George I. Alden Trust - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $11,000,000+
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Approximately 6-8 weeks
Grant Range: $15,000 - $1,100,000
First-Time Grant: Up to $100,000
Geographic Focus: New England, NY, NJ, PA (Higher Education); Massachusetts (YMCAs); Worcester, MA (Community Organizations)

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
George I. Alden Trust
100 Front Street, 5th Floor
Worcester, MA 01608

Phone: (508) 459-8005
Email: trustees@aldentrust.org
Website: https://www.aldentrust.org/
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday mornings

Pre-application Contact:
First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Trust prior to submission to discuss project viability and appropriate request scope.

Overview

Established on August 24, 1912, by George I. Alden (1843-1926), the Trust was created "for the maintenance of some charitable or philanthropic enterprises," with particular emphasis on "the promotion of education in schools, colleges, or other educational institutions." George Alden, educated at Harvard's Lawrence School of Science, taught mechanical engineering for 28 years at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and maintained a lifelong interest in vocational education and the YMCA.

With total assets of approximately $205 million, the Trust has consistently distributed over $11 million annually in recent years (2021-2024), marking three consecutive years exceeding this threshold. The Trust awarded 76 grants in 2023, 94 in 2022, 125 in 2021, and 110 in 2020. The Trust emphasizes capital projects that directly enhance the quality of undergraduate academic offerings and educational infrastructure, operating under the philosophy that "Trustees shall have the widest discretion in their interpretation of the purposes of this Trust."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Higher Education
Grant Range: $15,000 - $1,100,000 (median $113,000)
Application Method: Fixed deadlines (February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15)

Supports independent colleges and universities in six New England states, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania with full-time traditional undergraduate enrollments of at least 1,000 students and total undergraduate/graduate populations (FTE) of 5,000 or fewer. Recent funding has supported classrooms, libraries, laboratories, auditoriums, learning centers, academic building construction/renovation, scientific and technological equipment, and infrastructure improvements. The Trust occasionally offers challenge grants designed to help institutions generate increased philanthropic support from their constituencies.

2. Vocational & Secondary Education
Application Method: Contact Trust for guidelines

Primarily supports Worcester Technical High School and independent secondary schools in the immediate Worcester area, continuing George Alden's particular interest in vocational education.

3. Massachusetts YMCAs
Application Method: Contact Trust for guidelines

Significant support for the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, with lesser levels of support for other Massachusetts YMCAs. Support focuses on occasional capital projects. YMCAs with more than five branches should contact the Trust to ascertain whether they may be eligible to apply more frequently.

4. Educationally Related Worcester Nonprofit Organizations
Application Method: Contact Trust for guidelines

Grant support for important and timely efforts in the Worcester community from educationally-related nonprofits, reflecting the founder's interest in doing good for his community.

5. Unsolicited Year-End Grants
Application Method: Unsolicited (no application required)

Annual program of unrestricted grants to a broad spectrum of Worcester area nonprofit organizations that fall outside the four primary grantmaking areas, when disbursable funds allow. These grants are made at the Trustees' discretion.

Priority Areas

Capital projects that directly impact undergraduate academic delivery quality
Classroom, library, and laboratory upgrades or construction
Academic building renovations and new construction
Scientific and technological equipment acquisition
Learning centers and auditoriums
Infrastructure supporting educational programs
Projects demonstrating institutional educational excellence, forward-looking programming, and efficient administration

What They Don't Fund

The Trust focuses exclusively on tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations. While specific exclusions are not extensively documented, the Trust's emphasis on capital needs for educational infrastructure suggests limited interest in operating expenses, endowment, or non-educational programming.

Governance and Leadership

The Trust operates under trustee discretion with the founding principle that "Trustees shall have the widest discretion in their interpretation of the purposes of this Trust." Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed in standard nonprofit databases, maintaining a private approach to governance. The Trust is administered through Fletcher Tilton & Whipple PC in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Higher Education Institutions:

The Trust does not accept common proposal forms or electronic submissions. All proposals must be submitted as hard copy documents.

Required Materials:

Cover letter signed by institution president stating requested amount
Contact person information
Confirmation of enrollment eligibility (1,000+ full-time undergraduates, 5,000 or fewer total FTE)
Project narrative describing purposes, institutional capacity, student/faculty impact, budget, and timeline
Fundraising goals and project completion plans
Mission statement and up to five strategic priorities
Evidence supporting lifetime outcomes compared to peer institutions
Three-year trend data on:
- Undergraduate enrollment demographics (gender, minority representation, first-generation, Pell-eligible students)
- Average family income and student debt levels
- Financial aid percentages
- Test scores, application/matriculation numbers
- Retention and graduation rates
- Tuition costs and endowment information
- Alumni giving participation rates
Operating budgets (two years plus next year if available)
Audited financial statements (two most recent years)
Trustee list with affiliations
Tax-exempt status documentation

Formatting Requirements:

Minimum 10-point type (preferably 12-point)
Numbered pages
Hard copy only (no electronic submissions)

Other Grant Categories: Application guidelines vary by category. Contact the Trust for specific requirements for YMCAs, vocational/secondary schools, and Worcester nonprofit organizations.

