William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust
The William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It supports the intellectual, personal, and artistic growth of underserved youth ages 6–21, primarily through neighborhood-based education programs in Boston, and also supports pathways to economic independence for underserved populations in New Bedford.
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust gave $2.2M across 100 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in Massachusetts. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,156,000
- +7.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 100
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,560
- +7.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $47,553,512
- +6.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (38 of 99, 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 William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
Organizations that have received a grant within the last three years may apply directly through the grant portal. New applicants and organizations not funded in the last three years must first submit a two-page Letter of Intent describing the organization and its programs, the amount and intended use of the request, and the community served and outcomes sought. If invited, they submit a full proposal; interviews or site visits may also be scheduled at the Trustees’ discretion. Organizations may apply once per year.
- Review Cycle
- LOIs are due February 15, June 15, August 15, or November 15. Applicants are notified within 4–6 weeks whether they are invited to submit a full proposal.
- Deadline
- LOIs are due February 15, June 15, August 15, or November 15.
- Contact
Application contact: Karen Faulkner
Mailing address: 2 Liberty Square 5Th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 338-4624
Website: https://schrafftcharitable.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust
Schrafft Charitable Trust Grants- For New Grantees
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Schrafft Charitable Trust Grants- For Returning Grantees
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Breakthrough Greater Boston ($100K). Together the top 10 received $518K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($45,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
506 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 486 grants of 506 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust describes its primary focus as neighborhood-based education programming in Boston. It also has a special interest in economic-independence pathways for underserved populations in New Bedford. All itemized 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 100 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 38 of 99 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 48% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% 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 $1.9M (2020) to $2.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 100 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Breakthrough Greater Boston Cambridge, MA | Operating 3 Year Gift | $100,000 |
| Philanthropy Massachusetts Boston, MA | The Summer Program | $90,000 |
| Edvestors Boston, MA | 2nd Payment 3-Year Gift | $75,000 |
| Celebrity Series of Boston Boston, MA | Arts for All Youth Programs | $40,000 |
| Cristo Rey Boston High School Boston, MA | Operating | $40,000 |
| New Bedford Light New Bedford, MA | Operating | $37,500 |
| Community Economic Development Center of Southern Mass New Bedford, MA | Operating | $35,000 |
| Mill City Grows Lowell, MA | Youth Food Justice Education | $35,000 |
| Science Club for Girls Cambridge, MA | STEM Education Mentoring | $35,000 |
| Artists for Humanity Boston, MA | Youth Arts Enterprise | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust?
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 | $47,553,512 | $16,468,761 | $2,755,465 | $2,156,000 | 100 | $2,200,289 | $16,228,854 | $2,078,805 |
| 2023 | $44,500,085 | $1,908,228 | $2,516,734 | $2,009,500 | 100 | $2,066,000 | $1,572,338 | $2,097,869 |
| 2022 | $41,877,533 | $1,849,069 | $2,409,204 | $1,996,600 | 106 | $2,035,600 | $1,571,832 | $2,184,045 |
| 2021 | $51,009,453 | $3,696,747 | $2,473,628 | $1,992,000 | 103 | $2,050,313 | $3,370,737 | $2,330,009 |
| 2020 | $44,892,071 | $1,560,232 | $2,320,458 | $1,855,000 | 97 | — | $1,267,623 | $2,018,574 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.1M 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
The Trust’s stated commitment is to the intellectual, personal, and artistic growth of underserved youth ages 6–21. In Boston, it prioritizes small to medium-sized, community-based organizations and charter and district schools serving young people. It looks for organizations whose board and staff reflect the communities they serve and that are actively engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Program grants may support non-school-hour opportunities, including after-school, evening, weekend, and summer programming, as well as school-based experiences. The Trust’s stated criteria include consistent, long-term relationships between young people and staff or volunteers; measurable goals; evidence of impact; and programming that reflects the demographics of the community served. In New Bedford, it also supports a small number of organizations that use regional strengths to create economic-independence pathways for underserved youth or young adults.
The Trust’s 2024 grants illustrate a range of supported work. For example, Breakthrough Greater Boston describes its mission as inspiring excitement for learning, creating paths to and through college, and promoting careers in education. Science Club for Girls says it fosters STEM excitement, confidence, and literacy among girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities. New Bedford Light describes its work as providing in-depth, fact-based journalism and a platform for diverse community voices.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Trust made 100 grants totaling $2,156,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median award of $20,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $100,000 to Breakthrough Greater Boston for operating support as a three-year gift; $90,000 to Philanthropy Massachusetts for “The Summer Program”; and $75,000 to Edvestors as a second payment of a three-year gift. Other grants included $40,000 to Celebrity Series of Boston for youth programs, $40,000 to Cristo Rey Boston High School for operating support, and $37,500 to New Bedford Light for operating support.
The Trust provides program grants and general operating grants. It does not fund capital expenditures or scholarships. The 2024 filing states that awards generally require the recipient to be a Massachusetts tax-exempt organization that has existed for at least three years.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lavinia B Chase, Kristen J McCormack, Joseph Corrado, and Lily E Mendez as trustees, and Karen Faulkner as executive director. The Trust’s website identifies Kristen McCormack as chairperson.
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust is led by Karen Faulkner, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Faulkner
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$45K (2020) → $49K (2024)
Joseph Corrado
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Kristen J McCormack
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Lavinia B Chase
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Lily E Mendez
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$18K (2023) → $15K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Arthur Parker (2020–2021) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $49K, to Karen Faulkner (Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust
How much does William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust give each year?
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust gave $2.2M across 100 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 100 grants.
What is William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $21,560, across 100 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust that year got $14K on average.
Where does William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust give grants?
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust 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 Boston, MA (41 grants), New Bedford, MA (11 grants), Dorchester, MA (8 grants) and Cambridge, MA (5 grants).
Does William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 43% of William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (43 of 100) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Breakthrough Greater Boston ($100,000), Philanthropy Massachusetts ($90,000) and Edvestors ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($45,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust?
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust reported $47.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust’s stated commitment is to the intellectual, personal, and artistic growth of underserved youth ages 6–21. In Boston, it prioritizes small to medium-sized, community-based organizations and charter and district schools serving young people. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust?
Organizations that have received a grant within the last three years may apply directly through the grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust's EIN?
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6065605. 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). William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-e-schrafft-and-bertha-e-schrafft-charitable-trust-morg_456ebe1b006e43b4a80d78b4f30f0fa5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046065605_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-e-schrafft-and-bertha-e-schrafft-charitable-trust-morg_456ebe1b006e43b4a80d78b4f30f0fa5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust'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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