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Ogden Codman Trust

Annual Giving
$0.3M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.5M

Ogden Codman Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $245,700 (2023); $307,998 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $5.8 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $3,200 - $500,000
  • Typical Grants: $10,000 - $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Lincoln, Massachusetts (exclusively)
  • Type: Private foundation (no public application process for organizational grants)

Contact Details

Primary Contact:

Website: www.codmantrust.org

For Emergency/Individual Aid:

  • Council on Aging & Human Services
  • Phone: 781-259-8811
  • Email: butta@lincolntown.org
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

For Scholarships:

Overview

The Ogden Codman Trust is a perpetual charitable foundation established in 1968 under the will of Dorothy S.F.M. Codman and became operational in 1972. The trust honors the Codman family legacy, whose roots in Lincoln trace to Colonial America. The family estate, The Grange, was established by John Codman III in 1797 as part of Boston's shipping and trading community.

The trust was uniquely created because none of Ogden Codman's six children produced descendants. His youngest child, Dorothy Codman, executed her father's estate plan by devising the family estate to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities and directing remaining resources into this perpetual foundation for Lincoln's benefit.

The trust generates income through strategic property management, having converted estate assets including Codman Community Farm, Lincoln Woods (affordable housing), and The Mall (commercial center) into investment capital. With assets of approximately $5.8 million, the trust distributes an average of $200,000-$300,000 annually, exclusively serving residents and organizations in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust supports five distinct categories serving Lincoln residents:

1. Emergency Aid

  • Food, shelter, medical, hospital, or nursing assistance for residents in temporary need
  • Small Necessities Project: Small amounts of assistance while permanent solutions are found
  • Emergency Assistance Fund: Up to $1,300 (individual) or $1,700 (household) for immediate crisis
  • Lifetime caps: $1,800 (individual) or $2,400 (household)

2. Education Support

  • Ogden Codman Scholarship: $7,500 per year (renewable up to 4 years)
  • Codman Opportunity Scholarship: $5,000 per year (renewable up to 4 years)
  • Loans or grants for secondary, college, technical, or professional education
  • Available to Lincoln residents graduating from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School or other accredited high schools

3. Cultural Programs

  • Financial support for classes, courses, or lectures in liberal, cultural, or practical arts
  • Open to all Lincoln residents
  • Recent example: Support for Lincoln Land Conservation Trust's "Wild About Lincoln" Pocket Naturalist Guide

4. Recreation

  • Parks, playgrounds, bathing facilities, organized sports, and recreational activities
  • Historical note: Previously funded the town pool

5. Civic Organizations

  • Support for existing organizations serving Lincoln residents in the above areas
  • Recent major grant: $500,000 for community center (distributed over 4 years: $350,000 in year one, remainder over 3 years)
  • Recent grants to Codman Community Farms ($150,000 for campaign) and The Food Project ($3,200 for farm infrastructure)

Priority Areas

  • Community infrastructure and facilities
  • Educational advancement for Lincoln residents
  • Emergency assistance for residents facing financial crisis
  • Cultural enrichment programs
  • Recreational facilities and programs
  • Organizations supporting Lincoln residents in need

What They Don't Fund

The trust explicitly supplements, rather than replaces, municipal services. It does "not relieve the Town of Lincoln from its ordinary responsibility." This means the trust will not fund services that are the town government's responsibility to provide.

Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees (2024)

  • Susan T. Monahan - Lead trustee and primary contact
  • Michael F. O'Connell
  • Stacie Kosinski

The trust is administered through legal counsel at Verrill Law (formerly Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster).

Key Quotes from Leadership

Susan Monahan, Trustee (regarding the $500K community center grant): "We're grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this really exciting project," expressing appreciation for the planning transparency.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Ogden Codman Trust does not have a public application process for organizational grants. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees, who identify and support organizations and projects serving Lincoln residents.

