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The George Seymour Bissell Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.2M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M

The George Seymour Bissell Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $162,010 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
  • Decision Time: Not applicable - preselected organizations only
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $42,000
  • Typical Grant: $10,500
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (particularly Wellesley area) and international education organizations (especially Greece)
  • Foundation Assets: $12.8 million (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 78 Forest Street, Wellesley, MA 02481-6828

Phone: (781) 235-8225

Website: No public website

EIN: 04-2368188

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funds.

Overview

The George Seymour Bissell Charitable Foundation was established in 1994 by investment management executive George Seymour Bissell (1929-2023), carrying forward the founder's lifelong commitment to expanding educational access for economically disadvantaged students. This private family foundation, with assets of $12.8 million and annual distributions of approximately $170,000, makes 11-15 unrestricted grants annually to preselected organizations with which the foundation has established long-term relationships. The foundation focuses primarily on educational institutions and organizations dedicated to international development and global health, with a particular emphasis on institutions in Massachusetts, especially in the Wellesley area, and maintains strong ties to international education organizations, particularly Anatolia College in Greece. Following George Bissell's passing in October 2023 at age 94, the foundation continues to be managed by his family, honoring his legacy of supporting education and charitable causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single unrestricted grantmaking program with the following characteristics:

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $42,000
  • Median Grant: $10,500
  • Annual Grants: 11-15 awards per year
  • Grant Type: Unrestricted operating support, indicating trust in recipient organizations to allocate funds where most needed
  • Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

Education: The foundation's primary focus area, reflecting the founder's belief in education as a transformative force. Particular emphasis on:

  • Educational institutions in Massachusetts, especially Wellesley area
  • Scholarship programs for economically disadvantaged students
  • Educational access initiatives

International Development and Education: Strong support for international education organizations, particularly:

  • Anatolia College in Greece (received $42,000 in 2024, the foundation's largest grant)
  • Organizations focused on girls' education internationally (e.g., CAMFED USA)

Global Health: Support for organizations serving underserved communities worldwide, including:

  • Partners in Health, Boston, MA (received $22,000)
  • Other global health organizations addressing health equity

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's pattern indicates it does not fund:

  • Organizations outside its established network
  • General operating appeals from organizations with which it has no prior relationship
  • Unsolicited grant requests
  • Organizations not aligned with education, international development, or global health

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Kenyon (Kennie) Bissell Grogan - Executive Director (since 2012) and Trustee (since 1994)

  • Daughter of founder George Seymour Bissell
  • Also serves as Trustee of Brimmer and May School (alumna, former Board Chair 1997-2005)
  • Board Member of Anatolia College (since 2014)
  • Does not receive compensation from the foundation

William C. Bissell - Trustee

  • Son of founder George Seymour Bissell
  • Does not receive compensation from the foundation

Caroline Bissell - Family Connection

  • Daughter-in-law of George Seymour Bissell
  • Joined Anatolia College Board as member in 2022 (served on Finance committee since 2017)
  • Demonstrates continued family commitment to the founder's philanthropic priorities

Founder's Legacy

George Seymour Bissell (1929-2023) was an influential figure in both investment management and philanthropy:

Education: BA from Dartmouth College (1951), MBA from Harvard Business School (1953)

Career: Distinguished career in investment management in Boston, beginning with Eaton and Howard, later joining Massachusetts Financial Services, and culminating as CEO (1977-1994) of Massachusetts Companies Inc. (later Keystone)

Industry Leadership:

  • Chairman of Investment Company Institute Board (1982-1984)
  • Chairman of Investment Management and Research Association (1968-1969)
  • Chairman of Corporate Investment Institute (1982-1983)
  • Received Distinguished Service Award from Association of Investment Management and Research (1988)

Philanthropic Service:

  • Anatolia College Board of Trustees (1965-2023), Chair (1992-2007) - donated nearly $7 million over his lifetime
  • Boston University Hospital Trustee (1965-1997), Investment Committee Chair (1976-2001)
  • Endowed faculty chairs at Hiram College (in honor of his father) and Brimmer and May School (in honor of his daughter)

Recognition: Awarded the Silver Cross of the Phoenix by the President of the Hellenic Republic (2004) for his contribution to Greek education.

