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Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.7M

Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.74 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Massachusetts and regional
  • Total Assets: $57.9 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: C/o Stanton & Company, Woburn, MA

Note: The foundation does not have a publicly listed website, phone number, or email contact.

Overview

The Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation Inc was established in 2005 as a Delaware corporation and operates as a private grantmaking foundation based in Woburn, Massachusetts. With total assets of $57.9 million as of 2024, the foundation maintains a consistent grantmaking program distributing approximately $2.7-3.5 million annually. Led by Executive Director Pam Solo, a 1989 MacArthur Fellow and renowned peace activist, the foundation focuses its charitable giving on the arts, Christian agencies and churches, education, and human services. The foundation made 43 grants in 2023, totaling $3.53 million in charitable disbursements. Charitable disbursements represent approximately 84-90% of the foundation's annual expenses, demonstrating a strong commitment to active grantmaking despite operating as a preselected, invitation-only foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations.

Average Grant Activity:

  • 43-46 grants awarded annually
  • Average grant size: approximately $60,000-$75,000 (based on total giving divided by number of grants)
  • Application method: Invitation only

Priority Areas

The foundation provides grants primarily for:

  • The Arts: Support for arts organizations and cultural programs
  • Christian Agencies and Churches: Religious organizations and faith-based initiatives
  • Education: Educational institutions and programs
  • Human Services: Organizations addressing human welfare and social needs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Pam Solo - Executive Director (Compensation: $210,940)

  • 1989 MacArthur Fellow recognized for work in arms control and peace advocacy
  • Founder and President of the Civil Society Institute
  • Co-founder of the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign
  • Author of "From Protest to Policy"
  • Directs a consortium of small and midsized foundations committed to stimulating grassroots involvement in political process and public debate on domestic and foreign policy issues

Sarah Lutz - President, Secretary, and Treasurer (Volunteer position)

John Van Rens - Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer (Volunteer position)

Foundation Structure

The foundation operates as a private foundation under 501(c)(3) classification with minimal administrative overhead, directing the vast majority of expenses toward charitable disbursements.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation explicitly states that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations with which they have existing relationships or knowledge.

Organizations cannot apply directly for funding. All grantmaking decisions are made internally by foundation leadership and trustees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through internal trustee discretion rather than a competitive application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The foundation does not accept applications from organizations outside their preselected network.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding the foundation's characteristics may provide context:

Foundation Characteristics:

  • The foundation focuses on four specific areas: arts, Christian agencies/churches, education, and human services
  • Leadership has strong background in peace and social justice work, particularly through Executive Director Pam Solo's MacArthur Fellowship and work with grassroots political engagement
  • The foundation maintains consistent annual giving patterns, suggesting stable relationships with existing grantees
  • With 43-46 grants annually and approximately $3 million in giving, the foundation supports a focused portfolio of organizations rather than making numerous small grants

If Already Known to the Foundation:

  • Alignment with the four priority areas (arts, faith-based work, education, or human services) is essential
  • The foundation's leadership background suggests potential interest in organizations working on social justice, civic engagement, and community empowerment
  • Demonstrate clear mission alignment and proven track record in your field

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - do not submit inquiries or proposals
  • Preselected organizations only: Grants are made exclusively to organizations already known to the trustees
  • Focused giving areas: Arts, Christian organizations, education, and human services are the primary funding priorities
  • Consistent grantmaking: The foundation maintains steady annual giving of $2.7-3.5 million across 43-46 grants
  • Strong leadership: Executive Director Pam Solo brings extensive experience in social justice, peace advocacy, and foundation consortium work
  • Relationship-based: Success depends entirely on existing relationships with foundation leadership or trustees
  • Not a fit for most applicants: Unless you have a pre-existing connection to the foundation's trustees or have been specifically contacted by them, this foundation is not accessible for new partnerships

References

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