The Ralph & Helen Kelley Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving on higher-education scholarships, primarily for public colleges and universities in central Massachusetts. Most support takes the form of sizeable scholarship awards to a small set of repeat grantees, indicating a targeted interest in student aid rather than broad program funding. The foundation appears to favor regional public institutions and sustained relationships with them.
Concentrated—a small number of relatively large grants focused on scholarships; repeat funding to the same Massachusetts public colleges and universities rather than many one-off or diverse national recipients.
Ralph & Helen Kelley Fdn directs almost all of its grantmaking toward higher-education scholarships, with a strong pattern of repeat awards to public colleges and universities in Massachusetts. The largest recent grants go to UMass Amherst, including $112,500 in 2025 and $92,500 in 2024 for scholarships, showing a sustained relationship with that campus. Another recurring recipient is Fitchburg State University, which received $102,500 in 2023 and $73,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for scholarship support. The foundation also supports Worcester State University and Mount Wachusett Community College, placing student aid at the center of its giving. Its recent awards are framed almost entirely as scholarship funding rather than unrestricted institutional support, and the named beneficiaries are postsecondary students. The pattern suggests a funder focused on tuition assistance and access for students at a defined set of public institutions, especially in north-central Massachusetts. Across the recent grant list, the same campuses appear year after year, indicating ongoing scholarship relationships rather than one-time awards.
Scholarship support is the core of this funder’s work. In 2025, Ralph & Helen Kelley Fdn gave $75,500 to Worcester State University for scholarships and the same amount to Mwcc - Mount Wachusett Community College for scholarships. Earlier awards show the same pattern at Bridgewater State University, which received $23,500 in 2024 and $17,000 in 2025 for scholarships. The foundation also backs Framingham State University, with $34,500 in 2025 and $24,500 in 2024, both designated for scholarships. The largest awards cluster around public higher education in Massachusetts. UMass Amherst received $112,500 in 2025 and $92,500 in 2024 for scholarships, while Fitchburg State University received $102,500 in 2023 and $73,000 in 2024 and 2025. These repeated grants point to sustained support for student aid at individual campuses rather than broad programmatic grants.
Typical awards are mid-sized: the p25 grant is $5,875, the median is $6,500, and the p75 is $16,625. Recent listed grants also include larger scholarship commitments, showing that the foundation uses a mix of standard awards and larger campus-level grants. The grant record is highly repetitive across years, with the same institutions appearing multiple times, especially from 2023 through 2025. The foundation makes direct scholarship grants to colleges and universities; the pattern fits a restricted education-support model rather than open-ended program funding. No application process is described in the provided data.
$659K
$14.1M
$1.2M
$910K
Most grants fall between $6K and $17K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$17K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in MA.
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Notable grantees: Fitchburg State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Worcester State University, Mount Wachusett Community College
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 116 grants in the United States and no other recipient countries listed. Massachusetts receives most of the activity, which aligns with the concentration of awards to Amherst, Fitchburg, Worcester, Gardner, Lowell, Boston, Framingham, Salem, Westfield, and Bridgewater. The recent grants also extend to Manchester, New Hampshire through Saint Anselm College. Although the foundation is headquartered in Dallas, its grant list shows a strong New England focus, especially central and north-central Massachusetts.
It primarily funds higher-education scholarships. The recent grant list is dominated by scholarship awards to public colleges and universities, especially UMass Amherst, Fitchburg State University, Worcester State University, and Mount Wachusett Community College.
Yes. Several institutions appear across multiple years, including UMass Amherst in 2024 and 2025, Fitchburg State University in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Worcester State University in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The typical grant size is modest relative to the larger scholarship awards: p25 is $5,875, median is $6,500, and p75 is $16,625.
Most grants go to recipients in Massachusetts. The state is the top giving state by grant count, and the recent recipient list includes Amherst, Fitchburg, Worcester, Gardner, Lowell, Boston, Framingham, Salem, Westfield, and Bridgewater.
