← Back to US Funders Directory

The Lynch Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.7M
Grant Range
$0K - $2.1M
Decision Time
8mo

The Lynch Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,723,164 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $130,010,432
  • Grant Range: $250 - $2,115,000 (typically $1,000 - $500,000)
  • Number of Grants: 105 awards (2023)
  • Decision Time: 6-9 months (total process)
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (primarily Greater Boston)
  • Application Method: Rolling (online concept paper)

Contact Details

Overview

The Lynch Foundation was established in 1988 by Carolyn and Peter Lynch. Peter Lynch is the legendary former manager of the Magellan Fund at Fidelity Investments, who averaged a 29.2% annual return between 1977 and 1990. Both founders were children of educators who attended public schools and college on scholarships. Inspired by the verse "To whom much has been given, much will be required" (Luke 12:48), the Lynches created the foundation as an expression of gratitude and commitment to community service.

Over three decades, the Foundation has invested over $150 million in more than 300 unique nonprofit organizations. With assets exceeding $130 million and annual giving around $7.7 million, the Lynch Foundation has become a significant philanthropic force in Massachusetts. The Foundation was one of the earliest supporters of now-prominent organizations including Teach for America, Partners in Health, City Year, and the Posse Foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation funds several grant types:

  • Challenge Grants: Leverage additional donor support
  • Multi-Year Grants: Sustained partnerships for organizational growth
  • Capacity-Building Grants: Strengthen organizational infrastructure
  • Program and Operating Grants: Support ongoing work
  • Endowment Grants: Long-term sustainability investments

Grant amounts typically range from $1,000 to $500,000, though larger awards up to $2 million+ have been made. Grants will typically not exceed 5% of an organization's total budget.

Priority Areas

  1. Education: K-12 education is the top priority, with more grants in this area than any other. Strong focus on public education in Boston, Catholic schools, and innovative educational models.

  2. Health Care and Wellness: Including social determinants of health, medical research, and community health programs.

  3. Housing and Homelessness: Long-term partnerships with organizations addressing housing insecurity.

  4. Cultural and Historic Preservation: Access to cultural assets, historic sites, and open spaces for all.

  5. Religious and Educational Efforts of the Roman Catholic Church: Supporting Catholic schools, parishes, and religious programming.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside Massachusetts (with rare exceptions)
  • Emergency or immediate funding requests
  • Short-term needs without long-term impact potential
  • Organizations where the request exceeds 5% of total budget
  • Projects that don't align with their five focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Peter S. Lynch - President and Chairman, Co-Founder
  • Nancy R. Coolidge - Founding Trustee
  • Ralph C. Sweetland, MD - Founding Trustee
  • Elizabeth de Montrichard - Secretary
  • Richard Spillane - Treasurer
  • Amanda Fernández
  • Annie Lukowski
  • Jack Regan
  • Marie-Claude Tanny
  • Mary Witkowski, MD

Staff

  • Katie Everett - Executive Director (since 1997)
  • Victoria Prudden - Chief Operations Officer
  • Katie Frett - Senior Program Officer
  • Annie Smith - Senior Research Officer
  • Ashley Meany - Trading and Investment Research Associate

Katie Everett was the first staff person hired and has overseen the Foundation's growth from $40 million to over $150 million in assets. She has managed nearly $200 million in grants to over 375 organizations.

Leadership Perspectives

Katie Everett on trust-based philanthropy: "Imagine a world where giving feels more like a partnership and less like a transaction. That's the heart of trust-based philanthropy—a fresh approach that flips the script on traditional charity. Instead of bogging nonprofits down with endless paperwork and rigid rules, this model focuses on building relationships, sharing power, and trusting the people on the ground to make the best decisions for their communities."

The Foundation's philosophy: "Through the years, The Lynch Foundation has assisted organizations because of their missions, as well as their people – from leaders down through the entire staff. Carolyn and Peter believe in people who through their vision and dedication can impact so many."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Lynch Foundation operates a rolling application process that welcomes concept papers from nonprofits throughout the year.

