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Yawkey Foundation

Annual Giving
$21.0M
Grant Range
$25K - $5.0M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
15%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $21 million (2024)
  • Total Grants Awarded: Over $600 million to date
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months (Program & Small Capital), 6-12 months (Strategic Investment), 12-18 months (Transformational Capital)
  • Grant Range: Up to $100,000 (Program), $250,000-$1 million (Strategic), up to $5 million (Transformational)
  • Geographic Focus: Eastern Massachusetts (Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Middlesex, Essex counties) and Georgetown County, South Carolina

Contact Details

Website: https://yawkeyfoundation.org
Email: yawkey@yawkey.org
Phone: 781-329-7470
Address: 100 Lowder Brook Drive, Suite 2800, Westwood, MA 02090

Overview

The Yawkey Foundation was founded in 1977 by Tom and Jean Yawkey to perpetuate their eight decades of quiet philanthropy in Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina. Tom Yawkey, longtime owner of the Boston Red Sox, and his wife Jean established one of the region's major philanthropic institutions. The Foundation has awarded over $600 million in grants to date, with $21 million distributed in 2024 alone. The Foundation is "committed to preserving and sustaining the charitable values of the Yawkeys by investing in impactful nonprofits providing resources, opportunity, and dignity to the vulnerable and underserved." The Foundation emphasizes direct services to children, families, and underserved populations, with particular attention to Gateway Cities in Eastern Massachusetts—underserved urban centers like Lawrence, New Bedford, Fall River, Chelsea, Salem, Quincy, Waltham, and Malden.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Program & Small Capital Grants: Up to $100,000, typically paid over one year

  • Support discrete, time-bound projects addressing immediate organizational needs
  • Four annual submission periods by focus area (see application timeline below)
  • Recommended entry point for organizations new to the Foundation
  • Highly competitive with many more proposals received than funded

Strategic Investment Grants: $250,000 - $1,000,000, paid over multiple years

  • Fund regional expansion, nonprofit collaborations, mergers, or organizational transitions
  • Support organizations "reimagining, rescoping, or re-energizing mission delivery"
  • Two submission periods annually
  • Organizations new to the Foundation encouraged to first apply for Program & Small Capital grants

Transformational Capital Grants: Up to $5,000,000, paid over multiple years

  • Major funding for physical space development to permanently improve mission delivery
  • Rolling submission basis
  • Applicants must demonstrate project viability, community support, regulatory progress, and at least 50% of project costs already secured
  • Groundbreaking or major milestone expected within one year of proposal

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports six Areas of Giving:

  1. Health Care - Equitable access to high-quality health care; compassionate, culturally responsive care for vulnerable populations ($135+ million invested to date)
  2. Education - Pathways to academic and economic mobility; college success; educational access ($125+ million invested to date)
  3. Human Services - Meeting critical needs for individuals and families; strengthening safety nets ($112+ million invested to date)
  4. Youth & Amateur Athletics - Baseball and softball programs specifically; youth recreation; special needs athletics ($94+ million invested to date, reflecting the Yawkeys' Red Sox legacy)
  5. Arts & Culture - Enriching lives of children and families through arts access ($47+ million invested to date)
  6. Conservation & Wildlife - Environmental conservation and wildlife protection (reflecting Tom Yawkey's passion for conservation)

Special emphasis on Gateway Cities and underserved communities across Eastern Massachusetts.

