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Cogswell Benevolent Trust

Annual Giving
$2.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M
Decision Time
1mo

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,139,364 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Monthly trustee meetings; rolling applications accepted year-round
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New Hampshire (limited out-of-state funding available)

Contact Details

Overview

The Cogswell Benevolent Trust was established in 1929 under the will of Leander A. Cogswell, a Henniker, New Hampshire native who made his fortune in the shoe manufacturing industry in Manchester. Trustees were formally appointed on November 6, 1929. Cogswell's wealth grew substantially after he developed a skiving tool, a leather-trimming device, in partnership with his engineering foreman Elmer Nichols. The trust continues to operate under Leander's original wishes as expressed in his will. In 2023, the trust distributed $2,139,364 in grants to 109 organisations. Since 2014, the trust has awarded 1,039 individual grants totalling $16,706,054. The trust focuses on supporting established charitable programmes with specific projects rather than general operations, emphasising basic needs, health services, youth development, education, and arts and culture.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Cogswell Benevolent Trust operates a single rolling grant programme:

  • General Grantmaking: $5,000 - $25,000
    • Rolling basis with no deadlines or funding dates
    • Trustees meet monthly to review proposals
    • Typically does not fund same organisation in consecutive years (unless emergency)
    • Average of 100+ grants awarded annually

Priority Areas

The trust supports nonprofit entities that have a charitable or educational purpose, including:

  • Basic Needs: Food pantries and essential services
  • Health Services: Healthcare programmes and facilities
  • Children and Youth: Youth development and out-of-school education programmes
  • Arts and Culture: Cultural programmes and arts organisations
  • Equipment and Facility Upgrades: Capital projects for established programmes
  • Campaign Support: Specific capital campaign needs
  • Public Agencies: Educational, religious, and fraternal organisations serving the public
  • Organisations Providing: Aid, assistance, education, or betterment of public resources

What They Don't Fund

The trust rarely considers requests for:

  • General operating or start-up expenses
  • Feasibility studies
  • Endowments
  • Conferences
  • Production of films or videos
  • Deficit elimination
  • Consecutive year funding to the same organisation (except emergencies)
  • Out-of-state projects (limited funds may be available)

Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees

  • Peter G. Kachavos, MD - Trustee
  • Mark A. Northridge - Trustee
  • Charles S. Goodwin - Trustee

Staff

  • Janet L. Cyr - Office Manager

The board of three trustees meets monthly to review grant proposals. The trust maintains a small operational structure, focusing resources on grantmaking rather than administrative overhead.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted via standard U.S. mail to:

Cogswell Benevolent Trust 116 South River Road E-1 Bedford, NH 03110

Required Materials:

  1. Application letter carefully explaining:
    • The purpose of the project
    • How the project will be accomplished
  2. Itemised income and expense budget
  3. Most recent audited financial statement or Form 990-PF
  4. Copy of IRS 501(c)(3) exemption letter
  5. List of other foundations approached, specifying:
    • Which organisations have been contacted
    • Amounts requested from each
    • Amounts already received

Application Format:

  • Submit only one copy
  • Use standard U.S. mail (expedited shipping discouraged)
  • No specific application form required

Decision Timeline

  • Application Period: Rolling; proposals accepted at any time, no deadlines
  • Review Schedule: Trustees meet monthly
  • Decision Timeline: Not publicly disclosed; varies by proposal
  • Notification Method: Not specified in public materials

Success Rates

The trust does not publicly disclose its success rate. However, based on available data:

  • 109 grants awarded in 2023
  • 95 grants awarded in 2022
  • 94 grants awarded in 2021
  • 85 grants awarded in 2020

The number of total applications received is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

"Unless it is an emergency, it is the Trust's policy not to make grants to the same organisation in succeeding years." Organisations that receive funding should wait at least one year before reapplying, except in urgent circumstances.

Application Success Factors

Key Advice from the Funder

The trust emphasises the following in its guidelines:

  • Be Specific: "Carefully explain the purpose of the project and describe how it will be accomplished"
  • Demonstrate Established Programmes: The trust prefers to fund established programmes within New Hampshire
  • Show Coordination: Disclose other funding sources and amounts requested/received
  • Keep It Simple: Submit one copy via regular mail; avoid expedited shipping

Types of Projects Recently Funded

Based on available information, the trust has supported:

  • COAST (Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation): $25,000 for construction of new administration, operations, and maintenance facility in Dover (2024)
  • New Hampshire Food Bank: Funding for Thanksgiving turkeys (2024)
  • Kismet Rock Foundation: $6,000 for three summer scholarships for Manchester students (2012)

Strategic Focus Areas

According to Inside Philanthropy, "This is a good funder in New Hampshire to approach with needs for equipment, facility upgrades, and campaign support. It considers many types of local nonprofits when awarding grants but often sticks to basic needs, such as food pantries. Other top interests are youth development, health, arts and culture, and out-of-school education programmes."

Common Characteristics of Successful Applications

  • Focus on specific projects rather than general operations
  • Located within New Hampshire
  • Serve clear charitable or educational purposes
  • Provide detailed, itemised budgets
  • Demonstrate established track record
  • Address basic needs or community infrastructure

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • New Hampshire Focus: While limited out-of-state funding is available, the trust strongly prefers established programmes located within New Hampshire.

  • Project-Specific Funding: Avoid requesting general operating support or start-up expenses. Focus on specific equipment needs, facility upgrades, capital campaigns, or defined programme projects.

  • Rolling Applications Are Genuine: With monthly trustee meetings and no deadlines, applicants can submit proposals at any strategic time without waiting for specific cycles.

  • One-Year Rule: Plan ahead knowing that the trust typically doesn't fund the same organisation in consecutive years. If you receive a grant, you'll likely need to wait at least a year before reapplying.

  • Transparency About Other Funding: Be upfront about other foundations you're approaching and amounts requested or received. The trust specifically asks for this information and values coordination amongst funders.

  • Keep It Simple: The trust values straightforward applications sent via regular mail. Avoid over-complicating your submission with expedited shipping or elaborate presentation.

  • Target the Sweet Spot: With grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, position your request within this range and ensure your budget reflects realistic needs that align with the trust's giving capacity.

References

  1. Cogswell Benevolent Trust Official Website - Grant Request Guidelines

  2. Cogswell Benevolent Trust Official Website - History

  3. Cogswell Benevolent Trust Official Website - Trustees

  4. Cogswell Benevolent Trust Official Website - Home

  5. Grantmakers.io Profile - Cogswell Benevolent Trust

  6. Inside Philanthropy - The Basics of New Hampshire's Cogswell Benevolent Trust

  7. COAST News - COAST Receives $25,000 Grant from Cogswell Benevolent Trust

  8. New Hampshire Food Bank - Grant Recognition

  9. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Cogswell Benevolent Trust

  10. Kismet Rock Foundation - The Cogswell Benevolent Trust Awards Grant to Kismet Rock Foundation

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