Beard Family Charitable Trust
Preselected recipients only
Beard Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation in Wayland, Massachusetts. In tax year 2025 it gave $165,700 in 90 grants; the typical grant was $500 and the largest $28,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$165,700
- Number of grants90
- Typical grant$500
- Largest grant$28,000
- Assets$4.8 million
- New grantees28%
Giving in 2025 was up from $149,650 the year before.
28% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $162,025 | 97 | $4.2 million |
| 2024 | $149,650 | 89 | $4.5 million |
| 2025 | $165,700 | 90 | $4.8 million |
How to apply
Beard Family Charitable Trust says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What Beard Family Charitable Trust funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 13 states, the most to Massachusetts.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 53 | $121,800 |
| Maine | 11 | $15,850 |
| District of Columbia | 9 | $12,100 |
| Connecticut | 2 | $10,300 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $2,000 |
| New York | 4 | $1,300 |
| Georgia | 2 | $650 |
| Virginia | 2 | $500 |
| Illinois | 1 | $250 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $250 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Parish Wayland | General purpose | $28,000 |
| Home for Little Wanderers | General purpose | $20,000 |
| Appalachian Mountain Club | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Bridgeport Public Ed Foundation | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Trustees of Phillips Academy | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Sudbury Valley Trustees | General purpose | $8,000 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra | General purpose | $6,000 |
| Unitarian Universalist Association | General purpose | $6,000 |
| Ploughshares Fund | General purpose | $4,000 |
| NMSS | General purpose | $2,500 |
| WGBH Educational Fdn | General purpose | $2,400 |
| Land Trust Alliance | General purpose | $2,000 |
| New England Conservatory of Music | General purpose | $2,000 |
| New England Forestry Foundation | General purpose | $2,000 |
| No Kid Hungry | General purpose | $2,000 |
| Nathaniel Bowditch Society | General purpose | $2,000 |
| United Way Mass Bay | General purpose | $1,800 |
| Swan's Island Educational Society | General purpose | $1,500 |
| A Far Cry | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Conservatory Lab Charter School | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Emerson Health Care Foundation | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Friends of Swan's Island Light House | General purpose | $1,000 |
| From the Top | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Harvard Law School | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Huntington Theatre Company | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Maine Island Trail Assn | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Museum of Fine Arts | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Native Plant Trust | General purpose | $1,000 |
| New Israel Fund | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Orion Society | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Wbur | General purpose | $1,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders | General purpose | $800 |
| The Food Project | General purpose | $800 |
| Friends of Acadia | General purpose | $700 |
| Gaining Ground | General purpose | $600 |
| Handel & Hayden Society | General purpose | $600 |
| Mass Moca Fdn | General purpose | $600 |
Officers and trustees
- John E Beard
- Mary S Beard
- Sarah H Beard
- Andrew D Beard
- Susan S Beard
- Daniel P Beard
- Rosanne O Beard
- Thomas S Beard
- Christine S Beard
- James H Steggall
- Mary E Steggall
Questions people ask
Does Beard Family Charitable Trust accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Beard Family Charitable Trust give?
$165,700 in tax year 2025, across 90 grants, with a typical grant of $500.
Who runs Beard Family Charitable Trust?
Its 2025 filing lists John E Beard (Trustee), Mary S Beard (Trustee), Sarah H Beard (Director) and Andrew D Beard (Director) among 11 officers and trustees.
What does Beard Family Charitable Trust fund?
Based on its grants, mainly faith communities, arts and culture and education.