Decision Timeline

Submission Deadlines (Higher Education):

February 15 (for March meeting)
May 15 (for June meeting)
August 15 (for September meeting)
November 15 (for December meeting)

Decision Notification:
Applicants are typically informed by the end of the month following the distribution meeting (e.g., by March 31 for February 15 deadline, by June 30 for May 15 deadline).

Total Timeline:
Approximately 6-8 weeks from submission to decision notification.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly disclosed. The Trust awarded 76 grants in 2023 across all five funding categories from an undisclosed number of applications. Recent annual grant totals: 94 (2022), 125 (2021), 110 (2020).

First-Time Applicant Expectations:
First-time applicants to the higher education program, if funded, may anticipate a grant of up to but not more than $100,000.

Reapplication Policy

After Successful Funding:
Institutions may not submit new grant requests more frequently than three years from the date of the last grant or one year from the date of the last payment, whichever is later.

After Rejection:
An institution whose proposal has been rejected is normally eligible to apply again after one year.

Larger YMCAs:
YMCAs with more than five branches should contact the Trust to determine if they may be eligible to apply more frequently than standard reapplication intervals.

Application Success Factors

Pre-Application Contact is Valued:
The Trust explicitly encourages first-time applicants to contact them before submission to discuss project viability and request scope. This suggests the Trust values relationship-building and wants to guide applicants toward appropriate requests.

Site Visits Matter:
"Visits to the Trust are not required, but such visits are frequently useful to applicants in refining their proposals and to the Trustees in gaining a clearer understanding of the institution." The Trust offers virtual meetings for distant applicants, indicating openness to dialogue and preference for understanding institutional context.

Institutional Data Drives Decisions:
The extensive data requirements (three-year enrollment trends, demographic information, financial aid percentages, retention/graduation rates, peer comparisons) indicate the Trust conducts rigorous analysis of institutional health and impact. Applications should present compelling evidence of educational excellence and efficient administration.

Capital Projects with Direct Academic Impact:
The Trust explicitly prioritizes projects that "directly impact the quality of the delivery of undergraduate academic offerings." Recent awards have supported planetarium instrumentation (Lycoming College, $150,000, 2024) and facilities that enhance teaching and learning spaces.

Challenge Grants for Broader Support:
The Trust occasionally structures awards as challenge grants to "help an institution generate increased and broader philanthropic support from its constituencies," suggesting they value institutional fundraising capacity and community engagement.

Right-Sized Institutions:
The strict enrollment parameters (1,000-5,000 students) reflect a strategic focus on mid-sized institutions where grants can have meaningful impact. Institutions should clearly demonstrate they meet these criteria.

Geographic Eligibility:
While the Trust primarily focuses on the Northeast corridor (New England, NY, NJ, PA), a few grandfathered institutions exist outside this region. New applicants should be located within the primary geographic focus.

Recent Example of Funding:
Lycoming College received $150,000 in October 2024 for Detwiler Planetarium instrumentation enhancements including a new projection system, software, and computing power. This was Lycoming's sixth grant from the Trust since 2005, totaling $710,000—demonstrating the Trust's willingness to support strong partners repeatedly over time.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Contact the Trust first if you're a first-time applicant – They explicitly encourage pre-submission discussions to refine proposals and ensure appropriate request scope. This relationship-building step can prevent wasted effort on misaligned requests.
Capital projects only, with clear undergraduate academic impact – The Trust focuses on infrastructure that directly enhances teaching and learning: classrooms, labs, libraries, equipment. Operating expenses and programs without capital components are unlikely to succeed.
First-time grants are capped at $100,000 – Set realistic expectations for initial requests; demonstrated success can lead to larger grants in subsequent applications (see Lycoming's progression to $710,000 over six grants).
Institutional data tells your story – Prepare comprehensive three-year trends showing enrollment demographics, retention/graduation rates, financial health, and peer comparisons. The Trust conducts rigorous analysis; strong data strengthens credibility.
Consider a site visit or virtual meeting – While not required, the Trust finds these "frequently useful" for both parties. This suggests they value personal connection and deeper institutional understanding beyond the written proposal.
Plan ahead for multi-year funding relationships – The three-year reapplication interval (or one year from final payment) encourages institutions to think strategically about sequencing projects and building long-term partnerships.
Hard copy only, no electronic submissions – Budget time for printing, binding, and mailing materials well before the 15th of the month deadline. Late or electronic submissions will not be accepted.

References

George I. Alden Trust official website: https://www.aldentrust.org/ (accessed December 24, 2024)
Alden Trust FAQ: https://www.aldentrust.org/faq.html (accessed December 24, 2024)
College & University Application Guidelines: https://www.aldentrust.org/higher-education.html (accessed December 24, 2024)
Cause IQ George I. Alden Trust profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/george-i-alden-trust,046023784/ (accessed December 24, 2024)
Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/046023784 (accessed December 24, 2024)
Lycoming College press release: "Lycoming College awarded $150,000 grant by George I. Alden Trust for Detwiler Planetarium instrumentation enhancements," October 2024, https://www.sungazette.com/news/2024/10/lycoming-college-awarded-150000-grant-by-george-i-alden-trust-for-detwiler-planetarium-instrumentation-enhancements/ (accessed December 24, 2024)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46023784 (accessed December 24, 2024)
Foundation Directory by Candid: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=ALDE001 (accessed December 24, 2024)