Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $1,927,920 (2023)
- Number of Grants: 32 grants (2023)
- Average Grant Size: ~$60,250
- Grant Range: Varies significantly (largest grants $90,000-$230,000 based on known recipients)
- Total Assets: $41,235,290 (2024)
- Geographic Focus: National, with connections to Boston, MA
- Application Method: No public application process
Contact Details
Mailing Address: c/o Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, PO Box 961019, Boston, MA 02196-1019
Phone: (617) 248-4760
EIN: 22-3043340
Foundation Type: Private Independent Foundation (established 1990)
Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or email for grant applications.
Overview
The Edith H Overly Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1990 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. Named after Edith Paine Hall Overly (1922-2018), the foundation manages assets of over $41 million and distributes approximately $1.9 million annually through approximately 32 grants. The foundation operates without full-time employees and is administered through Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, a Boston law firm with extensive experience in private foundation management and trustee services. The foundation has been classified by the IRS as "partially liquidated," though it continues active grantmaking operations. Based on known grant recipients, the foundation appears to support higher education, environmental conservation, outdoor recreation, and alpine/mountaineering organizations, though no official mission statement has been publicly disclosed.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation does not operate formal grant programs or funding cycles. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees.
Priority Areas
Based on known 2023 grant recipients, the foundation has supported:
- Higher Education: Tufts University ($230,000 - general support)
- Outdoor Recreation & Mountaineering: The American Alpine Club ($140,000 - general support)
- Environmental Conservation: The Nature Conservancy ($90,000 - general support)
The foundation appears to favor organizations focused on:
- Educational institutions
- Conservation and environmental protection
- Outdoor recreation and alpine pursuits
- Organizations that receive "general support" rather than project-specific funding
What They Don't Fund
The foundation has not publicly disclosed specific exclusions. As a private foundation without public application processes, funding decisions are made entirely at trustee discretion.
Governance and Leadership
Trustees
- William A Lowell, Trustee
- Charles A Cheever, Trustee
Administration
The foundation is administered by Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, a Boston-based law firm founded in 1899 with over 200 attorneys. Choate Wealth, the firm's family office division, provides comprehensive wealth management services including trustee services, private foundation management, and charitable planning for high-net-worth families. The firm's attorneys have served as trustees and personal representatives for over 100 years.
Key Personnel
Officer compensation in 2024 was $40,287, representing approximately 2% of total expenses.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
The Edith H Overly Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than through open application or solicitation.
Grant recipients appear to be selected by the trustees based on their own charitable interests and relationships. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from organizations that approach them directly.
Success Rates
Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.
Application Success Factors
Since the foundation does not accept public applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's giving patterns:
- Established Organizations: Known grant recipients include major, well-established institutions like Tufts University and The Nature Conservancy
- General Support: The foundation provides general support grants rather than project-specific funding, suggesting they support organizations whose overall mission aligns with trustee priorities
- Mission Alignment: Recipients appear to align with interests in education, conservation, and outdoor/alpine pursuits
- Geographic Considerations: While based in Boston, the foundation supports organizations with both local and national reach
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications
- Family Foundation Model: Operates as a private independent foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking
- Significant Grant Capacity: With nearly $2 million in annual giving and assets over $41 million, this is a substantial funder
- Large Average Grants: Average grant size of approximately $60,000 suggests significant support for selected organizations
- Focus Areas: Past giving indicates interest in higher education, environmental conservation, and outdoor recreation/mountaineering
- General Support Philosophy: Known grants are for "general support" rather than specific projects
- Professional Administration: Managed by a respected Boston law firm specializing in private foundation services
References
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ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Edith H Overly Foundation. Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223043340 (Accessed January 7, 2026)
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Cause IQ - Edith H Overly Foundation Organization Profile. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/edith-h-overly-foundation,223043340/ (Accessed January 7, 2026)
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Instrumentl - Edith H Overly Foundation 990 Report. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/edith-h-overly-foundation (Accessed January 7, 2026)
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Candid Foundation Directory - Edith H Overly Foundation Profile. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=OVER024 (Accessed January 7, 2026)
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GuideStar - Edith H Overly Foundation Profile (EIN: 22-3043340). Available at: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/22-3043340 (Accessed January 7, 2026)
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Choate Hall & Stewart LLP - Family Office Services and Professional Trustee Services. Available at: https://www.choate.com/practices/family-office-services.html and https://www.choatewealth.com/services/professional-trustee-and-administration-services/ (Accessed January 7, 2026)
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The Pilot - Edith H. Overly Obituary (February 18, 2018). Available at: https://www.thepilot.com/obituaries/edith-h-overly/article_0412b634-18b1-11e8-bb16-13a23adcc906.html (Accessed January 7, 2026)