← Back to US Funders Directory

Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$52.2M
Grant Range
$1K - $9.2M
Decision Time
3mo

Ready to apply to Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc?

Let our AI help you write a winning grant application in minutes, not hours.

Start your 4-week free trial →

Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $52,239,174 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-12 weeks
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $9,200,000
  • Median Grant: $10,000
  • Average Grant: $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Boston (MA), Greater Puget Sound & select Washington State counties

Contact Details

Website: https://www.libertymutualgroup.com/about-lm/giving-back/liberty-mutual-foundation

Email: Foundation@LibertyMutual.com

Application Portal: Online through CyberGrants system

Address: Boston, MA

Overview

Founded in 2003, Liberty Mutual Foundation has awarded more than $400 million in grants to approximately 1,300 nonprofit organisations. In 2023, the Foundation distributed $52.2 million through 724 grants. The Foundation's mission centres on helping "people feel secure" by supporting organisations that empower individuals struggling to thrive amid challenging situations. Under founding president Melissa MacDonnell's 25-year leadership (retired October 2025), Liberty Mutual and its employees contributed nearly $1 billion to more than 8,700 nonprofit organisations. The Foundation operates through a strategic grantmaking framework focusing on advancing security and building resilience for people and communities, with particular emphasis on serving low-income youth and young adults. In 2024, the Foundation launched its innovative Impact Driven Collaboration (IDC) programme, representing an evolution toward multi-organisation partnerships to maximise community impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Strategic Initiative Grants ($15,000 - $1,000,000+)

  • Multi-year grants through competitive RFPs in priority areas
  • Education Initiative: Typically opens in March
  • Housing Stability Initiative: Typically opens in June (Greater Boston only)
  • Youth Workforce Development Initiative: Typically opens in June (Greater Boston only), three-year funding commitment
  • Basic Services and Climate Resiliency initiatives reopen periodically

Impact Driven Collaboration (IDC) Grants (up to $1,500,000 over three years)

  • Strategic partnerships involving three or more nonprofits working collaboratively
  • Two-phase process: planning grants followed by implementation grants
  • December 2024 inaugural cohort included over 60 nonprofit partners across 16 strategic partnerships
  • Ongoing funding of minimum three projects per cycle

Climate Mini Grants (up to $15,000)

  • Support for partners, staff, and communities to create greater climate consciousness, behaviours, and plans

Discretionary Fund ($15,000 - $1,000,000)

  • Rolling basis applications accepted year-round
  • General operating and programmatic support
  • 8-12 week review timeline

Priority Areas

Advancing Security

  • Basic services access (food, emergency shelter, clothing, health for homeless)
  • Housing stability for families and individuals experiencing economic challenges
  • Youth experiencing homelessness (focusing on making homelessness "rare, brief, and non-recurring")

Building Resilience for People

  • Education: improving educational achievement of underserved youth
  • Youth and young adult workforce development: preparing disconnected youth for post-secondary career success
  • Access to living-wage jobs supporting upward economic mobility

Building Resilience for Communities

  • Climate Initiative: nature-based climate solutions in economically challenged neighbourhoods
  • Access to affordable, locally grown food
  • Increased green space and decarbonisation of neighbourhoods
  • Training/skill development for Green Jobs of the Future

Accessibility and Inclusion

  • Programmes supporting inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life
  • Opportunities for people of all abilities to learn, live, work, and play together

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Foundations that are primarily grantmaking agencies
  • Religious organisations and/or sectarian activities
  • Fraternal, social, or political organisations
  • Trips, tours, or transportation
  • Deficit spending or debt liquidation
  • Conferences, forums, or special events
  • Non-functionally integrated supporting organisations (IRS classification)
  • Organisations that have submitted a proposal within the past 12 months
  • Sponsorships (separate application process through Liberty Mutual)
  • Capital grants (awarded selectively to current partners only; inquiries to Foundation@libertymutual.com)

Governance and Leadership

Melissa M. MacDonnell - Founder and President (retired October 2025), Senior Vice President of Community Investments

MacDonnell founded the Liberty Mutual Foundation in 2003 and led it for 25 years. She emphasised a collaborative approach to corporate philanthropy, stating: "It's such an exciting moment for corporate philanthropy. When I started nearly 25 years ago, philanthropy was more of an offshoot. The company was always deeply committed to the community, but there was a desire to keep the philanthropy separate. That desire came from a really good place; however, it left some of our potential for impact off the table."

On her personal mission, MacDonnell shared: "Leading the philanthropy at Liberty Mutual is bigger than a job, it's a privilege."

