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Mary And John Elliot Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.3M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $300,000+ (Pearl Manor Fund grants)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Annually (application deadline typically in September)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $25,000 (higher amounts considered for highly collaborative programs)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Manchester, NH area (10 specific towns)

Contact Details

Main Foundation Contact:

Pearl Manor Fund Contact:

Overview

The Mary & John Elliot Charitable Foundation was established to provide financial support for Elliot Health System, the largest nonprofit provider of comprehensive healthcare services in southern New Hampshire. While the foundation's primary mission is fundraising for the Elliot Health System, it operates one significant grant-making program: the Pearl Manor Fund. Established in 2005 through a probate court order that transferred approximately $5 million in assets from Women's Aid Home (Pearl Manor) to the foundation, the Pearl Manor Fund has distributed over $3.1 million in grants to benefit thousands of local seniors since its inception. The fund traces its origins to 1875 when the Women's Aid and Relief Society was founded by 24 Manchester-area women. The foundation has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator (96% overall rating) with an excellent program expense ratio of 95.15%, demonstrating efficient use of charitable dollars. In 2022, the foundation reported total revenue of $5.5 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Pearl Manor Fund

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $25,000 (higher amounts considered for highly collaborative and impactful programs)
  • Application Method: Annual application cycle with deadline typically in September
  • Recent Grant Rounds:
    • 2021: $300,000 to 8 local nonprofits
    • 2018: $490,000 to 12 local nonprofits
  • Total Distributed: Over $3.1 million since 2005

Priority Areas

The Pearl Manor Fund exclusively supports programs benefiting the elderly population in the Greater Manchester area. Funded initiatives include:

  • Healthcare: Medical care needs, vision care, health support services
  • Housing: Safe housing needs and home maintenance
  • Nutrition: Meal programs and nutritional support
  • Transportation: Transportation assistance for seniors to access services
  • Independent Living: Programs promoting healthy lifestyle choices and independence
  • Family Support: Caregiver support and grandfamily programs (grandparent-headed households)
  • Social Services: Support groups, home visits, mentoring programs
  • Legal Assistance: Legal aid services for elderly residents
  • Socialization: Programs to reduce isolation and promote community engagement

The fund prioritizes programs that:

  • Demonstrate measurable outcomes and evaluation plans
  • Show organizational capacity to implement projects effectively
  • Involve inter-agency collaboration when feasible
  • Address critical and unmet needs of the elder community

What They Don't Fund

  • Programs serving populations outside the designated 10-town geographic area
  • Programs that do not specifically benefit the elderly population
  • For-profit organizations (only 501(c)(3) nonprofits with public charity status are eligible)
  • Programs outside the scope of elder care, comfort, and treatment

Geographic Focus

Eligible Communities (Greater Manchester area):

  • Allenstown
  • Auburn
  • Bedford
  • Candia
  • Deerfield
  • Dunbarton
  • Goffstown
  • Hooksett
  • Manchester
  • New Boston

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Leadership:

  • Kelli Rafferty: Executive Director of SolutionHealth Philanthropy & Director of Community Benefit
  • Richard Rawlings: Chair, Pearl Manor Fund Advisory Committee
  • Greg Baxter, M.D.: President, Board of Trustees
  • Renee Walsh: Trustee
  • Holly Mintz, M.D.: Trustee
  • Charles F. Rolecek: Trustee
  • James J. Tenn, Jr., Esq.: Trustee

Leadership Perspective:

Richard Rawlings, chair of the Pearl Manor Fund Advisory Committee, emphasized the fund's focus: "The Pearl Manor Fund only grants funds to nonprofit organizations that serve our senior community." He noted that the grants address critical needs like meals, vision care, and transportation for elderly residents in the Manchester area.

