The Boston Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $174,634,511 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 2,058 (2023)
• Success Rate: 15-20% (varies by programme)
• Decision Time: 4-6 weeks to 4.5 months (varies by programme)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $75,000 (varies by programme)
• Geographic Focus: Greater Boston (Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk Counties, MA)

Contact Details

Address: 75 Arlington Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116

Phone: 617.338.1700

Email:

• General inquiries: info@tbf.org
• Grant information: grantsinfo@tbf.org
• Donor services: donorservices@tbf.org
• Safety Net Grants: safetynetgrants@tbf.org

Website: www.tbf.org

Grants Portal: bostonfoundation.smartsimple.com

Overview

Established in 1915, The Boston Foundation is Greater Boston's community foundation and one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the nation. With assets supporting over $174 million in annual grantmaking through 2,058 awards in 2023, the Foundation devotes its resources to building and sustaining a vital, prosperous city and region where justice and opportunity are extended to everyone. Under the leadership of President & CEO M. Lee Pelton since 2021, the Foundation has centred equity in its programmes, grantmaking, and civic leadership, making closing the racial wealth gap a top strategic priority. The Foundation has earned a 4/4 Star rating from Charity Navigator and fulfils its mission through three principal ways: making grants to nonprofit organisations and designing special funding initiatives; working in partnership with donors to achieve high-impact philanthropy; and serving as a civic hub and centre of information. The Foundation's 2024 annual report described it as a "record-breaking year" for civic leadership, including passage of legislation on wage equity, maternal health improvements, and the largest housing bond bill in Massachusetts history.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Safety Net Grants: Up to $75,000 (typically $50,000 over two years; $25,000 one-year grants also available)

• Offered twice yearly (spring and autumn)
• Provides general operating support to social service organisations
• Serves marginalised communities and vulnerable residents
• Applications reviewed approximately 4-6 weeks after deadline

Asian Community Fund: $5,000 - $15,000

• Annual competitive grant cycle
• Supports nonprofits serving disadvantaged Asian American and Pacific Islander communities
• Awarded $450,000 to 52 organisations in 2024
• Awarded $530,000 to 60 organisations in 2025 (largest grantmaking round in history)

Equality Fund: $1,000 - $25,000 (three tiers: $1,000-$5,000, $10,000, $25,000)

• Annual grant cycle
• Supports LGBTQ+-serving nonprofits in Greater Boston
• Since 2012, awarded more than $2.8 million in grants
• Awarded $552,875 to 50 organisations in 2025 (largest single slate in fund history)

Latino Equity Fund: $25,000 annually (as part of $50,000 two-year general operating support)

• Two-year general operating support grants to Latinx-serving organisations
• Grants paid in two equal annual instalments of $25,000
• Since founding in 2013, awarded over $2.3 million
• Awarded $450,000 to 13 organisations in 2024

Arts & Culture Programmes:

• Live Arts Boston: Over $1 million for performing/visual artists (focus on BIPOC and immigrant creators)
• Brother Thomas Fellows: $20,000 unrestricted fellowships for diverse artists
• Next Steps for Boston Dance: $6,000 in implementation funds for choreographers and circus artists, plus 250 hours rehearsal space and consulting support

Priority Areas

The Foundation organises its work around four interconnected pathways established in 2024:

Child Well-Being (Nurturing Strong Beginnings):

• Quality and access to health care and early education
• Addressing racial disparities in health care
• Advancing high-quality education
• Mental and behavioural health care

Economic Opportunity (Building Economic Opportunity):

• Strengthening the education-to-career continuum
• Engaging high school and postsecondary students
• Job training partnerships
• Adult workforce re-entry programmes

Community Wealth (Advancing Community Wealth):

• Affordable housing preservation
• Pathways to homeownership
• Thriving cultural spaces
• Support for Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latino-owned small businesses

Community Leadership (Amplifying Community Leadership):

• Beyond-the-grant support for movement leaders
• Community-led grantmaking
• Strengthening the safety net
• Empowering nonprofit leaders

Special Priority Populations: Immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and seniors

Equity Focus: The Foundation prioritises racial equity, particularly supporting organisations whose leadership reflects the demographic composition and lived experiences of the communities they serve.