Step 1: Submit Concept Paper Submit an electronic concept paper through the Foundation's website (via CyberGrants portal). The concept paper should include:

  • Concise overview of the organization
  • Relevant program information
  • Description of how your work creates sustainable social change
  • Alignment with the Foundation's focus areas

Step 2: Initial Review (1-3 months) The Foundation reviews concept papers and responds with either an invitation to submit a full application or a decline. Site visits are common at this stage.

Step 3: Full Application Review (1-3 months) Once a complete application is received, thorough research and review takes place.

Step 4: Site Visit Foundation staff and trustees conduct site visits. Do not call to schedule; staff will contact you.

Step 5: Decision The entire process from initial approach to grant-making decision takes approximately 6-9 months.

Decision Timeline

  • Concept Paper Response: 1-3 months
  • Full Application Review: 1-3 months
  • Total Process: 6-9 months

Reapplication Policy

Critical waiting periods to note:

  • Concept rejected (mission mismatch): Do not reapply
  • Concept rejected (funding saturation in your area): Wait 18 months before resubmitting
  • Grant application rejected: Wait 5 years before requesting funding again
  • Grant awarded: Wait 5 years before requesting funding again

Application Success Factors

What the Lynch Foundation Looks For

The Foundation views philanthropy as an investment and seeks:

  • Innovative ideas with potential to spread and be replicated
  • Strong leadership at all levels of the organization
  • Long-term impact rather than addressing short-term needs
  • Mission alignment with their five core focus areas
  • Organizational strength and sustainability potential
  • Ability to multiply impact beyond the grant dollars

Recently Funded Projects (Examples)

Education:

  • Posse Foundation: 20+ years of support; 800 scholars have earned over $106 million in merit scholarships; triggered a $20 million endowment
  • Lynch Leadership Academy at Boston College: $20 million investment; trained 118 fellows educating over 50,000 students
  • InnerCity Scholarship Fund: $3 million in scholarships to more than 2,300 students from a 2000 endowment contribution
  • Teach for America, City Year, Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston: Consistent grantees for approximately 30 years

Healthcare:

  • Partners in Health: Nearly 25 years of support; serves nearly 7 million people worldwide
  • Harvard Medical School Systems Biology: Support since inception; over 120 alumni now lead laboratories worldwide

Housing:

  • Pine Street Inn: Over 30 years of partnership
  • Saint Francis House, CHAPA, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, Homestart Inc.

Culture:

  • Lynch Family Skatepark: Challenge grant in 2004 established the largest park on the East Coast
  • Boston Schoolyard Initiative: Multi-year commitment improved outdoor spaces for 30,000 students annually
  • Historic Boston's Steeples Project: Supported preservation of 51 religious congregations

Key Success Factors

  1. Demonstrate long-term vision: The Foundation focuses on strengthening organizations and achieving long-term effects, not emergency funding.

  2. Show strong leadership: They invest in people as much as programs—highlight your leadership team's vision and dedication.

  3. Prove multiplication potential: Peter Lynch favors ideas that can spread. First Night and City Year are examples of concepts he supported early that expanded nationally.

  4. Align with Massachusetts focus: Most recipients are Boston-based; the Foundation prefers to fund locally.

  5. Right-size your request: Keep requests under 5% of your total organizational budget.

  6. Be prepared for relationship building: The Foundation practices trust-based philanthropy and invests in long-term partnerships, not transactions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Education is the top priority: K-12 education, particularly in Boston, receives more grants than any other area. Catholic schools are also a significant focus.

  2. Plan for a long timeline: The entire process takes 6-9 months. Do not expect emergency or immediate funding.

  3. Build for partnership, not transaction: The Foundation seeks long-term relationships. Many grantees have been partners for 20-30 years.

  4. Budget constraint is firm: Requests should not exceed 5% of your total organizational budget.

  5. Reapplication windows are strict: If declined for a grant application (not concept paper), you must wait 5 years to reapply.

  6. Massachusetts focus is non-negotiable: With rare exceptions, the Foundation funds only Massachusetts-based organizations serving Massachusetts communities.

  7. Demonstrate scalability: Peter Lynch, as a successful investor, looks for ideas that can spread beyond Boston—show how your work could be replicated or expanded.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory