The Traveler Fund
The Traveler Fund is a private foundation, based in Bath, ME. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $286K. Net investment income was $4K.
The Traveler Fund at a glance
In short: The Traveler Fund gave $286K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Maine. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $286,262
- +1231.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,783
- +898.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,350
- Primary geography
- Maine (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Traveler Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maine Community Foundation ($260K). Together the top 8 received $286K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 15 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Traveler Fund gives
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. 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 (2021) to $286K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $286K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Community Foundation Ellsworth, ME | Paul and Vicki Skydell Family Fund | $260,062 |
| Trout Unlimited Inc Arlington, VA | General operating purpose | $10,000 |
| Mid Coast Hinger Prevention Project Brunswick, ME | General operating purpose | $5,000 |
| Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (dba KELT) Bath, ME | General operating purpose | $4,200 |
| Ecology School Saco, ME | General operating purpose | $2,500 |
| The Herren Project Portsmouth, RI | General operating purpose | $2,500 |
| Northwell Health Foundation Westbury, NY | General operating purpose | $1,000 |
| Somali Bantu Association of America San Diego, CA | General operating purpose | $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 | — | $7,471 | $289,162 | $286,262 | 8 | $287,512 | $3,721 | $8,976 |
| 2024 | $258,718 | $15,308 | $24,577 | $21,500 | 6 | $23,850 | $13,814 | $12,435 |
| 2023 | $182,329 | $42,263 | $1,239 | — | — | $2,745 | $16,387 | — |
| 2022 | $174,377 | $39,573 | $1,137 | — | — | $495 | $13,923 | — |
| 2021 | $150,836 | $7,219 | $19,773 | $18,647 | 1 | $19,142 | $6,588 | — |
| 2020 | $139,197 | $6,300 | $25,296 | $24,250 | 1 | — | $5,859 | — |
| 2019 | $144,709 | $4,545 | $28,317 | $27,206 | 1 | — | $4,079 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Traveler Fund reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Traveler Fund's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul Skydell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vicki Skydell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Traveler Fund
How much does The Traveler Fund give each year?
The Traveler Fund gave $286K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $22K across 6 grants.
What is The Traveler Fund's typical grant size?
The Traveler Fund's median grant in 2025 was $3,350, and its average grant was $35,783, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Traveler Fund give grants?
The Traveler Fund gives mostly in Maine: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Traveler Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of The Traveler Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Traveler Fund's largest grantees?
The Traveler Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Maine Community Foundation ($260,062), Trout Unlimited Inc ($10,000) and Mid Coast Hinger Prevention Project ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How much is The Traveler Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Traveler Fund reported a distributable amount of $9K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Traveler Fund's EIN?
The Traveler Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-6567697. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work The Traveler Fund funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Traveler Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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