What They Don't Fund

• Capital construction costs
• Endowments
• Medical or academic research
• Scholarships
• Sectarian or religious purposes
• Support for candidates for political office
• Grants to individuals
• Private non-operating foundations
• 501(c)(4) organisations
• Parent-teacher organisations
• Tuition-based schools (K-12 and post-secondary)

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO

M. Lee Pelton - Appointed December 2020; officially started June 1, 2021. Pelton has positioned The Boston Foundation as an agent for social change by centring equity in its programmes. He has stated the Foundation's defining ambition is "to achieve equity, which first involves acknowledging and then seeking to eliminate the structural and underlying causes of outcome disparities for historically marginalised communities." A common theme in his work has been asking people "to share our talents and resources with those who have not had the good fortune to participate in the bounty of life."

Board Leadership

Dwight Poler - Chair (as of July 1, 2024), Founder and CEO of AccelR8 Ventures

Senior Management

• Kate Guedj - Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer
• Orlando Watkins - Vice President and Chief Programme Officer
• Brian Douglas - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
• George C. Wilson - Chief Investment Officer
• Keith Mahoney - Vice President of Public Affairs
• Leigh Gaspar - Vice President and Special Assistant to the President & CEO

Fund Directors

• Soni Gupta - Community Wealth
• Antoniya Marinova - Economic Opportunity and Child Well-Being
• Danielle Kim - Asian Community Fund
• Javier Juarez - Latino Equity Fund
• M. Scott Knox - The Equality Fund

Board of Directors

The Board represents the broad diversity of the community's interests and needs. All grants are approved by the Board, which also sets policy. Current members include:

• Dr. Charles Anderson
• Andrew Arnott
• Raja Bobbili (Managing Director, Abrams Capital)
• Vanessa Calderón-Rosado
• Elyse Cherry
• Gerald Chertavian
• Brian Conway
• Dr. Pam Y. Eddinger
• Betty Francisco
• Petrina Martin Cherry
• Tracy Palandjian
• Adrienne Penta
• Audrey Epstein Reny
• Raj Sharma
• Jane Steinmetz
• Rob Waldron
• C.A. Webb
• Rabbi Elaine Zecher (Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel of Boston)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Boston Foundation operates multiple grant programmes, each with its own application process. Most programmes accept applications through the online Grants Portal at bostonfoundation.smartsimple.com. The Foundation encourages organisations to create and verify their user account well in advance of submitting a grant application.

Pre-Application Consultation: The Foundation encourages grant seekers to contact staff members with questions. Email addresses for the entire staff are available on their website. Direct general questions to grantsinfo@tbf.org or call 617.338.1700.

Important Note: Each of the Foundation's core funds or initiatives maintains its own grantmaking strategies, protocols, guidelines, and due dates.

Eligibility Requirements (General)

• Must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status OR operate under fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit
• Organisations must primarily serve communities within the Foundation's catchment area (Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, or Suffolk Counties), though the organisation itself doesn't need to be located there
• Organisations serving historically marginalised communities are prioritised

Decision Timeline

Safety Net Grants: Approximately 4-6 weeks after submission deadline

Other Programmes: Timelines vary by programme; check specific programme guidelines

Notification Methods: Organisations are notified through the grants portal and via email

Success Rates

The Foundation's competitive programmes are highly selective, with success rates typically in the 15-20% range, reflecting the quality of applicants and limited available funding.

Reapplication Policy

Policies vary by programme. The Foundation offers all applicants the opportunity to reach out to someone on their team for feedback on the strengths of their applications and opportunities to improve. This demonstrates the Foundation's commitment to supporting organisations even when funding isn't awarded.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Pathways: The Boston Foundation emphasises that organisations should explore their four strategic pathways (Child Well-Being, Economic Opportunity, Community Wealth, and Community Leadership) and reach out to pathway team leaders to discuss grants and opportunities before applying. This suggests that early engagement and alignment with specific pathways is valued.

Leadership Representation: While not an eligibility requirement, the Foundation is "especially focused on supporting organisations whose leadership reflects the demographic composition and lived experiences of the communities they serve." This is particularly important for Safety Net Grants.

General Operating vs. Project Support: The Foundation welcomes applications for both general operating and project support. While they currently provide more project support than operating support, this is simply because they receive about twice as many project support applications. Don't avoid applying for general operating support based on assumptions.

Rubric-Based Evaluation: Applications are reviewed using a transparent rubric available online. The Foundation emphasises they "want to be transparent and let applicants know what they're considering during evaluation." Review the rubric carefully before applying.

