The Caswell Foundation concentrates on youth development through experiential learning, funding programs that expand cross‑cultural opportunities and outdoor empowerment. Its recent grants support an international student exchange scholarship program and a paddling‑based empowerment and environmental education program, suggesting a preference for hands‑on, transformative experiences for young people.
Caswell Foundation’s largest recent grant, $125,000 to Friends Forever, sets the tone for a portfolio built around foreign exchange scholarships and other experiential opportunities for young people. The foundation pairs that international student-exchange support with repeated grants to outdoor and water-based education programs, indicating a strong interest in hands-on learning rather than classroom-only aid. Across the recent record, the foundation backs scholarship programs, paddling-based empowerment, water monitoring, and youth academic programming. The pattern also shows that Caswell Foundation does not confine its giving to one organization or one year. Friends Forever appears multiple times, with grants ranging from $10,000 to $125,000, and Habitat Education Center also receives repeated support for its paddling for empowerment program. Other gifts extend the same youth-development lens into water quality research, student scholarships, and academic programming. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on transformative experiences, skill-building, and access for students and young participants, especially where cross-cultural exposure or outdoor engagement is part of the design.
A major thread in Caswell Foundation’s giving is cross-cultural student exchange. It awarded $125,000 to Friends Forever for foreign exchange scholarships, then followed with additional support of $20,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023 for the same purpose. That repeated backing points to a sustained interest in scholarship-based exchange rather than a one-time award. Outdoor empowerment is another clear area. The foundation gave $35,000 in 2025, $25,000 in 2024, and $20,000 in 2023 to Habitat Education Center for its paddling for empowerment program. It also supported environmental learning through $25,000 grants to Mystic River Watershed Association for water quality research and improvement in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Education and youth programming show up elsewhere as well, including grants to Sharon Academy for academic programming and student education.
Caswell Foundation’s typical grant size sits at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record includes both smaller program gifts and larger outliers, with the $125,000 award to Friends Forever standing above the usual range. Recipients often appear across multiple years: Friends Forever, Habitat Education Center, Mystic River Watershed Association, Digger Foods, and YMCA of Greater Boston each receive repeat support. The foundation is classified as a Regular Funder, and it also funds individuals. Its recent grants are structured as direct program support, scholarships, incentives, and sponsorship-type awards.
$188K
$402K
$38K
$196K
Most grants fall between $15K and $25K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 30% of grants go to recipients in MA.
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Highly concentrated giving with very few, relatively large grants per cycle; favors direct program support for specific, tangible initiatives rather than broad institutional support.
Notable grantees: Friends Forever, Habitat Education Center
Grantmaking is regional and lands entirely in the United States in the recent record. New Hampshire is the top state by grant count, with 28% of grants going to recipients there. Within that state, Durham and Moultonborough both appear, alongside Sharon in Vermont just over the border. Massachusetts also receives several grants, especially in Boston, Belmont, Arlington, and Sharon. Outside New England, the foundation also gave to recipients in Fort Collins, Colorado; Tucson, Arizona; and Arlington, Virginia.
Its recent grants emphasize youth development through experiential learning, including foreign exchange scholarships, paddling-based empowerment, water monitoring student scholarships, and academic programming. The same pattern also extends to food access, water quality research, and leadership incentives.
Yes. Friends Forever, Habitat Education Center, Mystic River Watershed Association, Digger Foods, and YMCA of Greater Boston all appear in multiple years, which suggests recurring relationships rather than isolated one-off gifts.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both smaller gifts and a larger $125,000 grant.
New Hampshire is the top state by grant count, with 28% of grants going to recipients there. Recent New Hampshire recipients include organizations in Durham, Moultonborough, and other in-state locations.
Beyond youth exchange and outdoor education, the foundation supported a mobile farmers market promotion program, water quality research and improvement, an executive director leadership incentive program, and a pastor benevolence fund.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Caswell Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Families of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities may seek support through the program. The source does not provide additional eligibility requirements or a stated grant amount.
Deadline: Four grant cycles occur each year in January, April, July, and October. Applications are due the first business day of the cycle month.
Who can apply: Caswell Developmental Center individuals and homes may seek funding after other funding avenues have been exhausted.
Deadline: Four grant cycles occur each year in January, April, July, and October. Applications are due the first business day of the cycle month.
Who can apply: Local Management Entities of eastern North Carolina and their provider agencies may apply for assistance benefiting individuals with developmental disabilities. Funding is sought after other funding avenues have been exhausted.