What They Don't Fund

  • Public entities (government agencies)
  • Staff positions or recruitment costs
  • Emergency response efforts
  • Conferences or sponsorships
  • Intermediary organizations (e.g., federated campaigns, re-granting organizations)
  • Sectarian or religious activities
  • Athletic programs not focused on baseball/softball (Youth & Amateur Athletics area only)
  • Scholarships (direct to individuals)
  • Early education programs (pre-K)
  • Organizations primarily serving non-U.S. populations
  • General operating expenses (for Program & Small Capital grants)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Yawkey Foundation I:

  • John L. Harrington, Chairman
  • William B. Gutfarb
  • James P. Healey
  • Justin P. Morreale (Trustee Emeritus)

Yawkey Foundation II:

  • James P. Healey, Chairman
  • Maureen H. Bleday
  • Dr. Vanessa Calderón-Rosado
  • Charles I. Clough
  • William B. Gutfarb
  • Rev. Dr. Ray Hammond
  • John L. Harrington
  • Debra M. McNulty
  • Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan
  • George R. Neble
  • Judy Walden Scarafile
  • Justin P. Morreale (Trustee Emeritus)

Leadership Team

  • Alicia Verity, Chief Executive Officer (appointed 2024; previously Chief Program Officer since 2019)
  • John Redmond, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer
  • Maicharia Lytle, Chief Program Officer

Leadership Perspectives

CEO Alicia Verity emphasizes the Foundation's values through her public statements:

  • On human services: "These grants are about removing barriers at the most fragile moments of people's lives," emphasizing investments that "strengthen the safety net – offering security, dignity, and hope."
  • On health care: "These organizations exemplify our Foundation's core values by delivering compassionate, culturally responsive care to those who need it most."
  • On mission: Following Maureen H. Bleday's retirement after 19 years of service, Verity stated it was "truly an honor to follow in the footsteps of tremendous leaders" and committed to "continuing to provide access to resources for people in the communities that the Yawkeys called home."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Complete Eligibility Quiz: Before submitting any proposal, organizations must complete an online eligibility quiz on the Foundation's website
  2. Submit Initial Proposal: Limited to 800 words or less, addressing specific required elements
  3. Await Invitation: Foundation staff and trustees review all proposals; only a very limited number are invited to submit full Grant Applications
  4. Full Application (if invited): Foundation provides specific instructions for the second-stage application

Critical Restriction: Organizations may submit only ONE Initial Proposal per calendar year, regardless of grant type.

Initial Proposal Requirements

All Initial Proposals (800 words maximum) must include:

  • Nonprofit mission overview
  • Program/project description
  • Specific need being addressed
  • Anticipated outcomes
  • Sustainability plan
  • Benefits to individuals/communities
  • Detailed project budget using Philanthropy MA template

For Strategic Investment and Transformational Capital grants: Must also submit board-approved project plan.

Decision Timeline

Program & Small Capital Grants:

  • Review period: 90-120 days from submission deadline to invitation decision
  • Application periods by focus area (2026):
    • January 2-23: Youth & Amateur Athletics
    • March 2-20: Education, Conservation & Wildlife
    • June 1-19: Human Services
    • September 1-18: Arts & Culture, Health Care

Strategic Investment Grants:

  • Review period: 6-12 months
  • Submission periods: January 2-23 and June 1-19, 2026

Transformational Capital Grants:

  • Review period: 12-18 months (may vary based on project complexity)
  • Submission: Rolling basis year-round

Important: The Foundation does not provide feedback during the review period and will contact applicants only if additional information is needed. An invitation to submit a full Grant Application does not guarantee funding.

Success Rates

The Foundation describes all grant types as "highly competitive" and "extremely competitive," stating that "a very limited number of Initial Proposals will be selected" for full applications. Specific acceptance percentages are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may reapply, but must:

  • Satisfy all previous grant Reporting Requirements
  • Wait until next eligible submission period
  • Submit only one proposal per calendar year regardless of previous outcome

Organizations are encouraged to start with Program & Small Capital grants if not previously funded, before applying for larger Strategic Investment or Transformational Capital grants.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Stated Priorities

The Foundation has clearly articulated what makes proposals compelling:

"The most compelling Initial Proposals will reflect a nonprofit's strong leadership and proven impact in providing direct services and programs for unmet needs in underserved regions aligned with the Yawkey Foundation's geographic priority areas, including Gateway Cities in Eastern Massachusetts."

