Edith H Overly Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; a charity should look for an existing link or introduction before writing.
- Its filings show general support across a varied mix of recipients, including schools, museums, hospitals, arts groups and social-service providers, so a charity doing that kind of work can judge whether it fits, although no geographic rule is stated.
- Most of its grants fall between $20,000 and $80,000, with a median of $50,000, so a request near that range is a realistic size; the largest grant reported was $230,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- Repeat funding dominates, with 94% of grant dollars in its most recent filing going to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so relationships matter a great deal.
- The filing gives no deadlines or application cycle, so a charity should not plan its timing around one.
Overview
Edith H Overly Foundation is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's filings record its grants as general support, without naming a more specific purpose. The recipient record includes higher education and schools, museums and historical institutions, environmental and wildlife organisations, hospitals and medical charities, arts and cultural organisations, outdoor and equine groups, and social-service providers. Its giving therefore reaches a varied range of charitable organisations rather than a single recipient type. The filing material does not state a defined funding field, target beneficiaries, geographic eligibility or selection approach beyond this pattern of grants.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts, Colorado and New York.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 94% 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 97 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations Edith H Overly Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 33 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $48,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Trustees of Tufts College · General Support$180,0002024 tax year
- Museum of Science · General Support$125,0002024 tax year
- Old Sturbridge Village · General Support$105,0002024 tax year
- New England Aquarium · General Support$95,0002024 tax year
- American Alpine Club · General Support$80,0002024 tax year
- Unity Farm Sanctuary · General Support$73,7392024 tax year
- American Cancer Society · General Support$70,0002024 tax year
- WGBH Educational Foundation · General Support$60,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Charles A Cheever — Trustee
- William A Lowell — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,735,774 | $1,368,475 | $35,084,986 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,190,977 | $1,927,920 | $38,018,116 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,002,841 | $1,716,050 | $41,235,290 | 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 Edith H Overly Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to Edith H Overly Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA