Herman And Frieda L Miller Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,987,288 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $200,000 (average $50,000)
• Geographic Focus: Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts

Contact Details

Website: https://millerfoundation.grantsmanagement08.com/

Foundation Administrator: Amy Shorey

• Phone: 617-391-3072
• Email: ashorey@gmafoundations.com

Additional Staff:

• Duey Kol: dkol@gmafoundations.com, 617-391-3074
• Prentice Zinn: pzinn@gmafoundations.com, 617-391-3091

Overview

The Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston with over $46 million in assets. Established to support advocacy and community organizing, the foundation awarded $2,987,288 in grants across 56 recipients in 2023. The foundation is dedicated to improving the infrastructure that supports vibrant urban community life in Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. They focus on systems change and community empowerment rather than direct service provision, working to address root causes of social issues through advocacy, organizing, and innovative approaches to reimagining service networks for vulnerable populations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking: $5,000 - $200,000 (average $50,000)

• Invitation-only basis
• Focus on advocacy and community organizing

Miller Innovation Fund: $25,000 - $50,000 first year

• Projects lasting up to three years may be considered
• Years two and three awarded based on successful performance
• Currently not accepting new applications for 2024
• Supports creative organizational thinking, planning, and information collecting rooted in action

Priority Areas

• Strong civic culture and community empowerment at neighborhood and citywide levels
• Development and maintenance of healthy physical settings that facilitate vigorous communities
• Access for all income levels and backgrounds to employment, housing, education, health care, transportation, and cultural activities
• Re-imagining service networks for vulnerable populations (homeless, elderly, refugees, domestic violence victims, former prisoners)
• Systems change in human service delivery systems
• Building political power of immigrant communities
• Tenant rights and affordable housing advocacy
• Worker's rights organizing

What They Don't Fund

• Start-up funding for new organizations
• Direct service organizations (despite addressing employment, housing, healthcare, and education issues)
• Organizations outside Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Myron Miller - Principal, Miller Dyer Spears Architects/Planners; Trustee of the foundation

Operations: The foundation employs the staff of Boston-based Grantmakers Managers Advisors (GMA) Foundations to handle operations, including grant administration and management.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Foundation only accepts proposals invited by the trustees. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and invitation only. However, Foundation staff welcome email or phone inquiries from organizations interested in discussing potential funding opportunities.

For initial inquiries, contact:

• Amy Shorey, Foundation Administrator: ashorey@gmafoundations.com or 617-391-3072

Getting on Their Radar

While specific networking opportunities are not documented, the foundation indicates that:

• Foundation staff welcome email or phone inquiries
• The foundation employs a rigorous two-stage review process, with the first level carried out primarily by program staff, and the second by the Board
• Organizations working in advocacy, community organizing, and systems change in Greater Boston should consider reaching out to discuss alignment

Decision Timeline

The foundation has not published specific decision timelines. Organizations invited to submit proposals should inquire about expected notification dates during the invitation process.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 56 grants in 2023, 54 in 2022, and 54 in 2021.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in available documentation.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and the Miller Innovation Fund criteria:

• Deep insight and provocative critique: The foundation rewards applicants who "have done their homework and have deep insight and provocative critique about what keeps systems from working well for individuals"
• Creativity and experimentation: The foundation values "creativity, experimentation, and a pioneering spirit"
• Systems change focus: Rather than direct services, successful applicants focus on advocacy, organizing, and addressing root causes
• Action-oriented planning: For the Innovation Fund, the foundation looks for "creative organizational thinking, planning, and information collecting rooted in action"
• Research and development mindset: The Innovation Fund serves as a research and development resource for "new services, platforms, products, and organizational forms that do not exist"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder - do not submit unsolicited proposals
• Make initial contact through email or phone to Amy Shorey to explore potential alignment
• Focus your inquiry on systems change and advocacy work, not direct services
• Emphasize innovative approaches to reimagining service delivery for vulnerable populations
• Demonstrate deep understanding of systemic barriers and root causes
• Average grant size is $50,000, with range from $5,000 to $200,000
• The foundation values organizations with established track records rather than new startups

References

• Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation website: https://millerfoundation.grantsmanagement08.com/ (accessed March 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report on Herman And Frieda L Miller Foundation (accessed March 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Herman And Frieda L Miller Foundation, EIN 137131926 (accessed March 2026)
• Cause IQ profile - Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation (accessed March 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy - Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation grants overview (accessed March 2026)
• Foundation Directory/Candid profile - Herman and Frieda L Miller Foundation (accessed March 2026)