Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund

Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Fund makes grants to qualified non-profit organisations existing and operating in Massachusetts in medicine (human and animal), social welfare, visual arts, historic preservation and land conservation. Grants are exclusively for capital projects and capital purchases; selected organisations that received significant contributions from Miss Peabody during her lifetime may also receive grants. The trustees give paramount importance to her philanthropic legacy and interests. They favour capital work relevant to the community served and benefiting a large area or number of people, and initiatives with measurable, significant and lasting impact. They look for well-conceived projects with specific outcomes, sound plans and budgets, credible organisations and support from multiple sources.

Themes

• Medicine
• Social welfare
• Visual arts
• Historic preservation
• Land conservation
• Capital projects

Geographic Focus

Massachusetts.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Private Foundations
• Organizations existing or operating outside Massachusetts
• Organizations publicly funded and Foundations supporting them
• Start-up organizations
• Section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations
• Religious organizations for religious purposes
• Educational institutions
• Fiscal Agents
• Operating budgets
• Programs
• Administrative overhead
• Annual fund drives
• Emergencies or immediate funding requests
• Events, performances, media, theatrical productions, publications, exhibits, conferences
• Multi-year grant proposals
• Advocacy or lobbying efforts
• Scholarships / Fellowships / Endowments

Submit proposals electronically; printed copies of the required materials must also reach the Fund office by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline day.

Deadlines: Applications are due on April 1 and August 1 each year.

• Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 30% 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 171 grants to organisations were $95,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

• The trustees give paramount concern to Miss Peabody's philanthropic legacy and interests.
• The Board favours capital projects and purchases when the need is relevant to the community served and benefits a large area or number of people.
• The Board favours initiatives with measurable, significant and lasting impact.
• The Board looks for well-conceived, researched projects with specific outcomes, a logical plan, realistic detailed budgets and timeframes, multiple funding sources and organisational credibility.
• The requested amount should be proportionate to the project and the organisation.
• The Board looks for evidence that the organisation and its work are valued by its constituents and surrounding community.
• The Board favours well-managed organisations with good oversight and relatively low administration and other overhead expenses.
• Applicants are invited to ask questions by email before preparing a full proposal.
• For a major capital project, fundraising should be well advanced and at least 50% of the project budget committed from other sources before applying.