Fels Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation is invitation-only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so the filing's statement that contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations means you should not send a cold request.
- Its stated priority is Central Massachusetts, and the filing says its grant-making is concentrated there, so organisations working in that area have the clearest fit.
- Half of its grants to organisations are $5,000 or less and the median is $5,000, so a modest request near that figure matches its usual giving; its typical grants run from $500 to $60,000, but that band is not a ceiling, as its largest grant was about $610,000.
- Because 96% of its grant dollars in the latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, it appears relationship-led, though a new organisation is not ruled out.
- Requests for grants should be made by letter.
Overview
Fels Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Worcester, MA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filing says the foundation has no specific restrictions but concentrates its grant-making on organisations in the Central Massachusetts area. It does not name a programme or subject priority. Its recorded grants are described as general and have gone to municipalities, schools, health services, churches, food banks, youth and community organisations, animal shelters, charities and cultural institutions. This record shows broad support across civic, educational, religious, health, social-service, animal-welfare and cultural organisations rather than a stated thematic strategy. The filing indicates that contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations.
Geographic Focus
Priority: Central Massachusetts.
How to apply
Requests for grants should be made by letter.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 96% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 134 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 46% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations Fels Family Foundation 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 45 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Town of Webster · General$500,0002025 tax year
- All Saints Academy · General$116,0002025 tax year
- Saint Joseph School · General$100,0002025 tax year
- UMass Memorial Health · General$100,0002025 tax year
- United Way · General$60,0002025 tax year
- Our Bright Future · General$40,7002025 tax year
- American Red Cross · General$25,0002025 tax year
- United Church of Christ · General$21,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Laura Green — Trustee
- Marilyn Fels — Trustee
- Gerald Fels — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $1,215,495 | $1,181,845 | $20,944,878 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,204,540 | $1,175,890 | $22,150,233 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $1,196,480 | $1,157,830 | $23,499,094 | Filing for 2025 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
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At a glance
Applying to Fels Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Worcester, MA
Applying to Fels Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Worcester, MA