Cardinal Brook Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Cardinal Brook Trust gives only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, and its filing gives no steps for seeking consideration, so a cold application is the wrong approach; look first for a genuine introduction.
- Repeat giving matters here, since 31% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before.
- Its grants go chiefly to general support, with smaller awards for educational purposes and community programmes, and no geographic focus is stated, though nearly all grant dollars went to Massachusetts recipients.
- Typical grants fall between $1,000 and $150,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $5,000 or less, so a modest request fits its usual pattern, even though its largest grant of $2,200,000 went to Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund, a regranting organisation.
- Organisations that have no existing link to the trust should not apply.
Overview
Cardinal Brook Trust is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filing record shows grants going chiefly to general support, with smaller awards for educational purposes and community programmes. The recipients span land trusts, health-care providers, schools and other educational organisations, food and housing services, public radio, churches, arts organisations and community groups. Nearly all recorded grant dollars went to Massachusetts recipients, although the records also include grants elsewhere. The filings show a broad mix of recipient organisations and uses, and do not specify who is eligible to apply or provide an open application route.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts.
How to apply
The trust contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; the filing gives no steps for organisations to seek consideration.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 31% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 45 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 46% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 31% of grant dollars went to organisations Cardinal Brook Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 68% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 12 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Johnson Family Gift Fund - Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund · For general support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Mount Grace Land Trust · For general support$600,0002024 tax year
- Mass General · For general support$500,0002024 tax year
- Martha's Vineyard Vision Fellowship · For general support$90,0002024 tax year
- Harvard College Schoolyard Project · For general support$40,0002024 tax year
- Village School on the Common · For educational purposes$20,0002024 tax year
- Quabbin Food Connector · For general support$10,0002024 tax year
- Island Housing Trust · For general support$8,3792024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Nathan Davis — Trustee
- Hannah Johnson — Trustee
- David Davis — Trustee
- Karen Davis — Trustee
- Rebecca Aures — Trustee
- Jacob Davis — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,832,864 | $2,440,038 | $58,253,255 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $572,982 | $24,625 | $109,544,941 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,914,968 | $2,284,379 | $149,362,483 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Cardinal Brook Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to Cardinal Brook Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA