Trustees of the Ayer Home
Trustees of the Ayer Home is a private foundation based in Lowell, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, all of them in Massachusetts, including organizations serving the Lowell area.
Trustees of the Ayer Home at a glance
In short: Trustees of the Ayer Home gave $76K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Massachusetts. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $75,500
- +21.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +13.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,904
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,200
- Total assets
- $1,535,760
- -2.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (3 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Trustees of the Ayer Home
- How to Apply
-
Contact Frank A. Wilson. Submit a letter from the requesting organization explaining the reasons for the request; no special form is required.
- Contact
Application contact: Frank A Wilson
Mailing address: 100 Park Avenue West-B6, Lowell, MA 01852
Phone: (978) 937-0427
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Trustees of the Ayer Home funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lowell Boys & Girls Club ($5K). Together the top 10 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 112 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts. The listed recipients include organizations in Lowell.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Trustees of the Ayer Home open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 26 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $57K (2020) to $76K (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $76K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lowell Boys & Girls Club Lowell, MA | SAME | $4,600 |
| Lowell Day Nursery Assoc Lowell, MA | SAME | $4,600 |
| Girls Inc Lowell, MA | SAME | $4,600 |
| Lowell Assoc for the Blind Lowell, MA | SAME | $4,000 |
| Merrimack Valley Food Bank Lowell, MA | SAME | $4,000 |
| ACS Inc Cambridge, MA | To Assist Charitable Organizations. | $3,600 |
| Acre Family Day Care Lowell, MA | SAME | $3,600 |
| Lowell Community Health Center Lowell, MA | SAME | $3,600 |
| Project Learn Lowell, MA | SAME | $3,600 |
| The Wish Project Lowell, MA | SAME | $3,600 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,535,760 | $57,220 | $96,958 | $75,500 | 26 | $96,958 | $70,316 | $86,956 |
| 2023 | $1,575,498 | $105,746 | $81,021 | $62,000 | 23 | $81,021 | $105,746 | $79,506 |
| 2022 | $1,549,671 | $18,501 | $84,652 | $60,400 | 23 | $84,652 | $33,823 | $87,762 |
| 2021 | $1,615,822 | $146,812 | $97,332 | $71,500 | 22 | $97,332 | $146,812 | $94,259 |
| 2020 | $1,566,342 | $139,191 | $86,408 | $56,600 | 18 | — | $139,191 | $86,952 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Trustees of the Ayer Home reported a distributable amount of $87K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including youth development, early education and care, services for blind and visually impaired people, food assistance, health care, education and training, and the arts.
The grantees describe their own work in varied ways. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell says it aims to help young people realize their potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Lowell Day Nursery Association says it provides education and care for young children. Merrimack Valley Food Bank says its focus is meeting nutritional needs and alleviating hunger. Merrimack Repertory Theatre says it creates new and contemporary plays to engage and enrich its community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $75,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $4,600, with a median of $3,200. Among the largest awards were $4,600 each to Lowell Boys & Girls Club and Lowell Day Nursery Association; $4,000 each to Lowell Association for the Blind and Merrimack Valley Food Bank; and $3,600 each to Project Learn, Lowell Community Health Center, The Wish Project, and Merrimack Repertory Theatre.
The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It specifies no special application form and requests a letter from the requesting organization explaining the reasons for the request. For deadlines and award restrictions, the filing refers readers to a statement for line 2B; further details are not provided here.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Frank A. Wilson as president; Jonathan A. Stevens as secretary; James C. Shannon III as treasurer; Julie Allard as assistant treasurer; and Bopha Malone, Nancy L. Donahue, Alison E. Kalman, Michael S. Reilly, and Brian L. Chapman as directors.
Trustees of the Ayer Home is led by Frank A. Wilson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Frank A. Wilson
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alison E. Kalman
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bopha Malone
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Brian L. Chapman
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael S. Reilly
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nancy L. Donahue
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James C. Shannon III
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jonathan A. Stevens
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Julie Allard
Assistant Tr
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Cheryl A. Savard (2020–2021) — Assistant Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 the Ayer Home
How much does Trustees of the Ayer Home give each year?
Trustees of the Ayer Home gave $76K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $62K across 23 grants.
What is Trustees of the Ayer Home's typical grant size?
Trustees of the Ayer Home's median grant in 2024 was $3,200, and its average grant was $2,904, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Trustees of the Ayer Home that year got $1K on average.
Where does Trustees of the Ayer Home give grants?
Trustees of the Ayer Home gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lowell, MA (21 grants).
Does Trustees of the Ayer Home give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Trustees of the Ayer Home's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Same" (25 grants).
Who are Trustees of the Ayer Home's largest grantees?
Trustees of the Ayer Home's largest 2024 grantees include Lowell Boys & Girls Club ($4,600), Lowell Day Nursery Assoc ($4,600) and Girls Inc ($4,600), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Trustees of the Ayer Home?
Trustees of the Ayer Home reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $97K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $87K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Trustees of the Ayer Home fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including youth development, early education and care, services for blind and visually impaired people, food assistance, health care, education and training, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Trustees of the Ayer Home?
Contact Frank A. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Trustees of the Ayer Home's EIN?
Trustees of the Ayer Home's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2157061. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Trustees of the Ayer Home funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/trustees-of-the-ayer-home-morg_0bb431ca782f4e65a32c8757362777e0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_042157061_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Trustees of the Ayer Home funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/trustees-of-the-ayer-home-morg_0bb431ca782f4e65a32c8757362777e0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 the Ayer Home'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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