The Orchard Foundation
The Orchard Foundation is a private foundation based in Charlestown, Massachusetts, established in 1990. Also known as Lehner Carl & Gordon Ehrlich Ttees, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and supports charitable organizations through grantmaking and capital campaigns.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
-20.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+27.2% YoY
Grant Count
83
-4.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+33.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Orchard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $281K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations concerned with:
- Environment
- Children, youth, and families
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Maine
- New England region
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,283,350 | $4,138,178 | $4,946,631 |
| Revenue | $729,438 | $501,393 | $947,443 |
| Expenses | $1,586,766 | $1,281,646 | $1,394,670 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,539,071 | $1,219,988 | $1,319,227 |
| Net Investment Income | $698,031 | $465,876 | $815,827 |
| Distributable Amount | $281,223 | $308,424 | $381,783 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dana Farber Cancer Institute ($135,000), Mcleans Hospital Fbo Center for Neuroregeneration Research ($105,000), Middlebury College ($105,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIDA - INTERAMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS WASHINGTON, DC | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. | $1,200 |
| ANERA - AMERICAN NEAR EAST REFUGEE AID WASHINGTON, DC | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. | $3,000 |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB BOSTON, MA | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION - VOLUNTEER ALPINE STEWARDS PROGRAM | $8,500 |
| BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH FBO LAHEY HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER BOSTON, MA | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. | $3,000 |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMENS HOSPITAL FBO ANN ROMNEY CENTER FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE BOSTON, MA | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION - ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AND PARKINSONS DISEASE RESEARCH. | $80,000 |
| BUCKINGHAM BROWN AND NICHOLS SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE, MA | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL FUND | $12,500 |
| BUZZARDS BAY COALITION NEW BEDFORD, MA | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. | $1,000 |
| CAPE ELIZABETH LAND TRUST CAPE ELIZABETH, ME | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION - DAVIS PARCEL LAND ACQUISITON' | $12,500 |
| CCPC PARK CITY, UT | TO FUND CHARITABLE MISSION OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Heidi Lehner (contact person listed)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARL P LEHNER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| BRIGITTE L KINGSBURY | TR & EXEC DIR | 10 | $45,000 |
| HEIDI LEHNER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1 Thompson Square, Suite 301, Charlestown, MA 02129-3328
- Telephone: 207-799-0686
- Website: theorchardfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Orchard Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations concerned with: • Environment • Children, youth, and families • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Orchard Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $3,283,350 (as of 2024) • Total giving: $1,494,071 (2024) • Typical award range: $445–$200,000 • Number of grants: 101 grants made in the past year **Recent Grants (2024):** • New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: $200,000 (to fund the Watercress Fund) • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: $135,000 (for adult patient assistance, children's blood cancer, patient care fund, and research fund) • Middlebury College: (environment-related funding) **Financial Activity…
Where does The Orchard Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Massachusetts • New York • Maine • New England region
What size grants does The Orchard Foundation award?
In 2024, The Orchard Foundation awarded 83 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Orchard Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Orchard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $281K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Orchard Foundation's EIN?
The Orchard Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6660214. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Orchard Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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