William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 46-2152884

The William and Gertrude Shelley Family is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports 20 grants totaling $150,000 to charitable organizations.

Key facts about William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation

In short: William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation gave $150K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state Vermont. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
46-2152884
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$150,000
Grants made (2025)
20
Average grant
$7,500
Median grant
$5,000
New grantees (estimate)
15% first-time grantees (3 of 20, 2025; small sample)
Total assets
$3,134,527
Primary geography
Vermont (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.1M

+2.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$150K

+0.0% YoY

Grant Count

20

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

+0.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $147K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation open to new grantees?

15%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 20 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $8K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 108% 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.

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 organizations working in areas including arts and culture, animal welfare, health, family support, and literacy. For example, Aunt Dot’s Place describes its work as providing food, personal care items, and community resource guidance to local individuals and families. The Children’s Literacy Foundation says it nurtures reading and writing among under-resourced children in New Hampshire and Vermont. The Preeclampsia Foundation describes its mission as reducing illness and death among mothers and infants related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation gave 20 grants totaling $150,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median grant of $5,000.

The largest reported grants included $25,000 to Camp Takumta; $20,000 each to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation; and $10,000 each to the Preeclampsia Foundation, Aunt Dot’s Place, The Merrymac Farm Sanctuary, and the University of Washington Foundation. Other reported grants included $5,000 each to the Children’s Literacy Foundation, March of Dimes, Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets, Laura’s House, and Live Love Animal Rescue. The filing lists the purposes of these grants as general support or general purpose.

How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. Vermont received the largest share of grant dollars, at 41%, followed by Massachusetts at 14%, Arizona at 13%, California at 10%, and Florida at 7%.

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.

Cities

ArlingtonBurlingtonWashingtonWaterburyBostonDartmouthEssex JunctionMelbourneScottsdaleSeattleSouth HeroLong BeachBarreIrvingMemphisNew YorkTustinAliso ViejoLadera RanchSanta Paula

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K26 grants2019 23 grants2020 24 grants2021 20 grants2022 20 grants2023 20 grants2024 20 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2019) to $150K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $150K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Camp Takumta: $25KCamp Takumta$25KMuseum of Fine Arts: $20KMuseum of Fine Arts$20KFrank Lloyd Wright Foundation: $20KFrank Lloyd Wright Foundation$20KPreeclampsia Foundation: $10KPreeclampsia Foundation$10KAunt Dot's Place: $10KAunt Dot's Place$10KThe Merrymac Farm Sanctuary: $10KThe Merrymac Farm Sanctuary$10KUniversity of Washington Foundation: $10KUniversity of WashingtonFoundation$10KChildren's Literacy Foundation: $5KChildren's Literacy Foundation$5KMarch of Dimes: $5KMarch of Dimes$5KFriends of Orange County's Homeless Pets: $5KFriends of Orange County'sHomeless Pets$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Camp Takumta ($25K). Together the top 10 received $120K.

Grant Size Distribution

104 grants across all recorded years

104<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 104 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Camp Takumta South Hero, VTGeneral Support$25,000
Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MAGeneral Support$20,000
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Scottsdale, AZGeneral Support$20,000
Preeclampsia Foundation Melbourne, FLGeneral Support$10,000
Aunt Dot's Place Essex Junction, VTGeneral Support$10,000
The Merrymac Farm Sanctuary Charlotte, VTGeneral Support$10,000
University of Washington Foundation Seattle, WAGeneral Support$10,000
Children's Literacy Foundation Waterbury, VTGeneral Support$5,000
March of Dimes Arlington, VAGeneral Support$5,000
Friends of Orange County's Homeless Pets Menifee, CAGeneral Purpose$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $3,134,527 $278,013 $200,746 $150,000
2024 $3,056,904 $890,257 $169,491 $150,000
2023 $2,335,142 $72,028 $171,016 $150,000
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$3,134,527$3,056,904$2,335,142
Revenue$278,013$890,257$72,028
Expenses$200,746$169,491$171,016
Qualifying Distributions$159,413$157,564$150,000
Net Investment Income$259,990$878,159$79,428
Distributable Amount$147,458$134,878$138,603

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 26, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 27, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 25, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 30, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists the following trustees: William F Shelley Jr, Laurence M Netherton, Peter M Shapland, Leiha Macauley, Joan C Shelley, Elizabeth Shelley, and Bradford Netherton.

William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Peter M. Shapland

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • William F. Shelley Jr.

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bradford Netherton

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Shelley

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joan C. Shelley

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laurence M. Netherton

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leiha Macauley

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Cynthia A. Netherton (2019–2021) — 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.

Contact

Mailing address: Day Pitney One Federal St 29Th F, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 345-4766

Frequently asked questions about William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation

How much does William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation give each year?

William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation gave $150K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $150K across 20 grants.

What is William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's typical grant size?

William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,500, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.

Where does William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation give grants?

William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's top state is Vermont, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (14%) and Arizona (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's largest grantees?

William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Camp Takumta ($25,000), Museum of Fine Arts ($20,000) and Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation?

William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $159K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $147K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including arts and culture, animal welfare, health, family support, and literacy. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation?

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

What is William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's EIN?

William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2152884. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does William and Gertrude Shelley Family Foundation 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.

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