Boston Children's Heart Foundation
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: ~$26.8 million (2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available (no public application process)
- Decision Time: Not applicable
- Grant Range: $7,500 - $26,748,860
- Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (primarily Boston Children's Hospital)
- Total Assets: $123.4 million
Contact Details
- Address: 300 Longwood Avenue, Pavilion 2, Boston, MA 02115
- Phone: (617) 355-4895
- Website: No dedicated foundation website (operates through Boston Children's Hospital)
- EIN: 04-2790699
Overview
The Boston Children's Heart Foundation was established in 1983 in Massachusetts as a supporting organization of the Children's Hospital Corporation and Harvard Medical School. It operates as a public charity with approximately $123 million in total assets and distributes approximately $26.8 million annually.
The Foundation's mission centers on providing cardiology services to patients at Boston Children's Hospital and satellite locations, while promoting basic and applied medical research and education in the field of pediatric cardiology. The Foundation provides care for patients regardless of their ability to pay and delivers hospital and community-based services that are either unavailable or limited elsewhere in the community.
As a supporting organization, the Foundation receives income from Boston Children's Hospital for providing administration, supervision, and teaching services. It promotes research and education by teaching students and medical personnel, providing fellowships and research grants to research personnel, and publishing information about pediatric cardiology research and conditions.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The Foundation's grant-making activities primarily support:
- General Support to Boston Children's Hospital: Large-scale grants for cardiology services and research (historical grant: $2,805,154)
- Research Fellowships: Income supplementation for research personnel through fellowships, research grants, and stipends
- Medical Education: Support for teaching students and medical/scientific personnel in cardiology
Priority Areas
- Pediatric cardiology patient care services
- Basic and applied medical research in cardiology
- Medical education and training in cardiovascular medicine
- Support for patients unable to pay for care
- Community-based cardiac health services
What They Don't Fund
- The Foundation operates exclusively as a supporting organization for Boston Children's Hospital
- External organizations are not eligible for funding
- General charitable causes outside pediatric cardiology are not supported
Governance and Leadership
Key Personnel
Tal Geva, MD - President
- Cardiologist-in-Chief and Chairman at Boston Children's Hospital
- Alexander S. Nadas Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School
- Established and developed the cardiac MRI program at Boston Children's Hospital
- Author of over 215 peer-reviewed original manuscripts
- Mentored 47 trainees and junior faculty in cardiovascular imaging
John Triedman, MD - Director
- Department of Cardiology leadership
Sarah D. de Ferranti, MD - Secretary/Clerk
- Administrative leadership role
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process for external organizations.
The Boston Children's Heart Foundation operates as a supporting organization exclusively serving Boston Children's Hospital and its affiliated entities. Grants are made through internal processes and support the hospital's cardiology programs, research initiatives, and patient care services.
The Foundation provides funding through:
- Direct support to Boston Children's Hospital for cardiology services
- Internal fellowships and research stipends for Boston Children's Hospital researchers and trainees
- Support for educational programs within the hospital system
Internal Funding Mechanisms
For researchers affiliated with Boston Children's Hospital, the Foundation supports:
- Fellowship funding for cardiology trainees
- Research grants and stipends for cardiology research personnel
- Support for medical education programs
Monitoring Procedures: According to their Form 990, the Foundation monitors grants through oversight of terms and conditions via written grant agreements. Multi-year agreements require yearly progress and financial reports for continuation of funding.
Getting on Their Radar
Since the Boston Children's Heart Foundation exclusively supports Boston Children's Hospital and does not accept external applications, organizations seeking funding for pediatric cardiology work should consider:
-
For Researchers: Seek employment or affiliation with Boston Children's Hospital's Department of Cardiology to access internal fellowship and research funding opportunities
-
For Alternative Funding: Consider The Children's Heart Foundation (a separate national organization at childrensheartfoundation.org) which offers:
- Independent Research Awards for CHD research
- Joint funding with the American Heart Association
- Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Awards through the American Academy of Pediatrics
-
For Hospital Partnerships: Organizations may explore formal partnership or collaboration opportunities with Boston Children's Hospital Benderson Family Heart Center
Application Success Factors
Not applicable - this Foundation does not accept applications from external organizations.
For internal Boston Children's Hospital researchers seeking fellowship or research support:
- Demonstrated excellence in research training and productivity
- Well-defined focus in clinical, translational, or basic cardiology research
- Active role in Boston Children's Hospital's cardiology programs
- Alignment with the Foundation's mission in pediatric cardiology patient care, research, and education
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No External Applications: Boston Children's Heart Foundation does not accept grant applications from external organizations - it exclusively supports Boston Children's Hospital
- Supporting Organization Structure: Functions as a supporting organization for Children's Hospital Corporation and Harvard Medical School, not an independent grant-maker
- Internal Focus: Grants and fellowships are provided to internal researchers, trainees, and programs within Boston Children's Hospital
- Alternative Funding Source: Organizations seeking pediatric cardiology research funding should apply to The Children's Heart Foundation (childrensheartfoundation.org), which is a separate national organization with an open application process
- Research Partnerships: Consider formal research collaborations with Boston Children's Hospital if your work aligns with their cardiology programs
- High Revenue from Services: The Foundation derives ~98.5% of its revenue from program services (patient care), indicating its primary function is healthcare delivery rather than grant-making
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Boston Children's Heart Foundation - Form 990 filings and financial data
- Instrumentl 990 Report - Boston Children's Heart Foundation - Grant history and financial analysis
- Charity Navigator - Boston Children's Heart Foundation - Charity rating and accountability information
- Foundation Directory Online - Boston Children's Heart Foundation - Organization profile
- Boston Children's Hospital Research - Tal Geva - Leadership biography
- GuideStar Profile - Boston Children's Heart Foundation - Nonprofit profile and 990 filings
- Form 990 Schedule I (FY 2021-2022) via FoundationSearch - Grant recipient information
Information accessed December 2025