The Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation's stated focus is advocacy and community organising in Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, so work on civic engagement, voter education or leadership development in that area is the clearest fit.
- Its typical grant falls between $35,000 and $75,000, with a median of $50,000 and a largest grant of $170,000, so a request near that scale suits a small organisation, though the band is typical rather than a limit.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so begin with an email or phone enquiry to its staff, since the trustees invite proposals; the filing shows 97% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had funded before, so an existing relationship matters.
- If you are considering the Miller Innovation Fund, note that it does not fund day-to-day work of organisations, supplemental funding for established programmes, organisational support or the startup of new organisations, and that it requires 501(c)(3) status with work in Massachusetts or a fiscal sponsor relationship, while large organisations, academic institutions, national organisations and consultants may apply only with a community partner as lead.
Overview
The Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website and other web pages about the foundation (gmafoundations.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports advocacy and community organising in Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. It is also dedicated to improving the infrastructure that sustains vibrant urban community life, with aims including strong civic culture and community empowerment, healthy physical settings, and access for people of all income levels and backgrounds to employment, housing, education, health care, transport and cultural activities. Its Boston-area funding interest includes grassroots civic engagement through community organising, voter education and leadership development. Its approach is collaborative and participatory: it seeks to empower communities and develop deep, trusting relationships with nonprofit leaders and community members. The foundation values people’s lived experience and aims to put their interests at the forefront of planning and advocacy efforts.
Themes
- Advocacy
- Community organizing
Geographic Focus
Priority: Greater Boston; Eastern Massachusetts.
What They Don't Fund
- Miller Innovation Fund only: Day-to-day work of organizations; Supplemental funding for established programs; Organizational support; Startup of new organizations
How to apply
The trustees invite proposals; foundation staff welcome email or phone inquiries.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 143 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Miller Innovation Fund rewards creativity, experimentation and a pioneering spirit.
- The Miller Innovation Fund favors applicants who have done their homework and have deep insight and provocative critique about what keeps systems from working well for individuals.
- The Miller Innovation Fund requires applicants to be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations working in Massachusetts or to have a relationship with a fiscal sponsor.
- Large organisations, academic institutions, national organisations and consultants may apply only with a community partner as the lead organisation for the Miller Innovation Fund.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 4% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations The Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 36 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $55,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- TSNE MissionWorks · Democracy hubs and general operations$100,0002024 tax year
- Justice at Work · Justice at work$80,0002024 tax year
- Central Square Theater · General operating support$80,0002024 tax year
- Massachusetts Communities Action Network · General operating support$75,0002024 tax year
- Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center · General operating request$75,0002024 tax year
- FJC, A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds · Kirva$75,0002024 tax year
- Neighborhood Developers · 2026 chelsea and revere leadership development and housing$70,0002024 tax year
- City Life Vida Urbana · Boston housing organizing project$65,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Myron Miller Co Gma Foundations Inc — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,463,475 | $2,987,288 | $40,752,760 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,196,655 | $2,752,841 | $46,099,585 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,573,129 | $2,066,325 | $47,556,458 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation?
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Applying to The Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required