The William F Connell Charitable Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This trust does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected, so an approach without an existing introduction is unlikely to be considered.
- Its typical grants fall between $1,500 and $120,000, about 8 in 10 of its grants, with a median of $7,000, so a modest, well-costed request fits its usual pattern better than a large one.
- Repeat giving is strong: 96% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, so relationships and continuity matter more than a new proposal.
- The filing shows grants mainly in Massachusetts but states no geographic focus, so organisations elsewhere are not excluded by the filing, though it gives them no open route.
- Before investing time in a request, check whether a trustee or an existing grantee can introduce you.
Overview
The William F Connell Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in Boston, 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 trust's filings describe its grants as supporting the charitable objectives of recipient organisations. Recorded recipients include hospitals, colleges and universities, secondary schools, a youth organisation, a church and community organisations. The grant record is concentrated in Massachusetts, with smaller grants also reaching organisations in other states. The filed grant purposes use broad, consistent wording rather than identifying a particular charitable field. Contributions are limited to charitable organisations that have been preselected; the filing provides no open application route.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts.
How to apply
The trust makes contributions only to charitable organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing gives no application instructions for other organisations.
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 61 grants to organisations were $7,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 25% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations The William F Connell Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 25 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $7,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Mass General Hospital · Support for the charitable objectives of the respective charitable 501(c)3 organization$403,9122025 tax year
- Boston College · Support for the charitable objectives of the respective charitable 501(c)3 organization$205,2172025 tax year
- Boston College · Support for the charitable objectives of the respective charitable 501(c)3 organization$121,6942025 tax year
- Boston College · Support for the charitable objectives of the respective charitable 501(c)3 organization$111,1202025 tax year
- Saint Mary's High School · Support for the charitable objectives of the respective charitable 501(c)3 organization$110,6492025 tax year
- Saint Mary's High School · Support for the charitable objectives of the respective charitable 501(c)3 organization$100,8852025 tax year
- Saint Mary's High School · Support for the charitable objectives of the respective charitable 501(c)3 organization$90,1132025 tax year
- Boston College · Support for the charitable objectives of the respective charitable 501(c)3 organization$60,4302025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Courtenay E Connell — Trustee
- Lisa T Mcnamara — Trustee
- Monica C Healey — Trustee
- Timothy P Connell — Trustee
- Terence A Connell — Trustee
- William C Connell — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $95,222 | $95,000 | $34,350,882 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,398,736 | $1,215,491 | $36,272,928 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $1,394,879 | $1,379,020 | $39,531,120 | 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 The William F Connell Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to The William F Connell Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA