The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation
The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 in Vermont and based in Shelburne, VT. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations with a primary emphasis on the Burlington area and broader Vermont region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.0M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$602K
-18.0% YoY
Grant Count
67
+1.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-19.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $588K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on higher and other education. Additional areas of interest include:
- Human services
- Health
- Media and communications
- The environment
- Children and youth
- Arts and culture, including museums
Grantmaking
The Stern Center for Language & Learning received multiple grants totaling $230,000 in general support during the most recent grant year.
Ready to take the next step with The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Vermont, with particular emphasis on the Burlington area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $8,009,074
- Total annual giving: $601,500
- Total revenues: $2,323,880
- Total expenses: $931,531
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,009,074 | $7,708,654 | $6,929,134 |
| Revenue | $2,323,880 | $1,920,283 | $2,082,561 |
| Expenses | $931,531 | $938,877 | $600,932 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $625,075 | $773,581 | $452,113 |
| Net Investment Income | $833,136 | $279,474 | $386,718 |
| Distributable Amount | $587,910 | $447,550 | $450,844 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
195 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stern Center for Language & Learning ($80,000), Stern Center for Language & Learning ($75,000), Stern Center for Language & Learning ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHANGING PERSPECTIVES INC MONTPELIER, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| JANET S MUNT FAMILY ROOM BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| HUNGER FREE VERMONT INC SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| STERN CENTER FOR LANGUAGE & LEARNING WILLISTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| LEE PESKY LEARNING CENTER INC BOISE, ID | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| STERN CENTER FOR LANGUAGE & LEARNING WILLISTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE HANOVER, NH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| JANET S MUNT FAMILY ROOM BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| EMPOWER FUND INC POMONA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| FAIR DEMOCRACY ENGAGEMENT FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAJORIE STERN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ABBI STERN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SARENA STERN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PETER STERN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 458 Shelburne, VT 05482-0458 United States
Phone: 802-985-9943
EIN: 03-0323120
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on higher and other education. Additional areas of interest include: • Human services • Health • Media and communications • The environment • Children and youth • Arts and culture, including museums
How do I apply for a grant from The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $601,500 • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $275,000 • Made 45 grants in the most recent year **Recent Grants:** The Stern Center for Language & Learning received multiple grants totaling $230,000 in general support during the most recent grant year.
Where does The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Vermont, with particular emphasis on the Burlington area.
What size grants does The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation award?
In 2024, The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation awarded 67 grants totaling $602K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $588K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation's EIN?
The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 03-0323120. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Rutland Economic Development Corp
RUTLAND, VT
Assets
$3.8M
Grants
1
Total Given
$72K
Qlla Charities Inc
QUECHEE, VT
Assets
$13K
Grants
1
Total Given
$140K
Vermont State Employees Credit Union
MONTPELIER, VT
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
10
Total Given
$636K
Kratt Brothers Creature Hero Society
STOWE, VT
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Louise Judith and Edgar May Foundation
SHELBURNE, VT
Assets
$2.1M
Grants
31
Total Given
$86K
Lake Champlain Regional Chamber
BURLINGTON, VT
Assets
$4.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$33K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation to a real strategy.