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Yawkey Foundation II

Annual Giving
$19.0M
Grant Range
$2K - $5.0M
Decision Time
4mo

Yawkey Foundation II

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18,990,047 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $448,413,557
  • Number of Grants: 178 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: $2,250 - $4,000,000
  • Decision Time: 90-120 days for initial review
  • Geographic Focus: Eastern Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina

Contact Details

Overview

The Yawkey Foundation II was established in 1983 as a private foundation by Tom and Jean Yawkey, best known for their longtime ownership of the Boston Red Sox. As of 2023, the Foundation held assets exceeding $448 million and distributed nearly $19 million in grants to 178 nonprofit organizations. Combined with its sister foundation (Yawkey Foundation I, focused on Georgetown County, SC), the Yawkey Foundations have awarded more than $600 million in charitable grants since their founding.

The Foundation's mission is to continue the legacy of Tom and Jean Yawkey by making significant and positive impacts on the quality of life for children, families, and the underserved in Eastern Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina. The Trustees prioritize nonprofits providing direct services and programs to underserved communities, with particular emphasis on Gateway Cities in Eastern Massachusetts. In 2024 alone, the Foundation awarded more than $21 million to nonprofit organizations across its six priority areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Program & Small Capital Grants

  • Up to $100,000, typically paid over one year
  • Supports discrete, time-bound program needs, small projects, or equipment
  • Four submission windows annually by focus area:
    • Youth & Amateur Athletics: January
    • Education & Conservation/Wildlife: March
    • Human Services: June
    • Arts & Culture and Health Care: September

Strategic Investment Grants

  • $250,000 to $1 million, payable over multiple years
  • Supports board-approved plans for strategic growth, regional expansion, collaborations, mergers, or consolidations
  • Two submission windows annually (January and June)

Transformational Capital Grants

  • Up to $5 million, payable over multiple years
  • Major funding for physical spaces that improve mission delivery
  • Rolling basis year-round

Priority Areas

  • Health Care: Organizations improving health outcomes for underserved populations
  • Education: Programs fostering access, persistence, and success for youth and adults; emphasis on first-generation students
  • Human Services: Safety net services for individuals and families in need
  • Youth & Amateur Athletics: Baseball, softball, and inclusive recreation programs
  • Arts & Culture: Programs enriching lives of children and families
  • Conservation & Wildlife: Environmental protection aligned with the Yawkeys' legacy

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations, private foundations, or 509(a)(3) Type III entities
  • Government agencies and public entities
  • Staff positions, consultants, or recruitment costs
  • Emergency response efforts, events, conferences, or sponsorships
  • Pass-through organizations or general endowments
  • Sectarian faith-based activities
  • Non-baseball/softball athletic programs
  • Scholarship providers
  • Early education or elementary programs
  • Organizations serving primarily outside the United States
  • Programs specific to individual public/charter schools, districts, cities, or counties
  • Match grants or challenge grants

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Alicia Verity - Chief Executive Officer (appointed effective January 1, 2025)

  • Previously served as Chief Program Officer since 2019
  • Former Massachusetts Market Executive at Bank of America, managing philanthropic and community engagement initiatives

John Redmond - Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer

John L. Harrington - Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees (Yawkey Foundation II)

  • John L. Harrington (Chairman)
  • Maureen H. Bleday (former CEO, now Trustee)
  • Dr. Vanessa Calderón-Rosado
  • Charles I. Clough
  • William B. Gutfarb
  • Rev. Dr. Ray Hammond
  • James P. Healey
  • Debra M. McNulty
  • Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan
  • Justin P. Morreale
  • George R. Neble
  • Judy Walden Scarafile

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation accepts Initial Proposals through a formal two-step online process:

  1. Complete Eligibility Quiz: Available on the Foundation website
  2. Submit Initial Proposal: Through the online applicant portal

Initial Proposal Requirements:

  • Maximum 800 words covering:
    • Concise overview of nonprofit's mission, impact, programs, and services
    • Description of program/project seeking funding, including how it addresses needs, expected outcomes, and long-term sustainability
    • Explanation of how constituents will benefit
    • Detailed project budget using Philanthropy MA's Budget Template

Important: Unsolicited grant requests via email and regular mail will not be accepted. Organizations may submit only one Initial Proposal per calendar year, regardless of grant type.

Decision Timeline

  • Initial Review: 90-120 days from submission deadline
  • Two-Step Process: Selected organizations receive invitations to submit full Grant Applications
  • Note: An invitation to submit a full application does not guarantee approval

Success Rates

The Foundation explicitly states that "a very limited number of Initial Proposals will be selected" to advance to full applications. With 178 grants awarded in 2023, competition is significant. The Foundation receives "many more compelling Initial Proposals than it will be able to fund."

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations may submit one proposal per calendar year
  • Current grantees must complete all reporting requirements before submitting new proposals
  • The Foundation is open to considering proposals from any existing and previously-funded nonprofits, regardless of any previous waiting period
  • New applicants are encouraged to start with Program & Small Capital Grants to familiarize the Foundation with their work

Application Success Factors

What Makes Proposals Competitive:

  1. Demonstrated Alignment: Initial Proposals must demonstrate awareness of and alignment with the Yawkey Foundation's mission and six Areas of Giving

  2. Strong Leadership: The Foundation looks for organizations with proven leadership capacity

  3. Documented Impact: Proposals should reflect a track record of providing direct services and programs for unmet needs

  4. Geographic Alignment: Priority is given to organizations serving underserved regions in the Foundation's geographic focus areas, particularly Gateway Cities in Eastern Massachusetts (Fall River, Lawrence, Malden, New Bedford, and others)

  5. Serving First-Generation and Underserved Populations: The Foundation emphasizes support for "first-generation students living in communities subject to under-investment"

  6. Clear Sustainability Plan: Describe how the program will continue once grant funding ends

  7. Board-Level Commitment (for larger grants): Strategic Investment and Transformational Capital proposals must demonstrate board approval of capital projects or strategic initiatives

Recent Grant Examples (2025):

  • 13 Education Program & Small Capital grants totaling $821,000 to organizations including Jackie Robinson Foundation, Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School, and Institute for Nonprofit Practice
  • $700,000 Strategic Investment Grant to YMCA of Greater Boston for Roxbury facility renovations
  • $2 million to McLean Hospital for child and adolescent campus
  • $1 million to Mass Eye and Ear for Emergency Department renovation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Start with Program & Small Capital: New applicants should begin with smaller grants (up to $100,000) to establish a relationship before pursuing larger Strategic Investment or Transformational Capital funding

  2. Minimum Budget Threshold: Eligible organizations must have operating budgets of at least $500,000

  3. One Shot Per Year: Organizations can submit only one Initial Proposal annually—choose your grant type strategically

  4. No Pre-Application Support: The Foundation cannot provide guidance before or during review; study their website thoroughly before applying

  5. Gateway Cities Focus: Emphasize connections to Eastern Massachusetts Gateway Cities and Georgetown County, SC for stronger alignment

  6. Direct Services Only: The Foundation funds organizations providing direct programs and services—not intermediaries or pass-through entities

  7. Avoid Trustee Contact: All outreach is conducted through the formal Initial Proposal process; direct contact with board members is discouraged

  8. Budget Format Matters: Use the Philanthropy MA Budget Template as required

References

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