Bissell's obituary noted: "Born in 1929 in Ohio, USA, and inherited his family's principles of supporting society and education."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the foundation's established relationships with recipient organizations. The foundation values long-term partnerships, with grant recipients showing remarkable consistency year over year, suggesting that once an organization is in the foundation's network, it may receive support over multiple years.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: This foundation operates exclusively through preselected organizations and established relationships. The following insights are based on the foundation's documented giving patterns rather than a formal pathway to funding.

Connections to Anatolia College: Given the Bissell family's 60-year relationship with Anatolia College and the continued involvement of multiple family members on its board, organizations with connections to this institution may have greater awareness within the foundation's network.

Massachusetts Educational Institutions: The foundation has particular ties to educational institutions in the Wellesley, Massachusetts area, including Brimmer and May School where Kenyon Bissell Grogan serves as a trustee and has an endowed chair named in her honor.

Focus Area Alignment: Organizations that align with the founder's documented priorities - educational access for economically disadvantaged students, international education, and global health serving underserved communities - reflect the foundation's mission.

Long-Term Relationship Building: The foundation's pattern of consistent support to the same organizations year over year suggests that relationship building with the trustees through sector activities, shared board memberships, or professional networks in Boston's philanthropic and investment management communities could be relevant, though this is not a guaranteed pathway to funding.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on its own timeline with preselected organizations rather than formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from new organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations must be preselected to receive funding. There is no reapplication process for organizations not already in the foundation's network.

Application Success Factors

While this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding its giving patterns can provide insights into its values and priorities:

Long-Term Partnership Approach: The foundation makes grants to a consistent group of 11-15 organizations annually, suggesting it values deep, sustained relationships over broad distribution of smaller grants. Grant recipients show "remarkable consistency year over year."

Unrestricted Support Philosophy: All documented grants are unrestricted, indicating the foundation trusts recipient organizations to allocate funds where most needed rather than directing specific programmatic uses. This suggests the foundation values organizational expertise and leadership.

Focus on Educational Access: The founder's documented commitment was "expanding educational access for economically disadvantaged students," and supported organizations align with this mission - from CAMFED USA (girls' education) to scholarship programs at Anatolia College.

International Education Emphasis: The foundation's largest grants go to international education organizations, particularly Anatolia College, which received $42,000 in 2024. The founder donated nearly $7 million to Anatolia over his lifetime and served as Board Chair for 15 years.

Global Health Equity: Support for Partners in Health ($22,000), described as a "global health organization serving underserved communities," reflects the founder's commitment to addressing health disparities.

Meaningful Grant Sizes: With grants ranging from $5,000 to $42,000 and a median of $10,500, the foundation makes "relatively small grants to a limited number of organizations, suggesting preference for meaningful relationships over broad distribution of smaller amounts."

Family Continuity: The foundation is managed by the founder's daughter and son, neither of whom receives compensation, with his daughter-in-law also serving on Anatolia College's board - suggesting genuine family commitment to the philanthropic mission rather than professional foundation management.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only funds preselected organizations with established relationships - direct grant seeking is not possible

  • Long-Term Relationship Focus: The foundation maintains consistent support for 11-15 organizations annually, suggesting once in the network, organizations may receive multi-year support

  • Unrestricted Grants Signal Trust: All grants are unrestricted, indicating the foundation values organizational leadership and expertise over programmatic direction

  • Education Access is Central: The founder's documented commitment to "expanding educational access for economically disadvantaged students" remains the foundation's core mission

  • International Education Priority: Anatolia College in Greece receives the foundation's largest grants ($42,000 in 2024), reflecting a 60-year family relationship and the founder's lifelong connection to the institution

  • Massachusetts and Greek Connections: Geographic focus on Wellesley, MA area institutions and international focus on Greek educational institutions (Anatolia College) reflect the founder's personal ties

  • Family-Led Foundation: Managed by the founder's children without compensation, ensuring continuation of George Seymour Bissell's philanthropic vision and values following his passing in 2023

References

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