George I. Alden Trust: Higher Education Grant

George I. Alden Trust: Higher Education Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: George I Alden Trust
Last Updated: March 29, 2026

Summary

The George I. Alden Trust offers a Higher Education Grant aimed at supporting independent colleges and universities in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The Trust prioritizes capital needs to enhance the educational experience, approving grants up to $100,000 for first-time applicants. Eligible institutions must have a minimum of 1,000 full-time undergraduate students and demonstrate a commitment to educational excellence and effective administration.

Overview

NOTE: One complete, hard copy proposal for the March, June, September, or December meetings must be received by the fifteenth of the month prior to the next quarterly meeting (e.g., February 15 for the March meeting). About George Alden established the George I. Alden Trust on August 24, 1912, for the general purpose of ‘the maintenance of some charitable or philanthropic enterprises’ with specific interest in ‘the promotion of education in schools, colleges, or other educational institutions.’ He had a particular interest in Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), vocational education in Worcester, and the work of YMCAs. Given the perpetual character of the Trust and the certainty that needs and priorities change over time, the Trust further provides that ‘Trustees shall have the widest discretion in their interpretation of the purposes of this Trust...’ The current Trustees continue the Trust’s historical grantmaking focus in five primary areas and in pursuit of Alden’s desire ‘to do the greatest good for the greatest number.’ Higher Education Grant Grant Focus The Trustees focus their grantmaking on capital needs. In recent years, the Trust has supported projects that directly impact the quality of the delivery of the school’s undergraduate, academic offerings across its academic disciplines, including the liberal arts and sciences, the fine and performing arts, technology, and professional programs. This has included grants to upgrade or construct classrooms, libraries, laboratories, auditoriums, learning centers, and new and/or renovated academic buildings as well as the purchase of equipment and furnishings for any of these academic settings. The Trustees primarily make outright grants but occasionally will issue challenge grants with the goal of helping an institution generate increased and broader philanthropic support from its constituencies. Funding Colleges and universities that are first time applicants, if funded, may anticipate a grant of up to but not more than $100,000.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Trust supports independent colleges and universities with full-time traditional undergraduate enrollments of at least 1,000 students (headcount) and with a total undergraduate and graduate student population (full-time equivalents) of 5,000 or fewer in the six New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, plus a few grandfathered institutions inside and outside the nine-state region. A full-time student as defined by the Alden Trust is a student who is primarily baccalaureate degree seeking, takes the preponderance of his or her courses at the school’s primary campus, and is enrolled for the number of hours or courses the school considers to be full-time attendance.The Trustees seek to support institutions that demonstrate a combination of educational excellence, exciting and forward looking programming, and efficient and effective administration. They look for projects that contribute significantly to the intellectual growth of students, enhance an institution’s mission, and lead to solid preparation for lifelong learning and post college careers.Trust policy is not to consider grant requests more frequently than three years from the date of the last grant or one year from the date of the last payment, whichever is later. An institution whose proposal has been rejected is normally eligible to apply again after one year.

Ineligibility

The Trust does not usually support regular ongoing administrative operational/programming expenses or student life programs. The Trust cannot support individuals.