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Tupancy-Harris Foundation Of 1986

Annual Giving
$1.3M
000

Tupancy-Harris Foundation Of 1986

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,333,613 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 26 awards (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$51,000
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Variable, based on trustee discretion
  • Geographic Focus: Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

Contact Details

Address: C/O Fiduciary Trust Company, PO Box 55806, Boston, MA 02205-5806

Phone: 617-482-5270

Trustee: Fiduciary Trust Company

Investment Officer: Doug Burden (manages foundation grants)

Overview

The Tupancy-Harris Foundation Of 1986 is a private foundation established in 1986 (or 1987 according to some sources) by Nantucket residents Ozwald "Tup" Tupancy and his wife Sallie Gail Harris Tupancy. The foundation's stated goal is to provide for the welfare of Nantucket Island, with a primary focus on supporting the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and the Nantucket Historical Association. Since its founding, the foundation has donated millions of dollars to nonprofits across Nantucket. The foundation also supports various other organizations that benefit Nantucket's year-round population, particularly in areas such as affordable housing, conservation, and historical preservation. The foundation is managed by Fiduciary Trust Company as trustee, with Doug Burden serving as Investment Officer responsible for overseeing grant distributions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, with the Investment Officer identifying priority areas based on visits to Nantucket and consultation with community nonprofits.

2023 Grantmaking: $1,333,613 distributed across 26 awards (approximately $51,000 average)

Historical Grantmaking:

  • 2022: 30 awards
  • 2021: 33 awards
  • 2020: 30 awards

Priority Areas

Primary Beneficiaries:

  • Nantucket Conservation Foundation
  • Nantucket Historical Association

Additional Focus Areas:

  • Affordable housing and workforce housing for year-round residents
  • Preservation of Nantucket heritage
  • Environmental conservation
  • Organizations serving Nantucket's year-round population

Notable Recent Support: Housing Nantucket received support for their Community Investment Tax Credit program to expand rental housing programs

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's focus is exclusively on organizations serving Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Fiduciary Trust Company, Boston, MA

Investment Officer: Doug Burden - responsible for managing foundation grants and identifying funding priorities

Doug Burden has stated regarding the foundation's priorities: "During my visits to Nantucket island, the lack of employee housing was a recurring concern amongst the nonprofits we support."

Founders (deceased):

  • Ozwald "Tup" Tupancy - Nantucket resident and former golf professional who purchased Tupancy Links in 1949
  • Sallie Gail Harris Tupancy - Co-founder who worked with her husband to support Nantucket nonprofits

Historical Connection: In 1976, the Tupancys donated the land that once comprised Nantucket's original golf course (Tupancy Links) to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. The foundation was established to provide ongoing support for the Conservation Foundation and other Nantucket organizations, including funds for the permanent maintenance of the Thomas Macy House.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, with the Investment Officer (Doug Burden at Fiduciary Trust Company) identifying priority areas and selecting grant recipients.

Grants appear to be awarded based on:

  • Trustee identification of community needs during site visits to Nantucket
  • Consultation with existing grantees and community nonprofits
  • Pre-existing relationships with organizations serving Nantucket

Organizations interested in support should focus on building visibility within the Nantucket nonprofit community and demonstrating clear impact on the island's year-round population.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grant decisions appear to be made on an ongoing basis by the trustee throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since there is no public application process, organizations seeking support from the Tupancy-Harris Foundation should focus on:

Demonstrating Nantucket Impact: The foundation is exclusively focused on benefiting Nantucket Island. Organizations must clearly demonstrate how their work serves Nantucket's community, particularly the year-round population.

Alignment with Historical Priorities: The foundation has deep roots in conservation and historical preservation, stemming from the founders' 1976 donation of Tupancy Links to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and their commitment to preserving the Thomas Macy House. Projects aligned with these areas may be particularly appealing.

Addressing Year-Round Population Needs: The Investment Officer has explicitly identified workforce housing as a priority concern. Organizations addressing challenges faced by Nantucket's year-round residents (as opposed to seasonal visitors) appear to be favored.

Community Visibility: Since grants are identified through trustee site visits and consultations with existing grantees, maintaining strong relationships within Nantucket's nonprofit community and demonstrating collaborative work is important.

Existing Grantee Relationships: The foundation supports multiple organizations across Nantucket's extensive nonprofit sector (over 110 organizations on the island). Connections with current grantees may help organizations get on the foundation's radar.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process - This is an invitation-only funder operating through trustee discretion
  • Nantucket-exclusive focus - Only organizations serving Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, are eligible
  • Year-round population priority - The foundation prioritizes organizations benefiting permanent residents over seasonal populations
  • Conservation and preservation roots - Historical connection to environmental conservation and historical preservation
  • Moderate grant sizes - Recent grants average approximately $51,000, though amounts vary
  • Consistent annual giving - The foundation awards 26-33 grants annually totaling $1.2-1.3 million
  • Trustee-managed - Fiduciary Trust Company serves as trustee with Investment Officer Doug Burden managing grant decisions

References

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