Specific Advice from the Foundation

  1. Demonstrate alignment: Proposals should "demonstrate an awareness of and alignment with the Yawkey Foundation's mission and Areas of Giving"

  2. Show board commitment: For Strategic Investment and Transformational Capital grants, "Initial Proposals must demonstrate that a nonprofit's Board has made a commitment to and has approved the capital project or strategic initiative"

  3. Build relationships progressively: "Organizations that have not been previously funded by the Foundations in recent years are encouraged to submit Initial Proposals for Program & Small Capital Grants to familiarize the Foundation with its work"

  4. Focus on Gateway Cities: Proposals serving underserved Gateway Cities (Lawrence, New Bedford, Fall River, Chelsea, Salem, Quincy, Waltham, Malden) are particularly competitive

  5. Use required formats: Must use Philanthropy MA budget template; failure to follow guidelines may disqualify proposals

  6. Keep it concise: Initial Proposals limited to 800 words—every word must count

Recent Successful Projects (2024 Examples)

These funded projects illustrate what the Foundation values:

Education:

  • Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology: $2.5 million for new campus in Nubian Square
  • Lawrence Catholic Academy: $3 million commitment
  • 14 organizations in Gateway Cities (Fall River, Lawrence, Malden, New Bedford)

Health Care:

  • Boston Medical Center: $3 million commitment
  • Dimock Center: $2.5 million for 39-bed post-detox clinical stabilization unit in Roxbury
  • McLean Hospital: $2 million for Child & Adolescent Campus Project

Human Services:

  • Pine Street Inn: Transformational capital for critical basic needs
  • Father Bill's & Mainspring: Infrastructure improvements
  • Multiple organizations strengthening safety nets for vulnerable populations

Youth & Amateur Athletics:

  • Ron Burton Training Village: $460,000 for year-round leadership training facilities
  • The BASE: "Under the Lights Summer Baseball League" at Yawkey Club of Roxbury for ages 6-9
  • Special Olympics Massachusetts, Adaptive Sports New England, Youth Enrichment Services

Conservation & Wildlife:

  • Round the Bend Farm (Dartmouth): $1 million for healthy, local food access on South Coast, which Verity called "a model for what's possible when sustainability, innovation, and community care come together"

Common Themes in Funded Projects

  • Direct service delivery to vulnerable populations
  • Physical infrastructure that permanently improves capacity
  • Gateway City locations or service areas
  • Collaborative approaches and partnerships
  • Proven organizational leadership and track record
  • Alignment with Yawkey legacy (e.g., baseball/softball, healthcare access, education pathways)
  • Cultural responsiveness and community-centered design

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Start small if new: First-time applicants should apply for Program & Small Capital grants ($100k max) to establish a relationship before pursuing larger Strategic Investment ($250k-$1M) or Transformational Capital (up to $5M) grants.

  2. Gateway Cities are key: Proposals serving Lawrence, New Bedford, Fall River, Chelsea, Salem, Quincy, Waltham, and Malden in Eastern Massachusetts are particularly competitive—emphasize Gateway City impact prominently.

  3. One shot per year: You can only submit ONE proposal per calendar year regardless of grant type, so choose your timing and grant category strategically.

  4. Show, don't tell leadership: The Foundation prioritizes "strong leadership and proven impact"—provide concrete evidence of your track record serving underserved populations.

  5. Physical space = transformational: For capital projects, demonstrate how physical infrastructure will "permanently and vastly improve mission delivery" and show you have 50% of funds already secured plus regulatory approvals in progress.

  6. Baseball/softball only for athletics: Unless your youth athletics program focuses specifically on baseball or softball, apply under a different Area of Giving (e.g., Youth Development programs would be Human Services).

  7. Language matters: Use Foundation terminology in your proposal—"underserved," "direct services," "meaningful difference," "access and opportunity," "safety net," "pathways to mobility," "culturally responsive"—these phrases reflect their values.

  8. Timeline planning is critical: With 3-18 month review periods depending on grant type, plan well ahead and understand that invitation to full application doesn't guarantee funding.

References

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