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Calderwood Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.4M
Grant Range
$3K - $10.0M

Calderwood Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.4 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (does not accept unsolicited applications)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $10,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Boston, MA metropolitan area (including Chestnut Hill, Wellesley Hills, and parts of New Hampshire)

Contact Details

  • Phone: (617) 248-4760
  • Address: Choate LLP, PO Box 961019, Boston, MA 02196-1019
  • Website: None (foundation does not have a public website)
  • Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation is administered by the law firm Choate Hall & Stewart LLP and does not have dedicated staff.

Overview

The Calderwood Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts by Stanford M. Calderwood, a prominent arts patron who brought Masterpiece Theater to American public television. Stanford previously gained recognition and wealth at the Polaroid Corporation and as president of the Public Broadcasting Service in Boston. Following his death in 2003, the foundation has carried out Mr. Calderwood's philanthropic vision with grants totaling more than $90 million in support of the arts and writing.

The foundation is currently in a planned spend-down phase in accordance with the wishes of founders Stan and Norma Jean Calderwood. As of 2024, total assets stood at approximately $601,000, with charitable disbursements of $6.4 million, indicating the foundation is distributing its remaining capital. The foundation has been particularly transformative for Boston's cultural landscape, funding major capital projects, endowments, and programs at leading arts institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation focuses on three primary areas:

  1. Performing Arts (Major Focus)

    • Capital campaigns and facility development
    • Endowments for operational sustainability
    • Named leadership positions
    • Examples: $10 million to Huntington Theatre Company, $5 million to Boston Lyric Opera

  2. Writing and Literary Programs

    • Writers' centers and creative writing education
    • Long-form journalism support
    • Teachers as Writers initiatives
    • Examples: $2.5 million to GrubStreet, $2.1 million each to 826 Boston and WriteBoston (2024)

  3. Higher Education

    • Public writing seminars expansion
    • Academic programs in the arts
    • Example: $3.75 million to Wellesley College for Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing endowment

  4. Artists' Colonies

    • Generally one colony supported annually
    • Grants typically around $250,000
    • Endowed grant fund at MacDowell for journalists (up to $2,500 per fellow)

Priority Areas

  • Performing arts organizations in Boston
  • Creative writing and journalism programs
  • Fine arts museums
  • Higher education institutions with arts focus
  • Organizations the foundation has existing relationships with

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the greater Boston area (with rare exceptions)
  • Unsolicited grant requests
  • Organizations without pre-existing relationships with trustees
  • Non-arts focused programs

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by three trustees who receive no compensation:

  • John Cornish - Co-trustee
  • William A. Lowell - Trustee
  • Charles Cheever - Trustee

Administration

  • Operations managed by Choate Hall & Stewart LLP
  • No dedicated foundation staff
  • No employees

Quotes from Leadership

"Stan Calderwood believed in the great work that the Huntington Theatre Company has been doing since 1982 to bring the highest level of professional theatre to Boston audiences and to nurture new American playwrights."
— John Cornish, Trustee, regarding the $10 million grant to Huntington

"Of all of the wonderful programs and projects we have supported since Stan's death, he would be most proud of your seminars."
— John Cornish, Trustee, regarding the Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing at Wellesley College

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. It only contributes to preselected organizations with which it has established relationships.

The foundation operates through invitation-only grantmaking, with trustees identifying and selecting recipient organizations. There is no formal application process, portal, or deadline structure for new applicants.

Getting on Their Radar

Contact Information: Organizations may contact the foundation at (617) 248-4760, though the foundation's strong preference is for pre-selected grantees.

Known Relationship Patterns:

  • The foundation has supported the same organizations over many years before making transformational gifts
  • Boston Lyric Opera was supported "for many years" before receiving its $5 million endowment gift
  • Trustees have issued challenge grants to inspire matching fundraising efforts

Trustee Connections: The trustees maintain connections to Boston's arts and cultural community. William Lowell and John Cornish have been active in cultivating relationships with arts organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not available - the foundation does not accept open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only model, success depends on:

Demonstrated Track Record with the Foundation

  • Organizations that have received smaller grants over multiple years are best positioned for transformational gifts
  • The foundation values long-term relationships over one-time requests

Alignment with Founder's Vision

  • Strong alignment with Stanford Calderwood's passion for performing arts, public broadcasting, and quality writing
  • Boston-area focus is essential
  • Organizations should demonstrate commitment to bringing arts and quality writing to broad audiences

Strategic Use of Challenge Grants

  • The foundation has used challenge grants to leverage additional fundraising
  • Boston Lyric Opera's $5 million gift came after trustees issued a challenge to inspire donors

Organizational Sustainability

  • The foundation has prioritized endowment gifts that provide long-term operational stability
  • Capital projects that create lasting infrastructure (like the Calderwood Pavilion)

Types of Recent Transformational Grants:

  • Named leadership positions (Stanford Calderwood General & Artistic Director at BLO)
  • Named facilities (Calderwood Hall at Gardner Museum, Calderwood Pavilion at BCA)
  • Program endowments (Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Invitation-only grantmaker: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Focus relationship-building efforts elsewhere unless you have an existing connection.

  2. Spend-down in progress: The foundation is distributing its final assets and will likely cease operations soon. The 2024 financials show total assets of only $601,000.

  3. Boston focus is absolute: Nearly all grants go to Boston-area organizations. Out-of-area organizations have virtually no chance of support.

  4. Transformational giving model: When the foundation does give, it tends toward large, strategic gifts ($2-10 million) rather than small operational support.

  5. Writing and performing arts nexus: The foundation's strongest interests combine Stanford Calderwood's love of public broadcasting, theater, and quality writing.

  6. Long relationships precede large gifts: Organizations that received major grants typically had years of prior foundation support.

  7. No dedicated staff or website: All inquiries go through Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, reflecting the foundation's preference for managed, private grantmaking.

References

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