Kelsey Trust
Kelsey Trust supports organizations serving the Lake Champlain Basin, funding environmental, educational, child and family, and health initiatives to benefit people and protect the natural environment.
Funder: Vermont Community Foundation
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 (Winter LOI) | June 1, 2027 (Spring LOI)
Funding Amounts: Typically $5,000–$10,000; roughly $200,000 fiscal-year grants budget, partly previously committed
Summary: Supports organizations benefiting people and protecting the environment of the Lake Champlain Basin through environmental, educational, child and family, and health initiatives.
Key Information: Applicants must serve the Lake Champlain Basin; organizations located within the Basin receive strong preference.
Description
The Kelsey Trust is a family foundation established in 1988 by Sally Patrick Johnson to benefit people and protect the natural environment of the Lake Champlain Basin. Since 1989, the Vermont Community Foundation has assisted with its grantmaking. The Trust supports environmental protection, children and families, educational access, and health and nutrition.
Environmental priorities include Lake Champlain and its tributaries, the Green Mountains, and the Adirondacks. Other priorities include infants and children with serious educational, emotional, nutritional, and social needs; non-traditional students and underserved populations seeking educational opportunities; and health, well-being, and nutrition for underserved people and families in need. Spring grants typically emphasize education and the environment, while winter grants emphasize children and families, basic human needs, and health.