The recipients are postsecondary institutions and their students. The listed grants are scholarship awards to colleges and universities such as UMass Amherst, Fitchburg State University, and Bridgewater State University, indicating direct support for students at those campuses.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMASS - AMHERST | AMHERST, MA | $101,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY | WORCESTER, MA | $89,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | FITCHBURG, MA | $76,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UMASS - LOWELL | LOWELL, MA | $57,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY | BRIDGEWATER, MA | $44,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY | SALEM, MA | $25,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY | WESTFIELD, MA | $22,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY | FRAMINGHAM, MA | $17,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| UMASS - DARTMOUTH | NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA | $16,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | Boston, MA | $13,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ASSUMPTION COLLEGE | WORCESTER, MA | $11,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UMASS - BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $11,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY | RINDGE, NH | $11,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WPI - WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE | WORCESTER, MA | $11,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ITHACA COLLEGE | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TUFTS UNIVERSITY | MEDFORD, MA | $9,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE | SOUTH HADLEY, MA | $9,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NICHOLS COLLEGE | DUDLEY, MA | $9,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KEENE STATE COLLEGE | KEENE, NH | $7,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE | GARDNER, MA | $6,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CAPE COD COMMUNITY COLLEGE | WEST BARNSTABLE, MA | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ECKERD COLLEGE | PETERBURG, FL | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CLARKSON UNIVERSITY | POTSDAM, NY | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| STONEHILL COLLEGE | NORTH EASTON, MA | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ROB ROY ACADEMY | WORCESTER, MA | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MAINE | ORONO, ME | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AUGUSTANA COLLEGE | ROCK ISLAND, IL | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE | COLCHESTER, VT | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WESTERN WELDING ACADEMY | GILLETTE, WY | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE | SPRINGFIELD, MA | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NCAROLINA - CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $5,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GORDON COLLEGE | WENHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTH POINT BIBLE COLLEGE | HAVERSHILL, MA | $4,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| JOHNSON & WALES | PROVIDENCE, RI | $4,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | BOSTON, MA | $4,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| STONY BROOK | STONY BROOK, NY | $4,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVESITY | SPRINGFIELD, MA | $3,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LESLEY UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $3,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UMASS - AMHERST | AMHERST, MA | $112,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MWCC - MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE | GARDNER, MA | $75,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY | WORCESTER, MA | $75,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | FITCHBURG, MA | $73,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY | FRAMINGHAM, MA | $34,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY | SALEM, MA | $32,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UMASS - LOWELL | LOWELL, MA | $29,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY | WESTFIELD, MA | $22,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY | BRIDGEWATER, MA | $17,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UMASS - DARTMOUTH | NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA | $16,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
UMASS - AMHERST
$101,500SCHOLARSHIPS
WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY
$89,000SCHOLARSHIPS
FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
$76,000SCHOLARSHIPS
BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY
$44,500SCHOLARSHIPS
SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
$25,500SCHOLARSHIPS
WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY
$22,000SCHOLARSHIPS
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY
$17,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
UMASS - DARTMOUTH
$16,500SCHOLARSHIPS
University of Massachusetts Boston
$13,000SCHOLARSHIP
ASSUMPTION COLLEGE
$11,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UMASS - BOSTON
$11,500SCHOLARSHIPS
FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY
$11,000SCHOLARSHIPS
TUFTS UNIVERSITY
$9,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE
$9,000SCHOLARSHIPS
NICHOLS COLLEGE
$9,000SCHOLARSHIPS
KEENE STATE COLLEGE
$7,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CAPE COD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$5,500SCHOLARSHIPS
ECKERD COLLEGE
$5,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
$5,500SCHOLARSHIPS
STONEHILL COLLEGE
$5,500SCHOLARSHIPS
ROB ROY ACADEMY
$5,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
$5,500SCHOLARSHIPS
WESTERN WELDING ACADEMY
$5,500SCHOLARSHIP
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE
$5,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NCAROLINA - CHAPEL HILL
$5,500SCHOLARSHIPS
GORDON COLLEGE
$5,000SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTH POINT BIBLE COLLEGE
$4,500SCHOLARSHIPS
JOHNSON & WALES
$4,500SCHOLARSHIPS
WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$4,500SCHOLARSHIPS
STONY BROOK
$4,500SCHOLARSHIPS
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVESITY
$3,500SCHOLARSHIPS
LESLEY UNIVERSITY
$3,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UMASS - AMHERST
$112,500SCHOLARSHIPS
MWCC - MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$75,500SCHOLARSHIPS
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY
$34,500SCHOLARSHIPS
SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
$32,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UMASS - LOWELL
$29,000SCHOLARSHIPS
WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY
$22,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UMASS - DARTMOUTH
$16,500SCHOLARSHIPS