The Frisbie Family 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 small charity should seek an introduction or a relationship first rather than sending a cold proposal.
- Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations, and giving has fallen each year in the filing, from $1,889,950 to $589,000, so a place is likely hard to win.
- Most grants fall in a typical band of $1,000 to $25,000 with a median of $5,000, so a modest request in that range fits, although the largest grant was about $1,600,000 and the band is not a ceiling.
- In the filing, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations the foundation had also funded in an earlier filing, so a newcomer should expect to be a rare exception.
- No geographic focus is stated, though the filing shows grants mainly in Massachusetts, so organisations elsewhere should not assume they are excluded.
Overview
The Frisbie Family 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
Recorded grants went to a varied range of charitable organisations, including hospitals and medical-research bodies, university and school-related organisations, arts and cultural institutions, environmental organisations, community chests and food-support charities. The filings label the purposes as general support or charitable, rather than identifying a particular field of work. Most grant dollars went to organisations in Massachusetts, while recipients in other states also appear. The filings do not state thematic funding priorities or eligibility criteria; the application information says contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 91% 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 80 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
5 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 78% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations The Frisbie Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 25 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Massachusetts General Hospital · General support$376,5002024 tax year
- Harvard Varsity Club · General support$30,0002024 tax year
- Cure Alzheimers Fund · General support$25,0002024 tax year
- Basic Fund · General support$25,0002024 tax year
- Harvard Lacrosse · General support$20,0002024 tax year
- Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts · General support$12,5002024 tax year
- Jupiter Medical Center Foundation · General support$10,0002024 tax year
- Zero Cancer · General support$10,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John O'Connor — Trustee
- Richard Frisbie — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,016,574 | $1,889,950 | $13,074,058 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,541,421 | $1,347,918 | $15,663,960 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $738,789 | $589,000 | $16,963,898 | 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 The Frisbie Family 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 The Frisbie Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA