Cecile Higginson Murphy Charitable Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filing states no geographic focus, although the grants it shows go mainly to Massachusetts organisations, so a Massachusetts charity should read that pattern as description rather than as a rule.
- The foundation gives only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold approach is unlikely to be considered and an introduction is the route to try.
- About 8 in 10 of its 88 grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $200,000, with a median of $50,000, and half were $50,000 or less, so a request near that level fits its usual pattern; the largest grant was $500,000, so the band is not a ceiling.
- Being a new or small organisation is not itself a barrier, but 87% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so most of its money goes to repeat recipients.
- The filing gives no application steps, deadlines or timing, so do not plan the approach around a particular date.
Overview
Cecile Higginson Murphy Charitable Foundation 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 recorded grants go chiefly to Massachusetts organisations, with support spanning cultural institutions, social services, children’s provision, health, food access, literacy, housing and support for service members. Recipients include an orchestra, a women’s support service, a children’s charity, a hospital programme, food and farming organisations, literacy groups, housing charities, schools, a parish and a YMCA. Most grants are recorded as general purpose; smaller sets are for the Aspire Program and the South Shore Natural Science Center. The filings show substantial repeat organisational giving, but do not state broader funding priorities or applicant eligibility. The application information says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation gives only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; the filings provide no further application steps.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 87% 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 88 grants to organisations were $50,000 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 21% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to organisations Cecile Higginson Murphy Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 30 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Boston Symphony Orchestra · General Purpose$500,0002024 tax year
- Women's Lunch Place · General Purpose$250,0002024 tax year
- Cradles to Crayons · General Purpose$225,0002024 tax year
- TargetCancer · General Purpose$200,0002024 tax year
- Massachusetts General Hospital · The Aspire Program$200,0002024 tax year
- Fisher House of Boston · General Purpose$100,0002024 tax year
- Vital CxNs · General Purpose$100,0002024 tax year
- Gary Sinise Foundation · General Purpose$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kristin T Abati — Trustee
- Charles A Cheever — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,907,949 | $2,508,000 | $50,228,851 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,551,820 | $2,227,000 | $55,277,073 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,795,037 | $2,412,000 | $58,433,272 | 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 Cecile Higginson Murphy Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to Cecile Higginson Murphy Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA