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Cecile Higginson Murphy Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.2M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,227,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only/trustee discretion)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Massachusetts, with some giving in other states (CA, TN, CT, NC, VA, OH, WA)
  • Total Assets: $55,277,073 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 961019, Boston, MA 02196-1019
Phone: (617) 248-4760
Administrative Office: c/o Choate Hall & Stewart LLP
No public website available

Overview

The Cecile Higginson Murphy Charitable Foundation was established in 1999 and granted tax-exempt status by the IRS in May of that year. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, this private foundation has grown significantly from $4.4 million in assets in 2012 to over $55 million in 2024. The foundation makes grants primarily to organizations in Massachusetts and select other states, with annual giving of approximately $2.2 million distributed across 14-29 grants per year. The foundation is managed by two trustees and operates without paid staff. Recent grant recipients include major Boston-area institutions such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra ($500,000), Cradles to Crayons ($200,000), and The Women's Lunch Place ($200,000). The foundation has a particular focus on supporting a South Shore natural science center, along with education, human services, and arts organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking with no formal application cycles or deadlines. Grant amounts range significantly:

  • Major institutional grants: $200,000 - $500,000
  • Mid-range grants: $10,000 - $100,000
  • Smaller grants: $1,000 - $10,000

Priority Areas

Based on documented grant recipients and IRS filings, the foundation supports:

  • Environmental/Science Education: Particularly South Shore natural science centers and outdoor education programs
  • Arts & Culture: Major support for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops (including the Cecile Higginson Murphy Pops Programming Fund)
  • Human Services: Organizations serving vulnerable populations including homeless services
  • Youth & Family Services: Children's charities and family support organizations
  • Education: Various educational institutions and programs

Geographic Focus

  • Primary focus: Greater Boston and South Shore, Massachusetts
  • Secondary giving: Other states including California, Tennessee, Connecticut, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, and Washington

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are documented, but the foundation's giving pattern suggests:

  • Limited giving outside Massachusetts
  • Focus on established institutions rather than startup organizations
  • No evidence of international grantmaking

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Charles A. Cheever
  • Kristin T. Abati

The foundation operates with no paid staff and is administered through the Boston law firm Choate Hall & Stewart LLP. The trustees exercise discretion over all grantmaking decisions. No officer compensation is reported in IRS filings, indicating a volunteer governance structure typical of family foundations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation makes grants based on trustee discretion and identification. There is no online application portal, no published grant guidelines, and no open calls for proposals.

Grants appear to be awarded to:

  • Organizations with existing relationships to the trustees or foundation
  • Established institutions in the Boston area
  • Organizations identified through the trustees' networks and philanthropic interests

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded at the discretion of trustees rather than through competitive application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of their giving patterns reveals:

Documented Grant Recipients Include:

  • Boston Symphony Orchestra - $500,000 (supporting new arrangements and works for Boston Pops)
  • Cradles to Crayons - $200,000 (children's charity providing essentials)
  • The Women's Lunch Place - $200,000 (supporting homeless women)
  • South Shore natural science center (major ongoing support)

Giving Patterns:

  • Strong preference for Boston-area institutions
  • Long-term relationships with major cultural institutions
  • Support for organizations serving vulnerable populations
  • Significant gifts to environmental education
  • Range from very large institutional grants to smaller community organization support

Trustee Interests: The foundation's support for the Boston Symphony Orchestra's programming (including a named fund) and environmental education suggests these areas are of particular importance to the trustees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications
  • Relationship-based giving: Grants appear to flow from existing trustee relationships and networks
  • Significant giving capacity: With $55M in assets and $2.2M in annual giving, this is a substantial local funder
  • Boston-focused: Geographic giving strongly favors Greater Boston and South Shore Massachusetts
  • Diverse interests: While concentrated in arts, environment, and human services, grants span multiple sectors
  • Major institutional support: Comfortable making very large grants ($200K-$500K) to established organizations
  • Long-term commitments: Evidence of ongoing support (e.g., named fund at Boston Pops suggests multi-year engagement)

References

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