The Peabody Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filing restricts grants to Massachusetts and says the foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations, and its application route is by invitation only, so an organisation that has not been invited should not send an unsolicited request.
- If your work is in Massachusetts and serves handicapped children or related research, the filing's stated purposes fit, but the way in is an invitation rather than an open application.
- Where a request is invited, a typical grant falls between $7,500 and $100,000, and half of its grants to organisations are $27,000 or less, so a modest, specific ask suits it best.
- In its latest filing, 95% of grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two earlier filings, so a first approach is likely to be harder than renewing an existing relationship.
- The filing gives 1 February as its annual deadline, which sits oddly with the invitation-only stance, so check with the foundation before timing anything around that date.
Overview
The Peabody Foundation is a US private foundation based in Plymouth, MA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s filed grant purposes are to benefit handicapped children and related research. Its recorded grants go to a range of Massachusetts organisations, including children’s and general hospitals, specialist schools serving blind and deaf children, rehabilitation services, camps, therapeutic recreation providers, and arts and community organisations. Its filing restricts grants to Massachusetts and states that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations. A grant application format is available upon request, and the filing gives an annual 1 February deadline.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Handicapped children
- Related research
Geographic Focus
Massachusetts.
How to apply
The grant application format is available upon request.
Deadlines: Applications are due each 1 February.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 79 grants to organisations were $27,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation makes contributions only to charitable organisations it has preselected.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to organisations The Peabody Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 27 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Boston Children's Hospital · To benefit handicapped children &/related research.$339,1282024 tax year
- Massachusetts General Hospital · To benefit handicapped children &/related research.$256,4182024 tax year
- Brigham and Women's Hospital · To benefit handicapped children &/related research.$125,0002024 tax year
- Shriners Hospitals for Children · To benefit handicapped children &/related research.$100,0002024 tax year
- Martha's Vineyard Cerebral Palsy Camp · To benefit handicapped children &/related research.$100,0002024 tax year
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · To benefit handicapped children &/related research.$75,0002024 tax year
- Cotting School for Handicapped Children · To benefit handicapped children &/related research.$70,0002024 tax year
- Piers Park Sailing Center · To benefit handicapped children &/related research.$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- David C Brooks MD — Trustee
- Ms Bethany M Woods — Clerk / Trustee
- Ms Mary Liz Van Dyck — Vice-President / Trustee
- Mr John Ea Safford — Treasurer / Trustee
- Christopher D Perry Esq — President / Trustee
- Ms Judith E Rhoades — Executive Director
- Colleen Whitehouse DNP RN Ocn — Trustee
- Jeremy T Smith MD — Trustee
- David P Simmons MD — Trustee
- Ethan R Parten — Trustee
- Mrs Jane Otte — Trustee
- David W Manzo — Trustee
- Meredith T Johnson — Trustee
- Mr John H Emmons JR — Trustee
- Mr Joseph C Donnelly JR — Trustee
- Mr Daniel R Davis — Trustee
- Sarah L Christie — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,488,145 | $1,295,848 | $28,552,027 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,475,804 | $1,276,744 | $35,695,388 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,774,221 | $1,529,478 | $36,795,274 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The Peabody Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (508) 728-8780
- JEMULLEN12@COMCAST.NET
- Plymouth, MA
Applying to The Peabody Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (508) 728-8780
- JEMULLEN12@COMCAST.NET
- Plymouth, MA