The Oak Tree Charitable Trust
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Gallatin, Tennessee. Its 2025 filing describes a written application process and states a restriction on awards related to preservation of land.
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: The Oak Tree Charitable Trust gave $37K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Tennessee. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $37,450
- -4.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,873
- -13.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $582,896
- -2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (8 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (32% 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 Oak Tree Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. The filing says to submit a written application explaining the organization’s purpose and how the funds would be used, along with proof of 501(c)(3) status. The filing lists preservation of land as a restriction on awards.
- Review Cycle
- September 30 of the current year, as stated in the 2025 filing. That filing’s September 30, 2025 deadline is past.
- Deadline
- September 30 of the current year, as stated in the 2025 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Sarah E Haynes
Mailing address: 335 W Main Street Ste M, Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: (340) 643-2273
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Oak Tree Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Restoring Lives in the Caribbean ($8K). Together the top 10 received $31K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 79 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee (32%), North Carolina (20%), the District of Columbia (13%), New York (13%), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (11%). The listed grants also included recipients in Colorado and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Oak Tree Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 20 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 90% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 128% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $18K (2021) to $39K (2024). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $37K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Restoring Lives in the Caribbean Mint Hill, NC | Restoring Hope in Caribbean | $7,500 |
| Shalom Zone Gallatin, TN | Invitie Encourage Love Foward | $3,500 |
| Good Leaf Educaiotn Association Inc St Thomas, VI | Educaiton | $3,000 |
| The Southern Environmental Law Cent Nashville, TN | To Influence Laws for Clean Air Wate | $3,000 |
| Green Grants Boulder, CO | Global Green Support | $2,500 |
| Panzi Foundation Washington, DC | Healing Survivors Transforming Commu | $2,500 |
| Camfed USA New York, NY | Supporting Girls to Learn | $2,500 |
| Fund for Global Human Rights Washington, DC | Fund for Human Rights | $2,500 |
| Give Directly New York, NY | Helping Poverty | $2,500 |
| Room in the Inn Nashville, TN | Provide Support for the Homeless | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Oak Tree Charitable Trust?
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 | $582,896 | $34,689 | $48,850 | $37,450 | 20 | $39,230 | $25,069 | $30,539 |
| 2024 | $597,057 | $33,856 | $45,111 | $39,000 | 18 | $40,395 | $29,137 | $30,964 |
| 2023 | $609,372 | $232,672 | $40,267 | $35,000 | 18 | $35,790 | $28,195 | $24,857 |
| 2022 | $415,966 | $20,918 | $25,136 | $19,750 | 13 | $20,730 | $16,512 | $16,836 |
| 2021 | $420,184 | $21,951 | $22,876 | $17,500 | 10 | $18,246 | $17,296 | $16,569 |
| 2020 | $421,109 | $20,015 | $31,757 | $22,000 | 17 | — | $11,089 | $16,919 |
| 2019 | $432,851 | $21,681 | $32,425 | $20,250 | 12 | — | $10,006 | $17,386 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Oak Tree Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $31K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as human rights, housing, survivor recovery, education, environmental protection, and land conservation. These are descriptions of grantees’ work, not stated areas of focus for the foundation. For example, the Fund for Global Human Rights describes its work as supporting people and organizations promoting human rights in their communities; Thistle Farms describes its work as helping women survivors recover and heal; and Habitat for Humanity describes its purpose as creating decent, affordable housing for people in need.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $37,450 across 20 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $7,500, with a median of $1,250.
Among the largest listed grants were $7,500 to Restoring Lives in the Caribbean, $3,500 to Shalom Zone, and $3,000 each to Good Leaf Education Association and the Southern Environmental Law Center. Other listed grants included $2,500 each to Green Grants, Panzi Foundation, CAMFED USA, Fund for Global Human Rights, and GiveDirectly. The foundation also gave $1,500 to Room in the Inn, $1,000 to Electronic Frontier Foundation, and $1,000 to the Trust for Virgin Islands Lands. In addition, it gave $1,000 to Thistle Farms and $500 to Habitat for Humanity in Dyersburg, Tennessee.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michelle E. Haynes as chair and Sarah E. Haynes-Brin and Kenneth C. Haynes as trustees.
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust is led by Michelle E. Haynes, Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michelle E. Haynes
Chair
Chairman → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Kenneth C. Haynes
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Sarah E. Haynes-Brin
Trustee
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sarah E. Haynes (2019–2023) — Trustee
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 Oak Tree Charitable Trust
How much does The Oak Tree Charitable Trust give each year?
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust gave $37K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $39K across 18 grants.
What is The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $1,873, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Oak Tree Charitable Trust that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Oak Tree Charitable Trust give grants?
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's top state is Tennessee, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (20%) and District of Columbia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (4 grants), Gallatin, TN (4 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Oak Tree Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Restoring Lives in the Caribbean ($7,500), Shalom Zone ($3,500) and Good Leaf Educaiotn Association Inc ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Oak Tree Charitable Trust?
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust reported $583K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $39K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $31K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Oak Tree Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as human rights, housing, survivor recovery, education, environmental protection, and land conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Oak Tree Charitable Trust?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4858429. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Oak Tree Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 March 4, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Oak Tree Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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