Trustees of Sears and Other Funds

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 04-6040032

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds is a Form 990-PF (a private foundation) based in Boston, Massachusetts. In filing year 2025, it reported 11 grants totaling $128,133, all to recipients in Massachusetts.

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds at a glance

In short: Trustees of Sears and Other Funds gave $128K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Massachusetts. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$128,133
+7.2% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
11
-8.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$11,648
+17.0% vs 2024
Median grant
$8,000
Total assets
$3,252,398
+6.8% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Massachusetts (100% 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 Trustees of Sears and Other Funds

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its filing says awards are made to various organizations described in the filing as IRC Section 501(c)(3) organizations. The filing states that application materials must include proof of the organization’s IRC Section 501(c)(3) status.

Review Cycle
None stated.
Deadline
None stated.
Contact

Application contact: Adam Rutledge Co Rice Heard Bigelow
Mailing address: One Federal Street 25Th Floor, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 557-7412

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Trustees of Sears and Other Funds funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Epiphany School: $30KEpiphany School$30KEpiscopal Diocese of Massachusetts: $30KEpiscopal Diocese ofMassachusetts$30KAmazing Grace of Cape Cod Inc: $12KAmazing Grace of Cape Cod Inc$12KSt Andrew's Episcopal Church - Enrichment Program: $12KSt Andrew's Episcopal Church -Enrichment Program$12KSt John's Episcopal Church: $9KSt John's Episcopal Church$9KSt Stephen's Memorial Episcopal Church: $8KSt Stephen's MemorialEpiscopal Church$8KYouth Aliveinc: $8KYouth Aliveinc$8KEsperanza Academy: $8KEsperanza Academy$8KTrinity Boston Connects - Trinity Ruthbaton: $5KTrinity Boston Connects -Trinity Ruthbaton$5KTrinity Boston Connects - Trinity Education for Excellence Program: $5KTrinity Boston Connects -Trinity Education for…$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Epiphany School ($30K). Together the top 10 received $126K.

Grant Size Distribution

61 grants across all recorded years

61<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 61 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

Cities

BostonLowellCentervilleDorchesterHaverhillLawrenceNew BedfordLynnLexingtonChelmsford

Is Trustees of Sears and Other Funds open to new grantees?

9%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $12K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $9K repeat.

  • 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 105% 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

$0$50K$100K$150K13 grants2019 12 grants2020 12 grants2021 13 grants2022 13 grants2023 12 grants2024 11 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $120K (2024) to $145K (2022). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $128K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Epiphany School Dorchester, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$30,000
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Boston, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$30,000
Amazing Grace of Cape Cod Inc Centerville, MAGeneral Charitable Purposesgeneral Charitable Purposes$12,000
St Andrew's Episcopal Church - Enrichment Program New Bedford, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$11,558
St John's Episcopal Church Lowell, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$9,075
St Stephen's Memorial Episcopal Church Lynn, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$8,000
Youth Aliveinc Lowell, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$8,000
Esperanza Academy Lawrence, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$7,500
Trinity Boston Connects - Trinity Ruthbaton Boston, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$5,000
Trinity Boston Connects - Trinity Education for Excellence Program Boston, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$3,252,398$159,013$166,990$128,13311$159,016$155,419$152,113
2024$3,045,548$220,831$144,286$119,50012$139,793$217,240$146,786
2023$2,965,289$125,313$151,317$130,05013$144,388$119,604$140,295
2022$2,819,675$179,337$170,790$145,32013$159,913$174,099$145,600
2021$3,407,796$266,897$146,310$127,00012$139,785$261,823$158,481
2020$3,172,532$121,099$144,777$125,50012—$115,871$142,771
2019$2,974,830$183,920$141,503$124,00013—$178,191$138,691

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Trustees of Sears and Other Funds reported a distributable amount of $152K 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 went to charitable organizations, including schools, churches, and youth-serving organizations. One recipient, Esperanza Academy Inc. of Lawrence, describes itself as a tuition-free, all-girls middle school centered on justice and joy, supporting students to embrace their potential and take on challenges that can affect their lives in Lawrence and beyond. That mission describes the grantee, not the foundation.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation gave $128,133 through 11 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $30,000, with a median of $8,000. The largest awards were $30,000 each to Epiphany School in Dorchester and the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in Boston. Other grants included $12,000 to Amazing Grace of Cape Cod Inc.; $11,558 to St Andrew’s Episcopal Church – Enrichment Program; and $9,075 to St John’s Episcopal Church.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Adam C Rutledge as president; Gregory Gullickson as treasurer; and Scott F Davis as clerk. Listed trustees are Victoria T Cabot, Daniel H Sears, Maria Joan Denslow, Thatcher L Gearhart, Thomas S Hansen, Christopher Laconi, and Deborah L Smith.

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds is led by Adam C. Rutledge, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Adam C. Rutledge

    President

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christopher Laconi

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Deborah L. Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lloyd C. Dahmen

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Maria Joan Denslow

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thatcher L. Gearhart

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas S. Hansen

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Victoria T. Cabot

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel H. Sears

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gregory Gullickson

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Scott F. Davis

    Clerk

    Trustee → Clerk, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Peter S. Gregory (2019–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Stephen Mead Jr. (2019–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Sarah T. Boehs (2019–2022) — Clerk · Filing note: Resigned oct 2022
  • Former: Thomas B. Kennedy (2019–2022) — 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 Trustees of Sears and Other Funds

How much does Trustees of Sears and Other Funds give each year?

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds gave $128K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $120K across 12 grants.

What is Trustees of Sears and Other Funds's typical grant size?

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $11,648, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Trustees of Sears and Other Funds that year got $5K on average.

Where does Trustees of Sears and Other Funds give grants?

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants) and Lowell, MA (2 grants).

Does Trustees of Sears and Other Funds give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Trustees of Sears and Other Funds's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Trustees of Sears and Other Funds's largest grantees?

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds's largest 2025 grantees include Epiphany School ($30,000), Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts ($30,000) and Amazing Grace of Cape Cod Inc ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Trustees of Sears and Other Funds?

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $159K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $152K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Trustees of Sears and Other Funds fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to charitable organizations, including schools, churches, and youth-serving organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Trustees of Sears and Other Funds?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Trustees of Sears and Other Funds's EIN?

Trustees of Sears and Other Funds's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6040032. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Trustees of Sears and Other Funds accept unsolicited proposals?

No, 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

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 2, 2020)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Trustees of Sears and Other Funds funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/trustees-of-sears-and-other-funds-morg_fb41892fc78942f1b743377173eaa221

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046040032_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Trustees of Sears and Other Funds funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/trustees-of-sears-and-other-funds-morg_fb41892fc78942f1b743377173eaa221},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-11-02. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Trustees of Sears and Other Funds's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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