000 to New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill for education, and $1,000 each to Cornell Botanical Gardens, Friends of Bedrock Gardens, Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery, Grow Native Massachusetts, an individual recipient, Future Farmers America Foundation, IPPS ER Foundation, MNLA Foundation for Educational Excellence, and Native Plant Trust.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter W. Mezitt as president, Elizabeth P. Mezitt as clerk, and Laurel Provencher as director.
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc is led by Peter W. Mezitt, President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Peter W. Mezitt
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurel Provencher
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth P. Mezitt
Clerk
Director → Clerk, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: R. Wayne Mezitt (2019–2023) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc
How much does The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc give each year?
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc gave $24K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $21K across 16 grants.
What is The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,573, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc give grants?
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (21%).
Does The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (10 grants).
Who are The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Horticultural Research Institute ($5,000), Massachusetts Horticultural Society ($5,000) and New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc?
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc reported $284K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (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 Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its funding restriction as the promotion of horticultural interests. Its 2025 grants show support for research, education, gardens, and horticultural organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc?
The filing lists a letter as the required form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3161096. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Mezitt Horticultural Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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