← Back to US Funders Directory

James M Stoneman Charitable Fund

Annual Giving
$5.3M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.3M

James M Stoneman Charitable Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,330,000 (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $250,000 (based on recent grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Boston area and Massachusetts, with some Florida presence
  • Total Assets: $30.9 million (FY 2024)

Contact Details

Address: One International Place, 32nd Floor, Boston, MA 02110-2602 Administrative Contact: c/o Morrissey Hawkins & Lynch Phone: 617-345-4500 (Law firm contact) EIN: 04-2741931 Website: No public website available

Overview

The James M Stoneman Charitable Fund was established in 1981 as a private foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. With total assets of $30.9 million as of fiscal year 2024, the fund distributed approximately $5.33 million in charitable grants, representing 89.6% of its annual expenses. The foundation is funded entirely through investment portfolio returns, generating revenue from dividends ($1.35 million), asset sales ($1.88 million), and interest income ($62,120) in FY 2024. The fund honors the legacy of James Monroe Stoneman (d. July 5, 2015), a former President of The Interstate Theatre Corporation and prominent Boston-area philanthropist, alongside his wife Thea Stoneman, who continues as a trustee. The fund gives primarily for health associations and hospitals, including children's hospitals, with additional funding for children and youth services and education. Recent grants demonstrate a focus on Catholic education institutions and healthcare facilities in both Massachusetts and Florida.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund operates a single grant-making program without separate streams or defined application cycles. Based on recent grant activity:

  • Major Institutional Grants: $100,000 - $250,000 (for established educational and healthcare institutions)
  • Mid-Level Grants: $50,000 - $99,999 (for regional healthcare and social service organizations)
  • Grant Distribution: Made nine grants in 2023, totaling $2,127,295

Recent Grant Recipients (2023):

  • Boston College: $250,000 (general support)
  • Catholic Schools Foundation: $100,000 (general support)
  • Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation: $50,000 (general support)

Priority Areas

Based on the fund's stated focus and grant history, priority areas include:

  • Healthcare and Hospitals: Health associations, hospital foundations, children's hospitals, and medical facilities (particularly in Boston and Boca Raton)
  • Catholic Education: Support for Catholic schools, scholarship programs, and higher education institutions
  • Children and Youth Services: Programs benefiting young people, including educational access and social services
  • Medical Research and Patient Care: Facilities like Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital have received Stoneman family support

What They Don't Fund

The fund does not publicly specify exclusions, but its narrow focus suggests it likely does not fund:

  • Non-healthcare, non-education causes
  • Organizations outside its geographic focus areas (Massachusetts and Florida)
  • General operating appeals from organizations without established connections to the trustees

Governance and Leadership

The James M Stoneman Charitable Fund is administered through professional legal trustees at Morrissey Hawkins & Lynch, a Boston law firm specializing in estate planning, trust administration, and fiduciary services. The firm has been serving clients since 1990 and maintains offices in Boston's Financial District.

Current Trustees (as of FY 2024, all serving with zero compensation):

  • Robert F. Morrissey - Partner at Morrissey Hawkins & Lynch
  • Robert J. Morrissey - Partner at Morrissey Hawkins & Lynch
  • Thea Stoneman - Widow of founder James M. Stoneman

The foundation maintains minimal operational overhead with no paid employees, contracting approximately $375,000 in professional fee-for-service expenses and $22,280 in accounting fees for fiscal 2023.

About James M. Stoneman (1918-2015): James Monroe Stoneman was a WWII Navy veteran, former President of The Interstate Theatre Corporation, past President of the Theatre Owners of New England, and owner of Seljim Investments. He was a Barker with the Variety Club of New England and an ardent benefactor of the Boston medical community. His philanthropic legacy includes the Thea and James M. Stoneman Centennial Park at Brigham and Women's Hospital, the Stoneman Medical Center at Cape Cod Hospital, and the Stoneman Healing Garden at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Thea Stoneman continues the couple's philanthropic work, with the Thea Stoneman Breast Imaging and Diagnostic Center at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital named in her honor. The center has cared for over 100,000 patients since its establishment in 1971.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The James M Stoneman Charitable Fund operates as a private foundation managed through professional trustees at Morrissey Hawkins & Lynch. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees and typically to organizations with established relationships to the Stoneman family or the trustees.

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or maintain an open grant portal. Grant decisions are made based on trustee discretion and alignment with the fund's historical giving patterns in healthcare, Catholic education, and children's services.

Organizations seeking funding should note that the fund does not solicit or accept contributions from external donors; it operates entirely from its investment portfolio.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, decisions are made on an internal timeline not subject to public application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for organizations without established connections. The fund made nine grants in 2023, but the total number of inquiries or requests is not publicly reported.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Given the private, trustee-directed nature of grantmaking, there is no formal reapplication process for organizations.

Application Success Factors

While the James M Stoneman Charitable Fund does not accept public applications, understanding the fund's giving patterns can provide insights for organizations that may come to the trustees' attention:

Alignment with Historical Giving: The fund has a clear focus on healthcare institutions and Catholic education, particularly those with connections to Boston and the Massachusetts area. Recent grants to Boston College ($250,000) and the Catholic Schools Foundation ($100,000) demonstrate sustained support for Catholic educational institutions.

Geographic Focus: The fund maintains strong ties to Boston-area organizations, consistent with James and Thea Stoneman's long history of philanthropy in Massachusetts. However, their connection to Boca Raton, Florida, also creates opportunities for healthcare organizations in that region, as evidenced by the $50,000 grant to Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation.

Established Institutions: Grant recipients tend to be well-established institutions with significant community impact. The fund appears to favor organizations with proven track records rather than startups or emerging initiatives.

Medical and Healthcare Legacy: The Stoneman family's extensive history of healthcare philanthropy—including named facilities at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Cape Cod Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital—suggests that healthcare organizations with which the family has existing relationships are priority beneficiaries.

Catholic Educational Mission: While historical sources indicate the broader Stoneman Foundation once exclusively served education, health, and Jewish causes in Boston, the James M Stoneman Charitable Fund's recent grants show specific attention to Catholic education and scholarship programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This is a private foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking; unsolicited applications are not accepted
  • Focus on Healthcare and Catholic Education: Recent grants demonstrate clear priorities in hospital foundations, children's hospitals, and Catholic educational institutions
  • Geographic Concentration: Strong preference for Boston-area organizations, with secondary interest in Florida (particularly Boca Raton)
  • Large Grant Amounts: Recent grants range from $50,000 to $250,000, indicating capacity for significant institutional support
  • Established Relationships Matter: Grant recipients are typically well-known institutions with existing connections to the Stoneman family or trustees
  • Professional Management: The fund is administered by experienced fiduciary attorneys at Morrissey Hawkins & Lynch, ensuring professional oversight of grant decisions
  • Investment-Based Funding: The fund does not accept contributions; all grantmaking comes from investment returns on its $30.9 million asset base

References

← Back to US Funders Directory