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Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.2M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M

Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$172,000 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $5.5 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $15,000
  • Median Grant: $2,500
  • Number of Grants: 47-49 annually
  • Geographic Focus: New York, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Massachusetts
  • Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

  • Address: c/o Ropes Gray LLP, 800 Boylston, Boston, MA 02199
  • Phone: (617) 951-7000
  • Website: None
  • Email: None publicly available

Overview

The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1998 in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation is administered through Ropes & Gray LLP, a prominent law firm. With total assets of approximately $5.5 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes roughly $172,000 annually across 47-49 grants.

The foundation is established by Peter Lamm, co-founder and Managing Partner of Fenway Partners, a middle-market private equity firm founded in 1994. Peter Lamm has notable philanthropic credentials, having served as Chairman of the Board for UNICEF USA since 2005. He holds a BA in English Literature from Boston University and an MBA from Columbia University. The foundation reflects the family's philanthropic interests, with trustees including Peter Lamm, Deborah Lamm, their son Eric Lamm, and R. Bradford Malt.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides general operating support across multiple cause areas:

  • Standard Grants: $500 - $15,000 (median $2,500)
  • Awards are made at trustee discretion to preselected organizations

Priority Areas

Based on historical giving patterns, the foundation supports:

Arts & Culture

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
  • Lincoln Center Film Society
  • Huntington Theatre Company

Animal Welfare & Conservation

  • ASPCA
  • Humane Society
  • World Wildlife Fund
  • African Wildlife Foundation
  • Animal Medical Center
  • Central Park Conservancy
  • Watch Hill Conservancy

Healthcare

  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • New York Presbyterian Fund
  • Westerly Hospital Foundation

Social Services & Human Services

  • Citizens Housing & Planning Council
  • City Harvest
  • Children's Aid Society

Education & Media

  • Sesame Workshop
  • WNET / Educational Broadcasting Corporation

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has stated it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Peter Lamm - Trustee, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Fenway Partners; Chairman of the Board, UNICEF USA (since 2005)
  • Deborah Lamm - Trustee
  • Eric Lamm - Trustee
  • R. Bradford Malt - Trustee (administered through Ropes & Gray LLP)

All trustees receive zero compensation from the foundation. The foundation has no paid staff.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The foundation has explicitly stated on its Form 990 filings that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have existing relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's preselected approach, organizations seeking support should consider:

  • UNICEF USA Connection: Peter Lamm has served as Chairman of the Board for UNICEF USA since 2005. Organizations working in children's welfare may find alignment through this network.
  • Fenway Partners Network: As co-founder of a prominent private equity firm, Peter Lamm has extensive business connections that may provide networking opportunities.
  • Rhode Island/Watch Hill Presence: The Lamm family maintains a waterfront estate in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, where they have hosted charitable events such as "Books on the Beach" for Opening Doors for Westerly's Children. Organizations in the Rhode Island coastal area may have opportunities for connection.
  • Arts and Cultural Institutions: The foundation has consistent giving to major New York cultural institutions, suggesting board or donor involvement at these organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Decisions are made internally by trustees.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of giving patterns reveals:

  • Consistent Relationships: The foundation tends to support the same organizations year after year, suggesting they value long-term relationships over one-time grants.
  • Geographic Alignment: Strong preference for organizations in New York (where Fenway Partners is headquartered), Rhode Island (where the family has a residence), and Boston/Massachusetts.
  • Established Institutions: Grant recipients tend to be well-established organizations with strong reputations in their fields.
  • Multiple Cause Areas: The trustees have diverse interests spanning arts, conservation, healthcare, animal welfare, and social services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process - This foundation only gives to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests
  • Family foundation with diverse interests - Funding spans arts, conservation, healthcare, animal welfare, education, and social services
  • Strong institutional focus - Recipients tend to be established organizations like MoMA, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and ASPCA
  • Geographic concentration - Primary giving to New York, Rhode Island, and the Boston area
  • Modest grant sizes - Typical grants range from $500 to $15,000, with $2,500 being the median
  • UNICEF connection - Peter Lamm's leadership role at UNICEF USA indicates strong interest in children's welfare
  • Relationship-based giving - Best approach would be cultivating relationships through board connections, events, or mutual networks

References

Accessed December 2025

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