William and Bertha Schrafft Charitable Trust
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Trust funds programme and general operating grants for underserved young people aged 6–21, mainly through neighbourhood education, with priority given to the City of Boston and New Bedford.
- A small nonprofit is a good fit only if it is incorporated in Massachusetts as a 501(c)(3) and works with young people in that age range; if it is not, it should not apply.
- Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $30,000, the median is $20,000, and this band is typical rather than a ceiling, since the largest grant was $100,000.
- Because 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, new applicants are up against established relationships, so begin with a Letter of Intent, which is the first step for new applicants, and aim for one of its LOI deadlines of February 15, June 15, August 15 or November 15.
Overview
William and Bertha Schrafft Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in Boston, 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 the intellectual, personal and artistic growth of underserved young people aged 6–21, primarily through neighbourhood-based education in Boston. It provides programme and general operating grants to Massachusetts-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofits that help young people develop skills and knowledge to succeed in school and beyond. It prioritises small and medium-sized community organisations and charter and district schools in Boston and New Bedford offering youth development, academic enrichment, and arts and culture for underserved populations. In New Bedford, it also backs a small number of organisations building pathways to economic independence for underserved young people and young adults through education, entrepreneurship and economic development. Programme support centres on caring, consistent, long-term relationships and educational, developmental, artistic or recreational opportunities outside school hours.
Themes
- Youth development
- Academic enrichment
- Arts and culture
- Economic independence
Geographic Focus
Priority: City of Boston; New Bedford.
How to apply
New applicants begin with a Letter of Intent (LOI); if it is approved, they are invited to complete a full proposal.
Deadlines:
- LOI deadlines recur on February 15, June 15, August 15 and November 15.
- Proposal deadlines recur on January 15, April 15, August 15 and October 15; a weekend or holiday deadline moves to the next business day.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 77% 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 306 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It looks for boards and staff who represent the community served and are actively engaged in diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Program support should demonstrate caring, consistent, long-term relationships between young people and staff or volunteers.
- It favours underserved educational, developmental, artistic or recreational opportunities outside school hours.
- Applicants should plan measurable progress towards well-defined goals within a specific timeframe.
- It seeks evidence of significant impact on young people's lives.
- It expects applicants to reflect the demographics of the community served.
- For operating support, it looks for experienced, longstanding leadership, a board-approved strategic plan and plans to expand, improve or deepen services.
- Trustees may schedule interviews or site visits at their discretion.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations William and Bertha Schrafft Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 100 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Breakthrough Greater Boston · Operating 3 Year Gift$100,0002024 tax year
- Philanthropy Massachusetts · The Summer Program$90,0002024 tax year
- Edvestors · 2nd Payment 3-Year Gift$75,0002024 tax year
- Celebrity Series of Boston · Arts for All Youth Programs$40,0002024 tax year
- Cristo Rey Boston High School · Operating$40,0002024 tax year
- New Bedford Light · Operating$37,5002024 tax year
- Science Club for Girls · STEM Education Mentoring$35,0002024 tax year
- Community Economic Development Center of Southern Massachusetts · Operating$35,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lily E Mendez — Trustee
- Joseph Corrado — Trustee
- Karen Faulkner — Executive Director
- Kristen J McCormack — Trustee
- Lavinia B Chase — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,409,204 | $1,996,600 | $41,877,533 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,516,734 | $2,009,500 | $44,500,085 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,755,465 | $2,156,000 | $47,553,512 | 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 William and Bertha Schrafft Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (617) 338-4624
- schrafft@gmafoundations.com
- Boston, MA
- schrafftcharitable.org
Applying to William and Bertha Schrafft Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (617) 338-4624
- schrafft@gmafoundations.com
- Boston, MA
- schrafftcharitable.org