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Supreme Council Benevolent Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Supreme Council Benevolent Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$7,000,000 (FY 2024 expenses)
  • Total Assets: $110,465,625 (FY 2024)
  • Net Assets: $108,871,428 (FY 2024)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program (scholarships, research grants, member assistance)
  • Geographic Focus: Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (15 U.S. states: CT, DE, IL, IN, ME, MA, MI, NJ, NH, NY, OH, PA, RI, WI, VT)

Contact Details

Address:
33 Marrett Road
Lexington, MA 02421

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 519
Lexington, MA 02420-0519

Phone: (781) 862-4410
Toll Free: (800) 814-1432
Fax: (781) 863-1833
Email: inquiries@srnmj.org
Website: https://scottishritenmj.org/charities

Director of Charities: Bridget Steele - (781) 465-3341

Overview

The Supreme Council Benevolent Foundation, established in 1955, is the charitable foundation of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ), USA. With total assets exceeding $110 million, the foundation supports research and development of approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat schizophrenia and dyslexia, while also supporting the fraternity's broader charitable and educational endeavors.

The foundation's charitable work traces back to 1933 when Sovereign Grand Commander Melvin Maynard Johnson established the Supreme Council's charitable efforts in mental health through funding schizophrenia research, aided by Dr. Richard A. Kern. Since 1934, the Scottish Rite NMJ has directed and financed the first coordinated research program into the cause of schizophrenia. In 1994, the organization launched the Children's Dyslexia Centers program in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital, which now operates over 40 centers providing free tutoring across 13 states.

The foundation operates through several distinct charitable programs: the Grand Almoner's Fund, Children's Dyslexia Centers, Leon M. Abbott Scholarship Fund, Membership Education Fund, and support for the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Grand Almoner's Fund

  • Provides direct financial assistance to Freemasons and their families facing unexpected hardships
  • Raised over $749,000 in 2021 alone
  • 100% of donations go directly to assistance (no overhead costs)
  • Available to: All Freemasons (particularly Scottish Rite Masons in NMJ), Masonic families, and immediate family members of deceased Masonic Brothers

2. Schizophrenia Research Program

  • Established in 1934 as the first coordinated schizophrenia research program
  • Grants made directly to investigators at leading university and hospital laboratories in the U.S. and abroad
  • Works with an advisory committee of leading medical scientists, psychiatrists, and psychologists
  • No institutional facilities built or operated; funds go directly to research investigators

3. Children's Dyslexia Centers

  • Over 40 centers across 13 states providing free one-on-one tutoring
  • Provided tutoring for over 1,000 children in 2021
  • Uses Orton-Gillingham based multisensory structured language education approach
  • Free to all children diagnosed with dyslexia, regardless of economic status or Masonic affiliation

4. Leon M. Abbott Scholarship Fund

  • Established 1951; has distributed over $10 million since inception
  • Hundreds of scholarships awarded annually
  • Minimum GPA requirement: 2.75 on 4.0 scale
  • Eligible applicants: Scottish Rite Masons in good standing, relatives of Scottish Rite members, and members of Masonic-sponsored youth groups (DeMolay International, Job's Daughters, Order of Rainbow for Girls)

5. Membership Education Fund

  • Raised over $250,000 in 2021
  • Supports fraternity educational offerings including Hauts Grades Academy and Thursday Night at the Rite events

6. Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

  • Received nearly $200,000 in contributions in 2021
  • Preserves Masonic history and American heritage
  • Collection includes over 17,000 objects and 60,000 books

Priority Areas

  • Mental health research (schizophrenia)
  • Children's literacy and dyslexia intervention
  • Educational scholarships for members and their families
  • Emergency financial assistance for Masonic members in crisis
  • Preservation of Masonic and American heritage

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations or individuals with no Masonic connection (for member assistance programs)
  • Applications from non-Scottish Rite members (for Abbott Scholarships, unless related to a member or in Masonic youth group)
  • Building or operating institutional facilities (schizophrenia program focuses on direct research grants)

Governance and Leadership

Sovereign Grand Commander:
Ill. Walter F. Wheeler, 33° - (781) 465-3330

Elected Officers:

