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Kane Wallace Foundation (Edward W Kane & Martha J Wallace Family Foundation)

Annual Giving
$1.9M
Grant Range
$55K - $0.3M

Kane Wallace Foundation (Edward W Kane & Martha J Wallace Family Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$1,949,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not available (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation/trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: $55,000 - $300,000 (based on documented grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Northeast United States, with emphasis on Massachusetts and New England
  • Total Assets: $34,690,131 (2023)

Contact Details

  • Address: 1437-2 Monument St, Concord, MA 01742-5309
  • Phone: (617) 348-3733
  • Website: No public website
  • Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Kane Wallace Foundation, formally known as The Edward W Kane & Martha J Wallace Family Foundation, is a private family foundation established in September 1999 and based in Concord, Massachusetts. With total assets of approximately $34.7 million and annual charitable disbursements of nearly $2 million, the foundation has grown significantly from its 2011 asset base of $15.3 million.

The foundation is managed by its two trustees, Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace, who operate without compensation. It functions as a private non-operating foundation, meaning it primarily makes grants to other organizations rather than conducting its own charitable programs. The foundation gives primarily for recreation, museums, and education, with a notable focus on environmental conservation and land preservation organizations in the Northeast. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and makes grants at the discretion of its trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate named grant programs. All grants are made at trustee discretion.

Recent documented grants (2023) include:

  • Appalachian Mountain Club: $300,000 - Conservation and outdoor recreation
  • Native Plant Trust: $100,000 - Plant conservation and education
  • Northern Forest Center: $55,000 - Forest conservation and community development

The foundation made 38 total grants in 2023, distributing approximately $1,949,328 in charitable contributions.

Priority Areas

Based on grant patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

  • Environmental conservation and land preservation
  • Outdoor recreation organizations
  • Museums and cultural institutions
  • Educational organizations
  • Plant conservation and native habitat protection
  • Regional organizations serving New England and the Northern Forest region

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation without a public application process, the foundation does not publicly disclose exclusion criteria. Based on grant patterns, funding appears concentrated on established environmental, recreational, and educational organizations rather than:

  • Start-up organizations
  • Individual grants (though they can legally provide these)
  • Organizations outside the Northeast region

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Edward W. Kane - Trustee (uncompensated)
  • Martha J. Wallace - Trustee (uncompensated)

The foundation operates with no paid employees and minimal administrative overhead, with charitable disbursements representing 92.1% of total expenses in 2023. The trustees manage an investment portfolio consisting of:

  • Corporate bonds: $17,259,575
  • Corporate stock: $13,124,372
  • Cash: $4,306,184

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Kane Wallace Foundation operates as a private family foundation where all grant decisions are made at the discretion of the two trustees, Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace. There is no online portal, no application form, and no published guidelines for prospective grantees.

Grants appear to be directed to organizations that align with the trustees' personal philanthropic interests in environmental conservation, outdoor recreation, museums, and education.

Getting on Their Radar

Specific information about how this foundation identifies grant recipients is limited. Based on documented giving patterns:

  • The trustees appear to have personal connections to outdoor recreation and conservation organizations in New England
  • Martha Wallace and Ed Kane are documented as individual donors to Native Plant Trust at the $25,000-$99,999 level, suggesting they develop relationships with organizations before or alongside foundation giving
  • Organizations receiving grants tend to be well-established nonprofits with strong track records in conservation and education

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate on a formal application or review cycle.

Success Rates

Not available - there is no public application process to measure success rates against.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - as there is no application process, there is no formal reapplication policy.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on grant patterns, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

  • Established organizations: Grant recipients like the Appalachian Mountain Club (founded 1876) and Native Plant Trust are well-established nonprofits with long track records
  • Environmental and conservation focus: Strong emphasis on land preservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental education
  • Regional presence: Organizations operating in New England and the broader Northern Forest region
  • Multi-faceted missions: Recipients often combine conservation with public access, education, and community engagement
  • Track record of impact: Organizations with demonstrated results in their fields

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. No public application process - This foundation makes grants entirely at trustee discretion. Cold outreach and unsolicited proposals are unlikely to be successful.

  2. Focus areas are clear - Recreation, museums, education, and especially environmental conservation in the Northeast are the primary funding interests.

  3. Relationship-based giving - The trustees appear to support organizations where they have personal involvement or connections, as evidenced by their individual donations to recipient organizations.

  4. Significant capacity - With nearly $35 million in assets and $2 million in annual giving, the foundation can make substantial multi-year commitments to priority organizations.

  5. Long-term partnerships - The scale of some grants (e.g., $300,000 to AMC) suggests the foundation builds sustained relationships with key grantees.

  6. New England focus - Organizations based in or serving Massachusetts and the broader Northern Forest region (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York) are most likely to receive support.

  7. Alternative approach - Organizations seeking to connect with this foundation may have better success building visibility within the environmental conservation community in New England, where the trustees are likely active.

References

Information compiled December 2025. Financial data based on 2023 Form 990-PF filings.

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