The Little Engine Foundation makes a small number of moderate-sized, unrestricted grants focused on local community resilience and economic empowerment. Its giving mixes direct community services (food pantry support) with investments in business enterprise and community education/empowerment, suggesting interest in both immediate needs and economic opportunity. Grants tend to be flexible (general use) and occasionally target nontraditional recipients such as a for-profit LLC doing business-enterprise work.
Concentrated, selective giving: a handful of moderate grants per cycle (total ~ $65k), repeat support to at least one local nonprofit (pantry), and willingness to fund unconventional recipients (an LLC). Grants are generally unrestricted/general use.
$3K
$377K
$14K
$6K
Most grants fall between $1K and $6K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Notable grantees: Roodz Express Freight Services LLC, Center for Empowerment Education (Danbury, CT), Mad River Valley Community Pantry
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGEDI REFUGE | LYNDEN, WA | $1,750 | 2026 | GENERAL USE |
| WAITSFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | WAITSFIELD, VT | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL USE |
| ROODZ EXPRESS FREIGHT SERVICES LLC | FISHKILL, NY | $31,319 | 2025 | PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS ENTERPRISE |
| MAD RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY PANTRY | WAITSFIELD, VT | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| WAITSFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | WAITSFIELD, VT | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN | WAITSFIELD, VT | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| FRIENDS OF MAD RIVER | WAITSFIELD, VT | $1,200 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| FRESH AIR FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| LIVING TREE ALLIANCE | MORETOWN, VT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| ENGEDI REFUGE | LYNDEN, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| WMRW | WARREN, VT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| MAD RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY PANTRY | WAITSFIELD, VT | $5,500 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| FRIENDS OF MAD RIVER | WAITSFIELD, VT | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT EDUCATION DANBURY CT | DANBURY, CT | $23,000 | 2023 | GENERAL USE |
ENGEDI REFUGE
$1,750GENERAL USE
WAITSFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
$1,500GENERAL USE
ROODZ EXPRESS FREIGHT SERVICES LLC
$31,319PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
MAD RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY PANTRY
$6,000GENERAL USE
WAITSFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
$1,500GENERAL USE
MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
$1,500GENERAL USE
FRIENDS OF MAD RIVER
$1,200GENERAL USE
FRESH AIR FUND
$1,000GENERAL USE
LIVING TREE ALLIANCE
$1,000GENERAL USE
ENGEDI REFUGE
$1,000GENERAL USE
WMRW
$1,000GENERAL USE
MAD RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY PANTRY
$5,500GENERAL USE
FRIENDS OF MAD RIVER
$2,500GENERAL USE
CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT EDUCATION DANBURY CT
$23,000GENERAL USE
Current and upcoming funding from Little Engine Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Local schools, NGOs, and community organizations working with children—priority given to communities affected by conflict and natural disaster. (Specific eligibility details are collected via the partner application form.)
Who can apply: Schools, NGOs, and community organizations committed to empowering children; priority given to regions affected by conflict and natural disaster.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
