The Morningside Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold proposal is unlikely to be considered; a small charity should approach it only if it has been invited.
- Its stated priorities are science and education, with a stated reach of North America and Asia, though its grants are heavily concentrated in Massachusetts, a pattern taken from its grants rather than stated by the foundation.
- About 8 in 10 grants fall between $20,000 and $3,950,000, the median was $100,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $100,000 or less, so a modest request is more realistic than a large one.
- Giving has fallen in each of the last three filings, to $5,295,500 paid in the latest, and 98% of grant dollars in the latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in the earlier filings, so new applicants have limited room.
Overview
The Morningside Foundation is a US private foundation based in Newton Centre, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (insidephilanthropy.com, news.harvard.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Morningside Foundation’s stated priority areas are supporting science and enabling education. Its grant record shows giving to schools, universities, churches, research, music and science organisations. Its stated philanthropic reach includes North America and Asia. The filings group most grant dollars under education, with further giving for religious purposes and smaller amounts for research, music and science. Grants are heavily concentrated in Massachusetts. The filing identifies contributions as going to preselected charitable organisations and says it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Themes
- Science
- Education
Geographic Focus
Priority: North America; Asia. (as reported in other published sources) From its grants, not stated by the foundation: Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% 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 44 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 54% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations The Morningside Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 12 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $73,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Winthrop Park School · General use - education$3,903,5002024 tax year
- Church of Cambridge · General use - religious$600,0002024 tax year
- Church in Anaheim · General use - religious$300,0002024 tax year
- Defense and Confirmation Project · General use - research$100,0002024 tax year
- Emory University Donor Account · General use - education$100,0002024 tax year
- Church in Santa Ana · General use - religious$80,0002024 tax year
- The Church In Anaheimlme · General use - religious$66,0002024 tax year
- Colrain Meeting Foundation · General use - education$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Gerald Chan — Director
- Lisa M Sambucci — Vice-President
- Peter Stuart Allenby Edwards — Director
- Paula E Turnbull — Vice-President
- Ronnie Chan — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $67,229,323 | $65,423,960 | $52,394,124 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $61,502,847 | $59,827,608 | $53,017,465 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,999,535 | $5,295,500 | $50,572,130 | 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
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to The Morningside Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Newton Centre, MA
Applying to The Morningside Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Newton Centre, MA