The Devonshire Foundation Inc.

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$3.0–$3.5 million (most recent filings show $2,970,575 in 2024 and $3,276,439 in 2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified; relationship-driven process with no fixed deadlines
• Grant Range: $500 – $300,000+ (multi-year capacity-building grants typical)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily metro Boston; occasionally New England; does not fund outside New England

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Contact Details

• Website: www.thedevonshirefoundation.org
• Email: info@thedevonshirefoundation.org
• Address: 75 Federal Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02110
• Pre-application contact: Send 1–2 paragraphs about your organisation and its potential for growth to the email above

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Overview

The Devonshire Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation established in Boston, Massachusetts, with tax-exempt status dating to June 1951. Originally created to allow the Howland family to make charitable donations, the foundation has evolved into a strategically focused grant-making institution with total assets of approximately $37 million. Annual charitable disbursements have ranged between $2.9 million and $3.5 million in recent years, with 40–61 grants awarded per year.

The foundation's mission is to "create measurable and sustainable impact by supporting ready-for-growth programs addressing social and environmental issues." Its defining feature is a capacity-building philosophy: rather than providing one-off gifts, Devonshire funds multi-year partnerships that help organisations hire staff, increase fundraising capacity, expand reach, and build long-term financial sustainability. Grants are awarded across three issue areas — Youth (63%), Environmental Sustainability (23%), and Nonprofit Sector Impact (14%) — with a strong preference for organisations in the greater Boston metropolitan area.

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Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Devonshire does not operate named grant streams with separate application cycles. Instead, it awards capacity-building grants under a single, relationship-driven model across its three priority areas. Grant structures include:

• Multi-year Capacity Building Grants: Typically 3–5 years in duration; support staff hires (development, operations, programme), fundraising infrastructure, pilot programmes, and earned revenue development. The foundation describes these as its core instrument. Example: $728,000 over multiple years to Tech Goes Home to expand development and earned revenue teams.
• Challenge / Matching Grants: Used selectively to help grantees leverage additional funds. Example: $25,000 match challenge extended to the Social Innovation Forum.
• Introductory Grants: Shorter-term, one-year awards made to new relationships before committing to longer-term partnerships.
• General Operating Grants: Offered in limited cases; not the primary funding vehicle.

The foundation has stated it aims to represent no more than 10% of a grantee's total budget.

Priority Areas

Youth (63% of giving)

• Programs serving economically disadvantaged children and young adults in metro Boston
• Direct service programmes (not primarily advocacy-focused)
• Organisations demonstrating measurable outcomes for young people
• Examples: Science Club for Girls, Roca (Young Mothers Program), Coaching for Change, Crossroads for Kids, Chica Project, Fathers' Uplift, Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

Environmental Sustainability (23% of giving)

• Environmental sustainability and justice organisations in New England
• Capacity building for organisations with community-facing environmental programmes
• Examples: Boston Food Forest Coalition, Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, GreenRoots Inc., Bikes Not Bombs, Manomet

Nonprofit Sector Impact (14% of giving)

• Organisations strengthening the broader nonprofit ecosystem in Eastern Massachusetts
• Examples: Social Innovation Forum, College for Social Innovation, WBUR, Tech Goes Home

What They Don't Fund

• Policy advocacy organisations (strong preference for direct service)
• Bricks-and-mortar capital projects
• Scholarships or hardship grants
• Operating foundations
• Organisations outside New England
• Organisations with budgets below $500,000 or above $4,000,000
• Organisations less than two years old
• Organisations without a full-time, paid Executive Director

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Governance and Leadership

Staff

Kate Grundy — Executive Director Joined the foundation in 2014. Also serves as Vice President of Foundation Services at Howland Capital Management, working with families and charitable foundation clients across a range of philanthropic needs. Prior to this role, she was a consultant with the Social Innovation Forum and worked with Rosie's Place. She holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College and an MBA from Yale School of Management, and serves on the board of Philanthropy Massachusetts. Kate has spoken publicly on capacity building at Philanthropy Massachusetts events and participated in climate justice panels hosted by the Barr Foundation and the Social Innovation Forum. On the $728,000 Tech Goes Home grant, she stated: "The Devonshire Foundation is proud to provide this grant to support Tech Goes Home's critical work towards closing the digital divide in Massachusetts."

Kayla Wiggin — Grants Manager Joined in 2019. Manages information systems and supports long-term grantee projects. Previously held roles at Santander Bank and Tufts Health Plan Foundation. Holds a Bachelor's in Government and Sociology from Harvard University. She is described by grantee partners as an "impactful funder and thoughtful partner" who actively participates in sector events, including Social Innovation Forum programming.

Board of Trustees

Tony Howland (Weston Howland III) — Trustee and Board President Chairman and CEO of Howland Capital Management, which administers the foundation. Son of founders Dusty and Melita Howland. Serves on the boards of the Social Innovation Forum, YouthConnect, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, and Manomet. Recognised as Fenn School's 2023 Distinguished Alumnus. All board members serve without compensation.

Charlie Clapp (Charles E. Clapp III) — Trustee and Board Treasurer President of Howland Capital Management. Olympic silver medallist (1984). Serves on the National Advisors Trust Company board.

Susan Davidson — Trustee (joined 2022) Daughter of founders Dusty and Melita Howland. Founded Westchester Senior Home Care. Holds a BA and MSW from Smith College.

Jennifer Geyer — Trustee (joined 2023) Business Consultant at Workability. Volunteer with RAINN sexual assault hotline.