Deadline: Four grant cycles occur each year in January, April, July, and October. Applications are due the first business day of the cycle month.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat Education Center | Belmont, MA | $35,000 | 2026 | Paddling for empowerment program |
| Trustees of Reservations | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | Mobile farmers market promotion program |
| Mystic River Watershed Association | Arlington, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | Water quality research and improvement |
| UNH Foundation | Durham, NH | $25,000 | 2026 | Water monitoring student scholarship |
| American Diabetes Association | Arlington, VA | $20,000 | 2026 | 2024 Tour de Cure |
| Friends Forever | Durham, NH | $20,000 | 2026 | Foreign exchange scholarships |
| YMCA of Greater Boston | Boston, MA | $18,000 | 2026 | Executive Director leadership incentive program |
| Edra Toth Foundation | Farmington, NH | $5,000 | 2026 | Scholarships for students |
| UCCT | Tucson, AZ | $5,000 | 2026 | Update structures |
| Turtle Rescue League | Southbridge, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | Camera monitoring equipment |
| NH Turtle Rescue | Nottingham, NH | $5,000 | 2026 | Camera monitoring equipment |
| Friends Forever | Durham, NH | $125,000 | 2025 | Foreign exchange scholarships |
| Habitat Education Center | Belmont, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | Paddling for empowerment program |
| UNH Foundation | Durham, NH | $25,000 | 2025 | Water monitoring student scholarship |
| Trustees of Reservations | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | Mobile farmers market promotion program |
| Mystic River Watershed Association | Arlington, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | Water quality research and improvement |
| American Diabetes Association | Arlington, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | 2024 Tour de Cure |
| YMCA of Greater Boston | Boston, MA | $18,000 | 2025 | Executive Director leadership incentive program |
| Digger Foods | Sharon, MA | $18,000 | 2025 | A local farmers market for low income customers |
| Sharon Academy | Sharon, VT | $10,000 | 2025 | Academic Programming |
| UCCT | Tucson, AZ | $6,625 | 2025 | Update structures |
| United Methodist Church | Moultonborough, NH | $5,000 | 2025 | Pastor benevolence fund |
| Colorado State University Foundatio | Fort Collins, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | Advanced Energy-Hollis Caswell Scholarship |
| Trustees of Reservations | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | Mobile farmers market promotion program |
| UNH Foundation | Durham, NH | $25,000 | 2024 | Water monitoring student scholarship |
| Habitat Education Center | Belmont, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | Paddling for empowerment program |
| Mystic River Watershed Association | Arlington, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | Water quality research and improvement |
| Digger Foods | Sharon, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | Fund a walk-in cooler for Digger Foods a local farmers market for low income customers |
| Lakes Region Food Pantry | Moultonborough, NH | $20,000 | 2024 | Support for their mission to meet the needs those facing food insecurity |
| Friends Forever | Durham, NH | $20,000 | 2024 | Foreign exchange scholarships |
| YMCA of Greater Boston | Boston, MA | $18,000 | 2024 | Executive Director leadership incentive program |
| American Diabetes Association | Arlington, VA | $15,000 | 2024 | 2023 Tour de Cure |
| Sharon Academy | Sharon, VT | $10,000 | 2024 | Support student education |
| UCCT | Tucson, AZ | $9,200 | 2024 | Update structures |
| UNH Foundation | Durham, NH | $25,000 | 2023 | Water monitoring student scholarships |
| Mystic River Watershed Association | Arlington, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | Water quality research and improvement |
| Habitat Education Center | Belmont, MA | $20,000 | 2023 | Paddling for empowerment program |
| YMCA of Greater Boston | Boston, MA | $18,000 | 2023 | Executive Director leadership incentive program |
| Digger Foods | Sharon, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | Fund a walk-in cooler for Digger Foods a local farmers market for low income customers |
| Friends Forever | Durham, NH | $10,000 | 2023 | Foreign exchange scholarships |
Habitat Education Center
$35,000Paddling for empowerment program
UNH Foundation
$25,000Water monitoring student scholarship
Friends Forever
Foreign exchange scholarships
YMCA of Greater Boston
$18,000Executive Director leadership incentive program
Edra Toth Foundation
$5,000Scholarships for students
UCCT
$5,000Update structures
Turtle Rescue League
$5,000Camera monitoring equipment
NH Turtle Rescue
$5,000Camera monitoring equipment
Friends Forever
$125,000Foreign exchange scholarships
Habitat Education Center
$35,000Paddling for empowerment program
UNH Foundation
$25,000Water monitoring student scholarship
YMCA of Greater Boston
$18,000Executive Director leadership incentive program
Digger Foods
$18,000A local farmers market for low income customers
Sharon Academy
$10,000Academic Programming
UCCT
$6,625Update structures
United Methodist Church
$5,000Pastor benevolence fund
Advanced Energy-Hollis Caswell Scholarship
UNH Foundation
$25,000Water monitoring student scholarship
Habitat Education Center
$25,000Paddling for empowerment program
Digger Foods
$20,000Fund a walk-in cooler for Digger Foods a local farmers market for low income customers
Lakes Region Food Pantry
$20,000Support for their mission to meet the needs those facing food insecurity
Friends Forever
$20,000Foreign exchange scholarships
YMCA of Greater Boston
$18,000Executive Director leadership incentive program
American Diabetes Association
$15,0002023 Tour de Cure
Sharon Academy
$10,000Support student education
UCCT
$9,200Update structures
UNH Foundation
$25,000Water monitoring student scholarships
Habitat Education Center
$20,000Paddling for empowerment program
YMCA of Greater Boston
$18,000Executive Director leadership incentive program
Digger Foods
$10,000Fund a walk-in cooler for Digger Foods a local farmers market for low income customers
Friends Forever
$10,000Foreign exchange scholarships