The George S Bissell Charitable Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and accepts no unsolicited requests, and the filing gives no application instructions, so a cold approach is unlikely to be considered; reach out only if you have a connection that could lead to an invitation.
- Its stated purpose is to support educational endeavours, so a small nonprofit whose work is educational may fit, though no particular level or subject is named.
- Most of its grants fall between about $5,000 and $30,000 with a median near $7,400, so a request in that range is typical, although its largest grant was $52,000.
- Nearly all of its grant dollars in the most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so giving is strongly relationship-led and new applicants are unlikely to be funded.
- No geographic focus is stated, even though most of its grants have gone to Massachusetts, California and Ohio, so location alone should not rule you out.
Overview
The George S Bissell Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Wellesley, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (act.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation was established to support educational endeavours. This is the stated purpose, but the available description does not name a particular level, subject or type of education. Its recorded grants are described as unrestricted and include schools, colleges and universities as well as other charitable organisations. Massachusetts is the most prominent state among the grant recipients; grants also reach organisations in other states. The filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations. The available sources do not set out further organisational eligibility criteria or a public route for requesting support.
Themes
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts, California and Ohio.
How to apply
Contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations; the filing gives no application instructions.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 36 grants to organisations were about $7,400 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations The George S Bissell Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 11 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Anatolia College · Unrestricted$42,0002024 tax year
- Tenacre Country Day School · Unrestricted$25,0002024 tax year
- Camfed USA · Unrestricted$22,0002024 tax year
- Partners In Health · Unrestricted$22,0002024 tax year
- Hiram College · Unrestricted$15,0002024 tax year
- Project of Easton · Unrestricted$10,5002024 tax year
- Brimmer and May School · Unrestricted$10,0002024 tax year
- Noble and Greenough School · Unrestricted$5,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- William C Bissell — Trustee
- Kenyon B Grogan — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $243,485 | $203,520 | $2,814,667 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $203,858 | $162,010 | $5,473,397 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $282,590 | $166,500 | $19,557,076 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The George S Bissell Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wellesley, MA
Applying to The George S Bissell Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wellesley, MA