Chestnut Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Chestnut Fund does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is not open to you; your best route is an introduction through someone who already knows the foundation.
- Its filings show grants to policy research and advocacy organisations on budgets, taxation and economic policy, and to organisations focused on children's issues, so check whether your work sits near those areas before you approach it.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $25,000 and $540,000 and the median is $75,000, so a request of around that size fits its usual pattern, though that band is typical rather than a ceiling.
- Nearly all its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in the two earlier filings, so relationships with existing recipients weigh heavily, and you should plan for a long lead time before any request.
Overview
Chestnut Fund is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) 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 filings do not state a named funding field. The recorded grants were mainly general operating support, with recipients including policy research and advocacy organisations concerned with budgets, taxation and economic policy, and organisations focused on children’s issues. Other recorded support included a writing fellowship, civic participation work and named policy initiatives. Grants went to charitable organisations and funds across several states and the District of Columbia. The filings show substantial recurring support to a small group of recipients alongside grants to a wider range of public-policy, research and nonprofit organisations; they do not describe published selection criteria.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio, District of Columbia and Georgia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 31 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 66% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Chestnut Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 67% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Lupine Fund Company Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund · General operating support$2,465,0002024 tax year
- Emmas Fund · General operating support$350,0002024 tax year
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities · Greenstein fund for a just future$120,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Alan Rottenberg — Trustee
- Gerda Stein — Trustee
- Adam Stein — Trustee
- Jane Stein — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,089,755 | $4,926,685 | $65,446,909 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,604,665 | $3,505,000 | $67,632,240 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,991,509 | $2,935,000 | $70,367,877 | Filing for 2024 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 Chestnut Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to Chestnut Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA