Willard C Tilson Foundation
The Willard C Tilson Foundation is a private foundation based in Exeter, New Hampshire. The foundation was established in 1960 and operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. It primarily provides ongoing operational support and capital campaign grants to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.9M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$290K
+205.3% YoY
Grant Count
11
+83.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+66.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willard C Tilson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $287K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Mental Health and related services
Grantmaking
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, with a secondary focus on New Hampshire. The foundation maintains multiple addresses including locations in Rockport, Massachusetts; Tampa, Florida; and Exeter, New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $4,933,048 (2024) / $4,810,037 (2023)
Total Annual Giving: $290,000 (2024)
Total Revenues: $277,062 (2023)
Total Expenses: $308,171 (2023)
Investment Income: $119,846 (2023), representing a 19.2% increase from $100,562 in 2022
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,933,048 | $4,810,037 | $4,841,146 |
| Revenue | $491,547 | $277,062 | $100,562 |
| Expenses | $368,536 | $308,171 | $267,666 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $314,000 | $254,000 | $214,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $432,409 | $219,288 | $50,673 |
| Distributable Amount | $287,294 | $274,692 | $282,255 |
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
58 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Waring School ($50,000), Elevated Thought ($40,000), Art Haven ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Art Haven Gloucester, MA | On-going operational support | $25,000 |
| Building Bridges Through Music Lynn, MA | On-going operational support | $20,000 |
| Elevated Thought Lawrence, MA | On-going operational support | $40,000 |
| Greater Lawrence Community Boating Lawrence, MA | On-going operational support | $20,000 |
| Raw Art Works Lynn, MA | On-going operational support | $25,000 |
| Someone Cares New England Haverhill, MA | On-going operational support | $20,000 |
| The Cornerstone Creative Gloucester, MA | On-going operational support | $25,000 |
| The Haven Project Inc Lynn, MA | On-going operational support | $25,000 |
| The Waring School Beverly, MA | On-going operational support | $50,000 |
| Top Notch Scholars Lawrence, MA | On-going operational support | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURIE KELLY | TRUSTEE | 5 | $20,000 |
| ROKHAYA WARING | TRUSTEE | 5 | $20,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Willard C Tilson Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Mental Health and related services
How do I apply for a grant from Willard C Tilson Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $50,000. **Grant Types:** The foundation primarily funds ongoing operational support and capital campaign grants. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2023, the foundation made 16 grants to nonprofits, including: • Elevated Thought: $25,000 (On-Going Operational Support) • Cape Ann Art Haven: $25,000 (On-Going Operational Support) • Somebody Cares New England: $15,000 (On-Going Operational Support) • The Waring School (recipient noted in recent a…
Where does Willard C Tilson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, with a secondary focus on New Hampshire. The foundation maintains multiple addresses including locations in Rockport, Massachusetts; Tampa, Florida; and Exeter, New Hampshire.
What size grants does Willard C Tilson Foundation award?
In 2024, Willard C Tilson Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $290K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Willard C Tilson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Willard C Tilson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $287K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Willard C Tilson Foundation's EIN?
Willard C Tilson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6036556. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Willard C Tilson 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.