For Individual Assistance (Emergency Aid & Scholarships):

Emergency Aid: Contact the Council on Aging & Human Services for a private and confidential consultation:

Education Scholarships:

  • Application deadline: March 31 (annually)
  • Submit to Lincoln Scholarship Committee via:
  • Requires FAFSA completion for financial need assessment
  • Interview required (date confirmed by trustee)

Getting on Their Radar

While the trust does not accept unsolicited organizational grant applications, they have demonstrated a pattern of proactive engagement with Lincoln-based organizations and initiatives. Based on their grant history:

The trust appears to identify funding opportunities through:

  • Town government partnerships (community center, emergency assistance programs)
  • Established Lincoln-based nonprofits with clear community impact (Codman Community Farms, The Food Project, Society of St. Vincent de Paul)
  • Historic preservation aligned with the Codman family legacy (Historic New England for Codman Estate repairs)
  • Direct observation of community needs

If your organization serves Lincoln residents:

  • Ensure strong relationships with Lincoln town government and community leaders
  • Maintain visibility through community events and town meetings
  • Document clear impact on Lincoln residents
  • Consider that the trust values projects with lasting community benefit and transparent planning
  • Note that the trust's $500K community center grant was praised for its "transparent planning"

The trust's trustee Susan Monahan can be contacted at smonahan@verrill-law.com or 978-500-0786, though this should be approached with the understanding that the trust operates through trustee discretion rather than competitive applications.

Application Success Factors

Funder-Specific Insights

Geographic Restriction is Absolute: All grants are "geographically restricted to organizations and activities serving residents of the Town of Lincoln, Massachusetts." There are no exceptions to this requirement.

The Trust Values:

  1. Long-term Community Impact: The trust's largest recent grant ($500K for the community center) represents a multi-year commitment to infrastructure with lasting benefit.

  2. Transparent Planning: Susan Monahan specifically praised the community center project for its planning transparency, suggesting this is valued in funding decisions.

  3. Leveraging Other Resources: Town Administrator Tim Higgins noted the trust's grant could "help power the fundraising effort that's going on and leverage some additional generosity," indicating the trust appreciates being part of broader funding strategies.

  4. Established Organizations: Recent grants favor established Lincoln-based organizations with proven track records (Codman Community Farms, The Food Project, Historic New England).

  5. Codman Family Legacy: Grants to Historic New England for Codman Estate repairs ($95,000 in 2021) and the trust's own history suggest sensitivity to preserving the Codman family's historical legacy.

Grant Patterns:

  • Typical grants: $10,000-$25,000
  • Willingness to make exceptional large grants for significant community impact (the $500K community center grant is unprecedented in recent history)
  • Average annual distribution: approximately $200,000
  • Made 9 grants in 2023

For Individual Applicants (Scholarships): The trust seeks students who demonstrate:

  • Financial need (verified through FAFSA)
  • "High level (but not necessarily the highest) of academic attainment"
  • Strong leadership qualities and ambition
  • Participation in broad array of school activities and community service
  • Flexibility for those who initially entered workforce or pursued community service before higher education (applications accepted within 4 years of high school graduation)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is non-negotiable: Your organization must serve Lincoln, Massachusetts residents exclusively for this funder
  • No public application process: The trust operates through trustee discretion, identifying worthy projects rather than responding to solicitations
  • Build Lincoln community connections: The trust appears to work closely with town government and established community organizations
  • Think big when warranted: While most grants are $10,000-$25,000, the trust will consider transformational gifts ($500K community center) for projects with lasting impact
  • Demonstrate transparent planning: The trust specifically praised this quality in the community center project
  • Historical significance matters: Projects connected to the Codman family legacy or Lincoln's historical preservation may receive favorable consideration
  • Supplements, not replaces: The trust explicitly will not fund services that are municipal responsibilities
  • Individual aid available: While organizational grants are by trustee discretion, Lincoln residents can directly apply for emergency assistance and educational scholarships through established processes

References

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