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The A&A Fund

Annual Giving
$0.5M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.1M

The A&A Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$510,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $7.28 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $20,000+ per grant
  • Number of Grants: 16 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: National/International
  • Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation

Contact Details

  • Address: 1075 Main St, Suite 200, Waltham, MA 02451
  • Website: None publicly available
  • Phone: Not publicly listed
  • Email: Not publicly listed

Overview

The A&A Fund is a private family foundation established in 1992 and based in Waltham, Massachusetts. The foundation operates under the trusteeship of Lowery R. Brinckerhoff and is governed by an advisory board that includes family members Sheila K. Hixon, Alexandra H. Ballard, Dylan H. Hixon, Shanti S. Hixon, and India T. Radfar, along with trustees Jennifer Pelis and Brooke Manfredi.

With total assets of approximately $7.28 million and annual charitable disbursements of around $520,000, The A&A Fund supports a diverse range of causes including religious organizations, youth development, human rights, health care, spiritual initiatives, science and technology research, and international relief efforts. The foundation generates its income primarily through investment returns, including dividends ($217,599 in 2023) and asset sales ($113,138 in 2023), rather than receiving outside contributions. All officers and trustees serve without compensation, indicating a lean operational structure focused on maximizing charitable impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The A&A Fund distributes approximately $510,000 annually through roughly 16 grants. Based on available data, individual grants appear to be in the range of $20,000 or more.

Known 2023 Grantees include:

  • Tomorrow's Leaders NYC: $20,000 (youth development/education)
  • Native Renewables: $20,000 (environmental/Native American communities)
  • College for Social Innovation: $20,000 (higher education/social impact)
  • Dungkar Gonpa Society (religious/spiritual - Buddhist organization)

Priority Areas

Based on filing classifications and grant patterns, The A&A Fund actively funds:

  • Religious and Spiritual Organizations: Including Buddhist centers and spiritual communities
  • Youth Development: Programs supporting academic advancement and leadership development
  • Human Rights: Organizations working on social justice and equity
  • Health Care: Youth-focused health initiatives
  • Science & Technology Research: Particularly with international applications
  • International Relief: Global humanitarian efforts
  • Environmental/Clean Energy: Organizations like Native Renewables working on sustainable energy access
  • Education: Innovative approaches to higher education and social impact learning

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private family foundation without a public application process, funding decisions appear to be made at the discretion of the advisory board and trustees.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Lowery R. Brinckerhoff - Trustee (primary)
  • Jennifer Pelis - Trustee
  • Brooke Manfredi - Trustee

Advisory Board Members

  • Sheila K. Hixon
  • Alexandra H. Ballard
  • Dylan H. Hixon
  • Shanti S. Hixon
  • India T. Radfar

All officers and trustees receive zero compensation, suggesting this is a family-managed foundation where members contribute their time voluntarily to the philanthropic mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The A&A Fund operates as a private family foundation that makes grants through trustee and advisory board discretion rather than accepting unsolicited applications. There is no website, online portal, or documented application procedure available to prospective grantees.

Grants appear to be awarded based on:

  • Personal connections and relationships of board members
  • Alignment with the foundation's diverse funding interests
  • Trustee identification of worthy organizations

Getting on Their Radar

Given the lack of publicly available information about how this foundation identifies grantees, there is insufficient funder-specific intelligence to provide actionable guidance on relationship building with The A&A Fund. Organizations interested in this funder should:

  • Research the professional and philanthropic networks of the named trustees and advisory board members
  • Note that the foundation supports Buddhist/spiritual organizations (Dungkar Gonpa Society), youth development programs (Tomorrow's Leaders NYC), environmental justice organizations serving Native American communities (Native Renewables), and innovative education models (College for Social Innovation)

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented. As a private foundation filing Form 990-PF annually, grant decisions are made internally without published timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no formal application process documented.

Application Success Factors

As The A&A Fund does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share certain characteristics:

  • Mission Alignment: Funded organizations work in the foundation's stated priority areas (religious, youth development, human rights, health care, science/technology, international relief)
  • Geographic Diversity: Grantees operate across different regions, from NYC-based youth programs to organizations serving Native American communities in the Southwest
  • Demonstrated Impact: Funded organizations like Native Renewables and Tomorrow's Leaders NYC have documented track records of serving underserved communities
  • Smaller to Mid-Size Organizations: Grant amounts of $20,000 suggest support for organizations where this level of funding makes meaningful impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. No Public Application Process: The A&A Fund is a private family foundation that does not accept unsolicited proposals; grants are made at trustee discretion
  2. Diverse Funding Interests: The foundation supports an unusually wide range of causes including religious organizations, youth development, environmental justice, and education innovation
  3. Modest Grant Size: Individual grants appear to be in the $20,000 range, appropriate for specific project support or operational funding for smaller organizations
  4. Family-Governed: With an advisory board composed largely of family members (the Hixon family appears prominent), funding decisions likely reflect personal philanthropic interests
  5. Lean Operations: Zero staff and zero compensation for trustees means virtually all assets go directly to charitable purposes
  6. Relationship-Based: Organizations seeking funding should explore connections to board members and trustees rather than submitting formal applications
  7. Stable Giving Pattern: With 16 grants annually and consistent charitable disbursements, the foundation maintains predictable giving levels

References

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