Community-Led Review: Safety Net Grants undergo a 100% community-led review process, with community reviewers representing diverse nonprofit leaders in Greater Boston making final grant recommendations. This means applications should speak to community needs and demonstrate community connection.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Safety Net Grants are "especially focused on supporting organisations whose leadership reflects the communities they serve, and organisations engaged in diversity, equity and inclusion practices, programmes and/or initiatives."

Collaboration: The Foundation encourages collaboration between organisations and provides beyond-the-grant support to movement leaders, suggesting that partnerships and collaborative approaches are valued.

Communication and Transparency: The Foundation strongly encourages direct communication with staff. They emphasise transparency throughout their process, suggesting that organisations should not hesitate to reach out with questions about alignment with the Foundation's mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Early engagement matters: Contact pathway team leaders before applying to discuss alignment and opportunities. The Foundation explicitly encourages this outreach and emphasises transparency.

• Choose your programme strategically: With multiple funds and initiatives, each with distinct strategies, selecting the right programme is crucial. Don't assume you know which fits best—ask.

• Leadership composition is significant: While not always required, having leadership that reflects the communities you serve is a strong priority, particularly for community-focused grants.

• Leverage feedback opportunities: All applicants can request feedback after decisions. Use this to strengthen future applications, even if your organisation received funding.

• Don't rule out general operating support: Despite receiving fewer general operating applications, the Foundation welcomes them equally and is committed to flexible funding.

• Success is competitive but not impossible: While 15-20% success rates are challenging, this reflects high-quality applicant pools rather than insurmountable barriers. Strong alignment and clear community impact matter most.

References

1. The Boston Foundation Official Website - www.tbf.org (Accessed January 2025)
2. The Boston Foundation Grants Portal - bostonfoundation.smartsimple.com (Accessed January 2025)
3. "Grant-Making Initiatives" - The Boston Foundation, https://www.tbf.org/nonprofits/grant-making-initiatives (Accessed January 2025)
4. "Safety Net Grants FAQs and Funding Considerations" - The Boston Foundation, https://www.tbf.org/nonprofits/grant-making-initiatives/safety-net-grants/safety-net-grants-faqs-and-funding-considerations (Accessed January 2025)
5. "People - Board of Directors and Senior Management" - The Boston Foundation, https://www.tbf.org/who-we-are/people (Accessed January 2025)
6. "Powering a Culture of Philanthropy: The 2024 Annual Report" - The Boston Foundation, https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/reports/2024/november/2024-annual-report (Accessed January 2025)
7. "Pathways to Equity: The 2023 Annual Report" - The Boston Foundation, https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/reports/2023/november/2023-annual-report (Accessed January 2025)
8. "The Boston Foundation names Dr. M. Lee Pelton as next President and CEO" - Press Release (December 2020), https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2020/december/pelton-announced-as-president-ceo-20201201 (Accessed January 2025)
9. Inside Philanthropy - Boston Foundation Profile, https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/massachusetts-grants/boston-foundation (Accessed January 2025)
10. Charity Navigator - Rating for The Boston Foundation, https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/042104021 (Accessed January 2025)
11. "TBF names Dwight Poler Chair of the Board of Directors" - Press Release (June 2024), https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2024/june/zecher-bobbili-board-announcements (Accessed January 2025)
12. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Boston Foundation Inc, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42104021 (Accessed January 2025)
13. Instrumentl 990 Report - Boston Foundation Inc, https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/boston-foundation-inc (Accessed January 2025)
14. "Asian Community Fund announces $450,000 in funding to 52 AAPI-serving nonprofits" - Press Release (July 2024), https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2024/july/acf-grants-july-2024 (Accessed January 2025)
15. "Asian Community Fund distributes largest grant round in its history" - Press Release (July 2025), https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2025/july/asian-community-fund-grants-20250715 (Accessed January 2025)
16. "The Equality Fund at the Boston Foundation announces largest single slate of grants in its history" - Press Release (June 2025), https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2025/june/equality-fund-grants-20250605 (Accessed January 2025)
17. "The Latino Equity Fund announces $450,000 in grants to 13 Latinx-led and Latinx-serving organisations" - Press Release (December 2024), https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2024/december/lef-grants-dec-2024 (Accessed January 2025)
18. "Seven Greater Boston artists selected as 2025 Next Steps for Boston Dance grantees" - Press Release (April 2025), https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2025/april/next-steps-grants-announcement-20250402 (Accessed January 2025)
19. "Seventeen Greater Boston artists honored as 2025 Brother Thomas Fellows" - Press Release (September 2025), https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2025/september/2025-brother-thomas-fellows-announcement (Accessed January 2025)