Boston Children's Heart Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$72.7 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not applicable
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (primarily Boston Children's Hospital)
• Total Assets: $142.0 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 organisation of the Children's Hospital Corporation and Harvard Medical School. It operates as a public charity with approximately $142 million in total assets and distributes approximately $72.7 million annually.

The Foundation's mission centres on providing cardiology services to patients at Boston Children's Hospital and satellite locations, whilst promoting basic and applied medical research and education in the field of paediatric 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 organisation, 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 paediatric cardiology research and conditions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Foundation's grant-making activities primarily support:

• General Support to Boston Children's Hospital: Large-scale grants for cardiology services and research
• 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

• Paediatric 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 organisation for Boston Children's Hospital
• External organisations are not eligible for funding
• General charitable causes outside paediatric 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 Paediatrics at Harvard Medical School
• Established and developed the cardiac MRI programme 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 organisations.

The Boston Children's Heart Foundation operates as a supporting organisation exclusively serving Boston Children's Hospital and its affiliated entities. Grants are made through internal processes and support the hospital's cardiology programmes, 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 programmes 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 programmes

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, organisations seeking funding for paediatric cardiology work should consider:

1. For Researchers: Seek employment or affiliation with Boston Children's Hospital's Department of Cardiology to access internal fellowship and research funding opportunities

2. For Alternative Funding: Consider The Children's Heart Foundation (a separate national organisation at childrensheartfoundation.org) which offers:

   • Independent Research Awards for CHD research
   • Joint funding with the American Heart Association
   • Paediatric Cardiology Fellowship Awards through the American Academy of Paediatrics

3. For Hospital Partnerships: Organisations 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 organisations.

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 programmes
• Alignment with the Foundation's mission in paediatric 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 organisations - it exclusively supports Boston Children's Hospital
• Supporting Organisation Structure: Functions as a supporting organisation 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 programmes within Boston Children's Hospital
• Alternative Funding Source: Organisations seeking paediatric cardiology research funding should apply to The Children's Heart Foundation (childrensheartfoundation.org), which is a separate national organisation with an open application process
• Research Partnerships: Consider formal research collaborations with Boston Children's Hospital if your work aligns with their cardiology programmes
• High Revenue from Services: The Foundation derives the majority of its revenue from programme 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 - Organisation profile
• Boston Children's Hospital Research - Tal Geva - Leadership biography
• GuideStar Profile - Boston Children's Heart Foundation - Nonprofit profile and 990 filings