Howfirma Trust

Howfirma Trust operates as a private operating foundation under the stewardship of the Van Bokkelen family in South Hampton, New Hampshire. As a family-directed trust established in 1997 with tax-exempt status since March of that year, it functions primarily through direct operational conservation activities rather than through competitive grant-making to outside organizations. The trust's strategic approach centers on acquiring land, conservation easements, and development rights in southern New Hampshire's Seacoast region, particularly in the Rockingham County area where South Hampton is located. The family trustee structure (James B., Jocelyn N., and Katrina R. Van Bokkelen serve as unpaid trustees) means decisions are made within the family with no public board or competitive review process. The trust's NTEE classification of C34Z (Land Resources Conservation) and IRS activity code 352 indicate its core mission is acquiring and protecting open space, farmland, scenic landscapes, and wildlife habitat permanently. With approximately $4.6 million in net assets and annual qualified distributions averaging $20,000 to $87,000 over recent years, the trust is a small but consistent force for land protection in its region.

Howfirma Trust's 990-PF filings reveal consistent annual charitable disbursements over the past decade, with qualified distributions ranging from approximately $7,000 to $87,000 annually. In fiscal year 2024 (ending November 2024), total revenue was $55,174 and expenses were $66,325 with $6,994 in charitable disbursements. In FY2023, total expenses were $84,830 with $28,892 in charitable disbursements. In FY2022, expenses were $76,853 with $20,073 in charitable disbursements. The trust's primary income sources are rental income (approximately $34,000/year from conservation land), dividends (~$11,000-$15,000/year from investments), and periodic contributions from donors ($5,687 to $36,000 annually). The trust holds investment securities of approximately $387,000 alongside its land holdings totaling roughly $4.6 million. Annual distributions are modest by private foundation standards but are specifically targeted at conservation activities. There is no evidence of multi-year grant commitments; disbursements appear annual and project-based.

Howfirma Trust occupies a niche among small New Hampshire private conservation foundations. The following comparison situates it among similar regional conservation funders:

Howfirma Trust is distinguishable from community foundations and larger conservation funders by its exclusively family-controlled governance, operating foundation status, and deep focus on a small geographic footprint in Seacoast NH. Unlike the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation which accepts public grant applications, Howfirma does not operate a public grant program. Its peer group is best described as small private operating trusts that combine land ownership with occasional grants to aligned conservation organizations.

Based on 990-PF filings from 2011 through 2024, Howfirma Trust has maintained consistent conservation activity throughout this period. In fiscal year 2024 (ended November 2024), total revenue was $55,174 and expenses were $66,325 with $6,994 in charitable disbursements. The trust continues to hold approximately $4.6 million in total assets with zero liabilities, demonstrating strong financial stability. The investment portfolio includes approximately $387,000 in government obligations and securities. Rental income of approximately $34,000 annually suggests the trust holds income-producing conservation land. In FY2023, the trust received a significant contribution of $36,000, suggesting either a new donor relationship or a capital addition. The three Van Bokkelen trustees — James B., Jocelyn N., and Katrina R. — all serve without compensation, consistent with a closely-held family philanthropic structure. The domain howfirmafoundation.org currently hosts an unrelated Christian ministry, indicating the trust operates without a dedicated public web presence.

Because Howfirma Trust operates as a private family foundation with no public grant portal, outreach requires a relationship-based approach. Key tips for organizations seeking support: (1) Focus on geographic alignment — projects in South Hampton, NH and the broader Rockingham County Seacoast region are most competitive. (2) Demonstrate direct land conservation impact — the trust's four program areas are clear: open-space preservation, wildlife habitat, public conservation education, and land/easement acquisition. (3) Contact trustees directly — with no formal application process, written correspondence with the Van Bokkelen family via mail is the most appropriate approach. The trust's mailing address is 45 Hilldale Ave, South Hampton, NH 03827. (4) Highlight permanence — the trust values long-term conservation outcomes such as permanent easements or protected land parcels over short-term programmatic grants. (5) Be realistic about scale — with annual charitable disbursements in the $7,000-$87,000 range, requests should be $5,000-$25,000. (6) Verify current grant-making status — as an operating foundation, Howfirma may conduct primarily its own programs; confirm with trustees whether external grant requests are accepted before investing significant time in an application.