  • Grand Lieutenant Commander: Ill. Steven E. Smith, 33°
  • Grand Minister of State: Ill. Laurel "Arby" Humphrey, 33°
  • Grand Treasurer General: Ill. G. Michael Morris, 33°
  • Grand Secretary General: Ill. Douglas R. Policastro, 33°

Key Charity Leadership:

  • Director of Charities: Bridget Steele - (781) 465-3341
  • Children's Dyslexia Centers Director: Ill. Randy Clark, 33° - (781) 465-3339
  • Museum & Library Executive Director: Ill. Richard W. Elliot, 33° - (781) 457-4110

The Supreme Council is comprised of 56 trustees known as Active Members. Each of the 15 states within the NMJ has an Active Member designated as a Deputy who serves as the executive officer for Scottish Rite Freemasonry within their state.

Historical Quote from Dr. Richard A. Kern (former Honorary Past Sovereign Grand Commander):

"Money used for services, no matter how urgent the need for those services, once spent, is gone, but money wisely spent for research produces benefits that work for all people for all time."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Leon M. Abbott Scholarship:

  • Download application from scottishritenmj.org
  • Submit to local Valley Secretary
  • Deadline: April 25 (to local Valley); May 2 (Valleys submit to committee)
  • Notifications sent by May 30
  • Required: Minimum 2.75 GPA, at least one confidential letter of recommendation

Children's Dyslexia Centers:

  • Contact local center through childrensdyslexiacenters.org
  • Children must be tested, evaluated, and diagnosed with dyslexia
  • Grades 1-12 eligible
  • No cost to families; no economic status or Masonic affiliation requirements

Grand Almoner's Fund (Member Assistance):

  • Members access through the Scottish Rite NMJ Member Center
  • Referrals are confidential
  • Process typically completed within one week

Schizophrenia Research Grants:

  • Contact Supreme Council headquarters directly
  • Grants made to investigators at university and hospital laboratories
  • Applications reviewed by advisory committee of medical scientists and psychiatrists

Decision Timeline

  • Abbott Scholarship: Approximately 2 months from application deadline to notification
  • Grand Almoner's Fund: Less than one week from application to assistance
  • Dyslexia Centers: Ongoing enrollment; contact local center for availability
  • Research Grants: Contact headquarters for current timeline

Application Success Factors

For Abbott Scholarships:

  • Strong academic record (minimum 2.75 GPA required)
  • Clear Masonic connection (member, relative, or youth group member)
  • Quality recommendation letter(s)
  • Submit through the correct Valley Secretary

For Dyslexia Center Services:

  • Proper diagnosis of dyslexia through testing and evaluation
  • Commitment to attend regular tutoring sessions (typically two one-hour sessions per week)
  • Willingness to participate in progress monitoring and parent-tutor conferencing

For Research Funding:

  • Affiliation with established university or hospital laboratory
  • Focus on schizophrenia prevention, diagnosis, or treatment
  • Track record of quality research work

For Grand Almoner's Fund:

  • Must be a Freemason or family member of a Mason
  • Demonstrate genuine unexpected financial hardship
  • Referrals from other Masons can facilitate the process

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Masonic Connection Required: Most programs require either Masonic membership or direct relationship to a Mason; the primary exception is Children's Dyslexia Centers which serve all children regardless of Masonic affiliation

  • Distinct Program Tracks: The foundation operates separate programs with different eligibility criteria and application processes—identify which program applies to your situation

  • Schizophrenia Research: One of the oldest coordinated schizophrenia research funding programs in the U.S., operating since 1934, with grants going directly to investigators rather than institutions

  • Free Dyslexia Services: The 32° Masonic Learning Centers are the nation's only free dyslexia-remediation program, serving over 1,000 children annually

  • Geographic Limitation: Services and funding limited to the 15 states of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction

  • Strong Financial Position: With over $110 million in assets, the foundation has significant capacity for ongoing charitable work

  • Direct Contact Recommended: For research grants and non-standard requests, direct contact with the Charities Department at (781) 465-3341 is advisable

References

Accessed: December 2025

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