The Red Elm Tree Foundation
The Red Elm Tree Foundation is a private foundation based in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Established in 1994, it operates as a nonoperating foundation with no activities other than managing investment income on its assets and distributing funds to preselected charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.2M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$406K
-51.4% YoY
Grant Count
10
-44.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
-12.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Red Elm Tree Foundation reported a distributable amount of $498K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism, human services, and the arts. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with some funding extending to New York.
Grantmaking
The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $900,000
Average Grant
$41,000–$54,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York, which account for 88% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states total.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income (2024):
- Total assets: $18,243,776
- Annual giving: $405,677
- Annual income: $249,221
Historical Comparison:
- 2023: Total assets of $18,400,732; total giving of $835,700
- 2022: Total assets of $19,674,877; total giving of $903,000
Long-term Growth: Total assets have grown from $58,000 in 2010 to $18.2 million in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,243,776 | $18,400,732 | $19,674,877 |
| Revenue | $249,221 | $-429,445 | $1,671,688 |
| Expenses | $406,177 | $844,700 | $940,762 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $406,177 | $835,700 | $903,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $869 | $4,190 | $103,561 |
| Distributable Amount | $497,662 | $648,245 | $943,344 |
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
115 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Musicworks ($250,000), Truro Conservation Trust ($100,000), Fine Arts Work Center ($12,250).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 909 WBUR BOSTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY MUSICWORKS PROVIDENCE, RI | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $250,000 |
| DANNY'S PLACE ACTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $1,000 |
| FINE ARTS WORK CENTER PROVINCETOWN, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $12,250 |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART BOSTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $9,427 |
| MASS AUDUBON LINCOLN, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $7,500 |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $10,000 |
| PASSIM CAMBRIDGE, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $5,500 |
| TRURO CONSERVATION TRUST TRURO, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $100,000 |
| VINEGRASS MUSIC DENNIS PORT, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT E DAVOLI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| EILEEN L MCDONAGH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 6 Winchelsea Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: (617) 456-1620
EIN: 04-3210639
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Red Elm Tree Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism, human services, and the arts. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with some funding extending to New York.
How do I apply for a grant from The Red Elm Tree Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2024: $405,677 across 10 grants • Total giving in 2023: $835,700 across 40 grants • Historical grant range: $1,000 to $900,000 • Average grant size: $41,000–$54,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Community MusicWorks: $250,000 • DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum: $100,000 • Mount Auburn Hospital (amount not specified) • Truro Conservation Trust (mentioned as a grantee) **Application Process:** The foundation t…
Where does The Red Elm Tree Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York, which account for 88% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states total.
What size grants does The Red Elm Tree Foundation award?
In 2024, The Red Elm Tree Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $406K — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Red Elm Tree Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Red Elm Tree Foundation reported a distributable amount of $498K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Red Elm Tree Foundation's EIN?
The Red Elm Tree Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3210639. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Red Elm Tree 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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