Regarding the Foundation's collaborative approach to youth homelessness, MacDonnell stated: "We work collaboratively to make youth homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring" and emphasised that "You'll find us at tables with public officials, researchers, community leaders, and most importantly, young people with lived experience."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Review Eligibility

  • Complete the brief eligibility quiz on the Foundation's website
  • Ensure alignment with at least one of the Foundation's RFP initiatives
  • Confirm geographic eligibility
  • Verify that your organisation has not received Foundation funding within the past 12 months

Step 2: Subscribe for RFP Announcements

  • Sign up for the Foundation's newsletter to receive notifications when RFPs open
  • Links to applications become available only when RFPs are active

Step 3: Submit Online Application

  • Applications submitted through CyberGrants online platform
  • Begin with brief eligibility quiz
  • Complete proposal narrative
  • Required materials include:
    • Organisation's budget
    • Most recent audited financial statements
    • Other philanthropic contributors and their levels of support
    • Description of relevant experience serving target populations/communities

Step 4: Await Confirmation

  • Upon successful submission, receive email confirmation from CyberGrants

Application Methods

  • Strategic initiatives: Fixed deadlines (RFPs issued throughout the year)
  • Discretionary Fund: Rolling basis year-round
  • Monthly reviews for discretionary applications

Decision Timeline

  • Discretionary Fund: 6-8 weeks from submission; maximum 12 weeks
  • Strategic Initiative RFPs: Varies by programme; typically announced 2-3 months after deadline
  • Notification Method: Email notification regardless of outcome
  • Contact if No Response: If no response after 12 weeks, contact Foundation@LibertyMutual.com

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation awarded 724 grants in 2023, compared to 1,249 in 2022 and 617 in 2021, indicating variability in annual grant-making volume based on strategic priorities and available funds.

Reapplication Policy

  • Organisations that have received funding within the past 12 months are not eligible to apply
  • Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent RFP cycles
  • Applicants reapplying from a prior cycle are highly recommended to complete Year Two impact reports
  • No explicit waiting period stated for declined applications

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical

The Foundation emphasises that prospective applicants should thoroughly familiarise themselves with the Foundation's eligibility guidelines and Purpose and Impact Report before applying to ensure strong alignment with focus areas. Generic proposals unlikely to succeed; demonstrate deep understanding of Foundation's strategic priorities.

Five Key Outcomes for Youth Homelessness Initiatives

For organisations working on youth homelessness, President Melissa MacDonnell identified five critical outcomes the Foundation seeks to achieve:

  1. Identification: accurately identifying youth and young adults experiencing homelessness and housing instability
  2. Stable Housing: finding a home that allows for consistent self-care and lowers barriers to education and employment
  3. Health and Wellbeing: providing access to quality physical health, mental health, and substance use services and support
  4. Education and Employment: finding living-wage jobs that support upward economic mobility and sustainable exits from homelessness
  5. Permanent Connections: forming lifelong connections with emotionally secure adults who provide love, a sense of belonging, advice, mentorship

Demonstrate Funding Diversification

The Foundation gives preference to organisations and programmes with varied funding streams. Foundation funding is not intended to be the sole support of any proposed programme. Show multiple revenue sources and sustainable funding model.

Emphasise Accessibility and Inclusion

Strong preference for organisations and programmes with thoughtful and clearly articulated plans for the inclusion of people at all levels of physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities. Don't just mention accessibility; detail specific strategies.

Highlight Relevant Experience

Applications must describe relevant experience of your organisation and any collaborating partners in serving target populations/communities and addressing their needs. Provide concrete examples with measurable outcomes.

Serve Priority Geographies

Geographic eligibility is strictly enforced. Organisations must serve individuals and communities in:

  • Greater Boston: Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville
  • Greater Puget Sound and select Washington State counties: King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Kitsap, Spokane

Consider Collaborative Approaches

The Foundation's 2024 launch of Impact Driven Collaboration grants signals strong interest in multi-organisation partnerships. If your work could benefit from collaboration with three or more nonprofits, consider this approach to "leverage expertise and maximise impact."

Recent Successful Grantees (2024 Examples)

  • Energy Allies ($100,000): Energy justice nonprofit for community-led solar initiatives and clean energy access
  • Action for Boston Community Development ($300,000): Homeless youth case management, emergency funds, and career development
  • Cambridge Family and Children's Services ($255,000): Programmes for vulnerable children and families
  • Fenway Community Health Centre ($300,000): Health services for underserved populations
  • Friends of Youth Opportunity Boston ($240,000): Youth development programming
  • Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired ($50,000): Programmes for older persons with visual difficulties

Focus on Early Intervention

MacDonnell emphasised at a youth homelessness forum: "find the youth before they hit rock bottom." Applications addressing upstream prevention and early intervention align with Foundation priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restrictions are strict: Confirm your service area matches Greater Boston or Greater Puget Sound/select WA counties before investing time in application
  • 12-month funding gap required: If you've received Liberty Mutual Foundation funding in the past year, you're ineligible regardless of proposal quality
  • Demonstrate diversified funding: Show multiple revenue streams; Foundation seeks to supplement, not sustain entire programmes
  • Prioritise accessibility and inclusion: Go beyond compliance to show innovative, thoughtful approaches to serving people of all abilities
  • Align deeply with strategic framework: Study the Foundation's three pillars (security, resilience for people, resilience for communities) and clearly articulate how your work advances these goals
  • Consider collaborative models: The new IDC programme signals Foundation interest in multi-organisation partnerships; explore collaboration with 3+ organisations if applicable
  • Focus on youth and young adults: While other populations are served, low-income youth and young adults receive priority consideration across all initiatives
  • Be patient but persistent: Decision timelines can extend to 12 weeks; use this time to strengthen organisational capacity and track outcomes for future applications

References

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Start your 4-week free trialLearn More

Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know

← Back to US Funders Directory