George I. Alden Trust

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $11,023,000 (2023)
Total Assets: $203,372,681
Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (notified by end of meeting month)
Grant Range: $15,000 - $1,800,000
Median Grant: $113,000 (2023)
Number of Awards: 76 grants (2023)
Geographic Focus: New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania; Worcester, MA area

Contact Details

Address: 100 Front Street, 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 459-8005
Email: trustees@aldentrust.org
Website: www.aldentrust.org

Overview

The George I. Alden Trust was established on August 24, 1912, by George I. Alden, a mechanical engineer who taught at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for 28 years and co-founded the Norton Emery Wheel Company in 1885. The Trust was created for "the maintenance of some charitable or philanthropic enterprises" with specific interest in "the promotion of education in schools, colleges, or other educational institutions."

With total assets exceeding $203 million, the Trust has maintained consistent annual giving exceeding $11 million for three consecutive years. The Trustees maintain "the widest discretion" in interpreting the Trust's purposes while honoring Alden's original interests in higher education, Worcester community development, vocational education, and YMCAs. The Trust primarily focuses on capital projects that directly impact educational quality and delivery.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Higher Education (Primary Program)

Supports independent colleges and universities with 1,000+ full-time traditional undergraduates and 5,000 or fewer total FTE students
Geographic scope: Six New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey
First-time applicants: Up to $100,000
Returning grantees: Amounts based on prior grant history
Application Method: Quarterly deadlines (February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15)

2. Worcester Nonprofits

Supports educationally-related organizations in Worcester, Massachusetts
Focus on capital projects rather than operating expenses
First-time applicants must contact the Trust before submitting
Application Method: Quarterly deadlines (same as above)

3. Massachusetts YMCAs

Significant support for YMCA of Central Massachusetts
Lesser support for other Massachusetts YMCAs
YMCAs with more than five branches may apply more frequently
Example grant: South Shore YMCA received $150,000 for Hale Family YMCA expansion
Application Method: Quarterly deadlines (same as above)

4. Vocational & Secondary Schools

Primarily Worcester Technical High School
Independent secondary schools in immediate Worcester area
Focus on capital needs
Application Method: Quarterly deadlines (same as above)

5. Year-End Unsolicited Grants

Modest, unrestricted grants to Worcester-area nonprofits
Only when disbursable funds allow
Application Method: No public application; awarded at trustees' discretion

Priority Areas

Capital projects that directly impact undergraduate academic quality
Classroom, library, laboratory, auditorium, and learning center construction/upgrades
Equipment and furnishings for academic settings
Projects demonstrating broad student/client benefit
Institutions with balanced operating budgets and positive performance trends

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Start-up organizations (for Worcester nonprofits program)
Public schools
Charter schools
Electronic/online proposals
Operating expenses (focus is on capital projects)

Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees

Warner S. Fletcher - Trustee
James E. Collins - Trustee
Gail T. Randall - Trustee
Douglas Meystre - Trustee

The Trust is administered through Fletcher Tilton & Whipple PC in Worcester, MA.

Founder's Legacy

George I. Alden (April 22, 1843 – September 13, 1926) was educated at Harvard's Lawrence Scientific School. He gained national recognition for his teaching style that combined practice with theory. He co-founded Norton Emery Wheel Company, invented a dynamometer for measuring machine power, and developed the first hydraulic elevator. He served as a trustee of both Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Worcester Boys' Trade High School.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Review eligibility for your specific program area
First-time applicants (Worcester nonprofits, vocational/secondary schools): Contact the Trust before submitting
Pre-application discussion: The Trust encourages prospective applicants to discuss projects in advance via email or phone
Prepare proposal following program-specific guidelines
Submit hard copy only - electronic proposals are not accepted

Required Proposal Components

For Higher Education:

Cover letter signed by the president with requested amount
Contact person information
Confirmation of enrollment eligibility
Narrative explaining project purpose and institutional capability
Three-year institutional data tables (enrollment, demographics, financial metrics)
Mission statement and strategic priorities
Evidence of graduate outcomes
Audited financial statements and operating budgets
Trustee list and tax-exempt documentation

For Worcester Nonprofits:

CEO-signed cover letter with requested amount
Project narrative explaining educational components and community impact
Three-year financial data in table format
Audited financial statements
Board participation rates (100% expected)
Strategic plan summaries and mission statement

Decision Timeline

Quarterly Meetings: March, June, September, December
Deadlines: 15th of the month before each meeting (February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15)
Notification: By end of meeting month (e.g., by March 31 for February 15 deadline)

Reapplication Policy

Successful grantees: May apply 3 years after first payment, but no sooner than 1 year after final payment
Rejected applicants: May reapply after 1 year
Multi-branch YMCAs: Contact Trust regarding eligibility to apply more frequently

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Explicitly Looks For

The Trust has stated they evaluate proposals based on:

Grant purpose consistent with Trust interests
Responsible leadership and management of the institution
Effective and timely implementation plan for the proposed project
History of balanced institutional operating budgets
Positive trends in institutional performance
Benefits to greater rather than limited numbers of students, clients, or users
How the project, if funded, would make a positive difference at the institution

Trust Guidance for Applicants

From the Trust's FAQ and guidelines:

Pre-application discussions are encouraged: "It is often helpful to explore in advance the nature of the project, the need or opportunity that drives it, and the size of an intended request. The Trustees have found that such discussion generally results in the submission of a more effective proposal or forestalls a formal proposal for which there is little or no likelihood of success."
Review your grant history: "It is helpful for prospective applicants to review their recent grant history with the Trust to determine an appropriate range of request for a particular application."
Email for guidance: "Email your options to the Trust if you would like guidance regarding which has the greatest chance of success."
Project priority: "It is expected that the project for which funding is requested is among the institution's highest priorities."

Challenge Grants

The Trust occasionally makes challenge grants at a 1:3 ratio (one Alden dollar to three matching dollars). Key details:

Match must be met in full within 18 months
Trust only pays when challenge is met in full
No interim or partial payments

Recent Funded Projects

Lycoming College (2024): $150,000 for Detwiler Planetarium instrumentation (sixth grant since 2005, totaling $710,000)
South Shore YMCA: $150,000 for Hale Family YMCA expansion (20,000 sq ft addition including exercise studios, teen programs, gymnastics center)
Worcester State University: Funding for Kaylan K. Ghosh Center for Science & Technology

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Capital projects only: The Trust strongly emphasizes capital needs - classroom upgrades, laboratory construction, equipment purchases - rather than operating expenses. Align your proposal accordingly.
Pre-application contact is strongly encouraged: The Trust explicitly welcomes advance discussions to refine proposals. Take advantage of this by emailing trustees@aldentrust.org before submitting.
First-time caps apply: New higher education applicants are capped at $100,000. Plan your ask accordingly and build a relationship for future, larger grants.
Paper only: Electronic submissions are not accepted. Budget time for postal delivery by the 15th deadline.
Demonstrate institutional health: Show balanced budgets, positive trends, and effective management. The Trust values financial responsibility and sustainability.
Emphasize broad impact: Projects benefiting greater numbers of students/clients are preferred. Quantify the reach and impact of your proposed project.
Timing matters: Observe the 3-year/1-year waiting periods between applications carefully. Plan your grant calendar accordingly, especially for multi-year funding strategies.

References

Information compiled December 2025