The foundation operates with full transparency regarding administrative costs. According to the foundation's materials, "ALL fundraising costs, including personnel, are covered by the Elliot Health System, so there is no administrative or indirect cost rate applied against gifts and grants received. 100% of donations are applied to the uses intended by our donors."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Review Eligibility: Ensure your organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with public charity status serving one or more of the 10 designated communities
  2. Access Application: Download the application form from www.elliothospital.org/pearlmanorfund
  3. Submit Application: Applications are reviewed annually by the Pearl Manor Fund Advisory Committee
  4. Contact for Questions: Reach out to Kelli Rafferty at 603-663-3091 or foundation@elliothospital.org

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadline: Typically in September (check website for current year deadline)
  • Award Announcement: Grants are awarded annually, typically announced in late fall or early winter
  • Notification Method: Selected organizations are contacted directly
  • Grant Distribution: Awards are distributed when funds are available

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, recent grant rounds indicate:

  • 2018: 12 nonprofits received funding totaling $490,000
  • 2021: 8 nonprofits received funding totaling $300,000

These numbers suggest the fund supports a select group of high-quality projects each year rather than distributing smaller amounts to many organizations.

Reapplication Policy

The Pearl Manor Fund accepts applications for new and expanding projects/programs annually. Organizations that have received funding in the past may apply for new initiatives or program expansions. The fund seeks to support ongoing innovation in elder care services.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment

To maximize your chances of success with the Pearl Manor Fund:

Focus on Measurable Outcomes: The fund prioritizes programs with clear evaluation plans and measurable outcomes. Include specific metrics that will demonstrate your program's impact on elderly residents.

Demonstrate Organizational Capacity: Show that your organization has the infrastructure, staffing, and expertise to successfully implement the proposed program. Highlight relevant experience serving the elderly population.

Address Unmet Needs: Clearly articulate what critical gap or unmet need your program addresses in the senior community. The fund seeks to support solutions to pressing challenges.

Consider Collaboration: Applications for highly collaborative programs receive favorable consideration. If your project involves partnerships with other agencies serving seniors, emphasize these connections.

Geographic Specificity: Clearly identify which of the 10 eligible communities your program will serve. Demonstrate understanding of the specific needs of elderly residents in these areas.

Funded Program Examples

Recent Pearl Manor Fund recipients include:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Manchester (first-time recipient): Received funding for their Grandfamily Support Program, providing financial and family support to members living in grandparent-headed households
  • VNA of Manchester and Southern New Hampshire: Supported programs providing care services to elderly residents
  • Multiple organizations addressing vision care, meals, and transportation needs

Key Terminology

When preparing your application, align with the fund's language and priorities:

  • "Assistance, comfort, care, and treatment for the elderly population"
  • "Critical and unmet needs of the elder community"
  • "Independent living" and "healthy lifestyle choices"
  • "Family caregiver support"
  • "Inter-agency collaboration"

Common Success Factors

  • New or expanding programs (the fund seeks innovation, not general operating support)
  • Clear connection to one or more priority areas (healthcare, housing, nutrition, transportation, independent living, family support)
  • Programs that serve the most vulnerable elderly residents
  • Projects that can demonstrate sustainability or potential for replication

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic Restrictions Are Strict: Your program must serve elderly residents in one or more of the 10 designated communities (Allenstown, Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Deerfield, Dunbarton, Goffstown, Hooksett, Manchester, or New Boston). Programs outside this area are not eligible.

  • Elderly-Focused Only: The Pearl Manor Fund exclusively supports programs for the senior/elderly population. Mixed-age programs, even if they include seniors, may not be competitive unless the elderly component is clearly distinct and measurable.

  • Think Beyond General Operating: The fund supports "new or expanding projects/programs" - emphasize innovation and how your initiative goes beyond maintaining existing services.

  • Annual Cycle Requires Planning: With only one application deadline per year (typically September), plan ahead. Missing the deadline means waiting a full year for the next opportunity.

  • Grant Size Suggests Selectivity: With typical grants of $10,000-$25,000 and recent rounds funding 8-12 organizations totaling $300,000-$490,000, the fund appears selective. Only your strongest, most aligned proposals should be submitted.

  • 100% of Funds Support Programs: Because Elliot Health System covers all administrative costs, the foundation can direct 100% of the Pearl Manor Fund to grant programs. This efficiency may create higher expectations for grantee impact and accountability.

  • Collaboration Is Valued: Applications demonstrating partnerships with other agencies serving seniors or highly collaborative approaches receive special consideration and may qualify for grants above the typical $25,000 ceiling.

References

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