The Landsman Charitable Trust
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $2,175,000 (2023)
- Total Assets: $30,546,646 (2023)
- Grant Range: $50,000 - $1,000,000 (based on recent grants)
- Geographic Focus: Massachusetts / Boston-Cambridge area
- Foundation Type: Private Foundation (501(c)(3))
- Year Established: 1994
Contact Details
- Address: 3 Brookwood Rd, Lexington, MA 02420
- Phone: (781) 477-0731
- EIN: 04-3236716
Overview
The Landsman Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 1994, based in Massachusetts. With total assets of approximately $30.5 million, the trust makes substantial charitable distributions, with $2,175,000 in grants awarded in 2023. The foundation operates with zero employees, suggesting it is managed by trustees.
The trust generates income from a diversified investment portfolio including corporate stocks ($16.4 million), government obligations ($1.5 million), corporate bonds ($2.3 million), and other investments ($8.9 million). According to its Form 990-PF filings, the foundation "generates income from investments to fulfill its exempt purpose" and actively manages its portfolio.
The trust appears to focus on healthcare and education, with recent significant grants to Beth Israel Lahey Health Primary Care and Psi Chi at Brandeis University.
Funding Priorities
Recent Grant Recipients (2023)
- Beth Israel Lahey Health Primary Care: $1,000,000 (unrestricted grant, December 2023)
- Psi Chi - Brandeis University: $50,000 (unrestricted grant, December 2023)
Priority Areas
Based on recent grantmaking patterns:
- Healthcare institutions
- Higher education
- Psychology/behavioral sciences
What They Don't Fund
Specific exclusion criteria are not publicly documented. Given the limited number of grants and focused giving pattern, the trust appears to be selective in its grantmaking.
Governance and Leadership
- Also Known As: Denbo Samuel Ttee (indicating trustee)
- Structure: Zero employees; operated by trustees
- Location: Originally listed in Swampscott, MA; current address in Lexington, MA
The foundation appears to be a family trust with the Landsman/Denbo family involved in its administration.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The Landsman Charitable Trust appears to operate as a family foundation that makes grants at trustee discretion. There is no website, no published grant guidelines, and no formal application process available.
The trust made only six grants in its most recent filing year, suggesting highly selective, relationship-based grantmaking rather than open applications.
Getting on Their Radar
Given the limited public information about this foundation's grantmaking approach, organizations seeking support would need to:
- The foundation has made significant grants to Beth Israel Lahey Health and Brandeis University - organizations seeking funding may benefit from connections within these institutions
- The foundation appears to be based in the Boston/Cambridge metropolitan area, suggesting a focus on organizations serving this region
Decision Timeline
No public information available on decision timelines. Grants in the 2023 filing were made in December, suggesting year-end giving patterns.
Application Success Factors
Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns:
- Large, Established Institutions: Recent grants have gone to major healthcare and educational institutions rather than small nonprofits
- Unrestricted Funding: Both documented grants were unrestricted, suggesting the foundation supports organizations they trust rather than specific projects
- Healthcare and Education Focus: The two largest grants demonstrate clear priorities in these sectors
- Regional Presence: Recipients are located in the Greater Boston area
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No public application process - This is a family foundation operating at trustee discretion
- Very selective grantmaking - Only six grants made in the most recent year, totaling $2.175 million
- Large grant sizes - Grants range from $50,000 to $1 million, indicating preference for substantial institutional support
- Healthcare and education focus - Recent grants support major hospitals and universities
- Massachusetts-based - Geographic focus appears to be the Boston-Cambridge area
- Relationship-driven - Without a public application process, connections to trustees or recipient organizations may be essential
- Unrestricted support preferred - Documented grants were unrestricted rather than project-specific
References
- The Landsman Charitable Trust - Cause IQ Profile - Accessed December 2025
- Massachusetts Public Charities Filing Search - Massachusetts Attorney General's Office
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Massachusetts - For 990-PF tax filings
- IRS Form 990-PF filings for EIN 04-3236716