George I. Alden Trust
At a glance
Key takeaways
- This Trust mainly supports independent colleges and universities in New England, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, vocational and independent secondary schools in the immediate Worcester area, Massachusetts YMCAs, and educationally related non-profit organisations in Worcester; it also makes modest unsolicited year-end grants to a broader range of Worcester non-profits.
- A realistic request sits within its typical grant range of $15,000 to $250,000, where about 8 in 10 of its 249 grants fall; the median grant was $100,000, so a request of that order is a sensible anchor, though first-time college or university applicants should note the stated cap of up to $100,000 for a single programme.
- Applications are made by fixed deadlines, with proposals for the March, June, September or December meetings due by the fifteenth of the preceding month, so timing your approach to these dates matters.
- First-time applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust before applying, and only 24% of its grant dollars to organisations went to repeat recipients, suggesting room for new applicants rather than a closed, relationship-only circle.
- Educationally related Worcester nonprofit organisations that are start-ups, public schools or charter schools should not apply, as the Trust states these are excluded from that funding strand.
Overview
George I. Alden Trust is a US private foundation based in Worcester, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Trust supports independent colleges and universities, vocational and independent secondary schools in the immediate Worcester area, Massachusetts YMCAs, and important, timely efforts by educationally related non-profit organisations in Worcester. Higher-education support is directed to independent undergraduate institutions in the six New England states, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, subject to its stated enrolment limits. The Trust also makes modest unsolicited year-end grants to a broad spectrum of Worcester non-profit organisations outside its grantmaking priorities. Its capital programmes primarily provide outright grants, with occasional challenge grants intended to help institutions broaden philanthropic support. For higher education, it focuses on projects that improve undergraduate academic offerings; for Worcester organisations, it considers the educational components of projects and their contribution to the community.
Themes
- Higher education
- Worcester nonprofits
- Massachusetts YMCAs
- Vocational and secondary schools
- Capital projects
Geographic Focus
New England; New York; Pennsylvania; New Jersey; Massachusetts; Worcester; immediate Worcester area.
What They Don't Fund
- Educationally Related Worcester Nonprofit Organizations only: start-up organizations; public schools; charter schools
How to apply
Applicants submit a single copy of the application and attachments by mail to the Trust.
Deadlines: Proposals for the March, June, September, or December meetings must be received by the fifteenth of the preceding month.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 24% 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 249 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The grant purpose should be consistent with the Trust’s interests.
- Applicants should demonstrate responsible leadership and management.
- Projects should have an effective and timely implementation plan.
- Applicants should show a history of balanced operating budgets and positive trends in institutional performance.
- The Trust favours benefits to greater rather than limited numbers of students, clients, or users.
- The project should make a positive difference at the institution.
- First-time applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust before applying.
- The Trustees find periodic visits to recipient schools helpful and instructive.
- Successful applicants are typically asked to report on the funded project after it is completed.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 5%
- The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 24% of grant dollars went to organisations George I. Alden Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 79 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- UMass Memorial Health Care · To further education$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Saint John's High School · To further education$750,0002024 tax year
- EcoTarium · To further education$750,0002024 tax year
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute · To further education$600,0002024 tax year
- New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill · To further education$500,0002024 tax year
- Assumption University · To further education$500,0002024 tax year
- Anna Maria College · To further education$475,0002024 tax year
- United Way of Central Massachusetts · To further education$300,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Douglas Meystre — Trustee
- Gail T Randall — Trustee
- James E Collins — Trustee
- Warner S Fletcher — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $13,962,308 | $11,482,000 | $215,553,137 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $13,482,495 | $11,023,000 | $237,201,890 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $14,187,415 | $11,478,000 | $255,991,849 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to George I. Alden Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (508) 459-8005
- trustees@aldentrust.org
- TRUSTEES@ALDENTRUST.ORG
- Worcester, MA
- aldentrust.org
Applying to George I. Alden Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (508) 459-8005
- trustees@aldentrust.org
- TRUSTEES@ALDENTRUST.ORG
- Worcester, MA
- aldentrust.org