Kit Howland — Trustee (joined 2023) Designer and fabricator of sculptural furniture and home goods. Holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design.

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Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Devonshire Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and has no open application process. The foundation identifies potential grantees through its network of nonprofit sector partners — most notably the Social Innovation Forum — and relies on trusted intermediaries and peer referrals to surface organisations that align with its priorities.

However, organisations interested in funding are explicitly invited to make initial contact. The foundation's website states that if an organisation believes it aligns with Devonshire's mission, it should:

Contact the foundation with 1–2 paragraphs about your organisation and its potential for growth.

This is the only formal intake mechanism. Send this to: info@thedevonshirefoundation.org

Eligibility checklist before reaching out:

• Annual organisational budget between $500,000 and $4,000,000
• At least two years old
• Full-time, paid Executive Director in post
• Identified metrics to track outcomes and impact
• A strategic plan or documented multi-year growth path
• Based in New England (primarily greater Boston for youth and impact; wider New England for environment)
• Direct service focus (not primarily advocacy)

If there is interest, the foundation moves into a collaborative, iterative proposal development process in which it works closely with the applicant to shape the grant scope and growth plan.

Getting on Their Radar

The following funder-specific intelligence is relevant to organisations seeking a pathway to Devonshire funding:

• Social Innovation Forum (SIF) is the single most important pipeline: Tony Howland chairs SIF's board, Kate Grundy previously worked for SIF, and Kayla Wiggin participates actively in SIF events. The foundation has been an SIF funder for over nine years. Organisations accepted into SIF's Social Innovator Accelerator or affiliated programmes have a documented track record of receiving Devonshire attention. SIF annually selects eight organisations from over 150 applicants for its accelerator.
• Philanthropy Massachusetts: Kate Grundy serves on the Philanthropy Massachusetts board and has presented at its "Meet-the-Donors: Capacity Building" events. These events are a direct point of contact with the Executive Director in a sector learning context.
• Climate justice convenings: Kate Grundy has participated in climate justice panels co-hosted by the Barr Foundation and the Social Innovation Forum. Environmental organisations in New England attending or presenting at these events gain visibility with Devonshire staff.
• Trusted intermediaries: The foundation explicitly relies on its "network of nonprofit sector partners" for referrals. A warm introduction from an existing Devonshire grantee or SIF-affiliated organisation is likely to carry significant weight.

Decision Timeline

No fixed deadlines or formal decision timelines are published. The process is relationship-driven and iterative. Multi-year grants suggest that once a grantee relationship is established, engagement is sustained for 3–5 years at minimum.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation makes approximately 40–53 grants per year from a pool identified through its own network rather than open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not formally published. Given the foundation's multi-year grant model, existing grantees are expected to reach financial sustainability by the end of their grant term. The foundation has stated that it does not intend to become "annual general operating donors when the grant period ends," implying a structured off-boarding of grantees after the multi-year period concludes.

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Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's published guidelines, public statements, and grantee profiles, the following factors appear most predictive of success:

1. Organisational size and growth-readiness are paramount Devonshire targets a specific organisational "sweet spot": budgets between $500,000 and $4 million, with at least two years of operating history, a full-time paid Executive Director, and a documented growth plan. Organisations outside this band are not eligible, regardless of mission alignment.

2. Capacity building must be the funding need — not programme delivery The foundation funds organisational infrastructure: staff hires, fundraising development, earned revenue mechanisms, data systems. Proposals framed around programme expansion only — without a clear organisational growth dimension — are unlikely to fit. Grantees consistently describe grant outcomes in terms of fundraising targets (e.g., "increase fundraising by 25%", "increase fundraising revenue by 50%") and staff capacity (e.g., "Director of Development hire").

3. Measurable impact on a systemic social issue is required The foundation looks for organisations that can identify the systemic issue they address and demonstrate measurable progress. Organisations should have established outcome metrics before approaching the foundation — not plan to develop them with grant funding.

4. The foundation's 10% budget rule matters Because the foundation aims to represent no more than 10% of a grantee's budget, the grant size is directly tied to organisational scale. An organisation with a $1 million budget should expect a grant of no more than approximately $100,000 per year. This also means organisations with very small budgets (under $500,000) will not receive meaningful multi-year investment.

5. Collaborative engagement signals The foundation explicitly seeks organisations that are "open to collaborate and engage at a deep level." Grantee profiles consistently mention iterative proposal development with foundation staff. Organisations that present a fixed, non-negotiable ask are likely to be deprioritised over those willing to co-develop the grant scope.

6. Direct service — not advocacy The foundation states a strong preference for direct service programmes over policy advocacy. Organisations primarily engaged in systems-change or advocacy work should not be a priority focus, even if youth or environment-focused.

7. New England geography is a hard filter for most grants Youth and impact grants are concentrated in metro Boston. Environmental grants may extend more broadly in New England, but the foundation explicitly states it does not fund outside New England.

8. Recent funded examples for framing

• Tech Goes Home: Framed their ask around expansion of development and earned revenue teams to increase fundraising income and long-term financial self-sufficiency. Received $728,000.
• Roca: Multi-year capacity building grant for the Young Mothers Programme, with intensive services for high-risk young mothers.
• Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition: Three-year grant for programme, operations, and development staff hires; target of 25% fundraising increase.
• Bikes Not Bombs: Capacity building to double youth served by increasing staff capacity.
• Coaching for Change: Director of Development hire plus Learning Management System; target of 50% fundraising revenue increase.

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Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• There is no open application: Entry depends on network relationships, most importantly through the Social Innovation Forum. Invest in SIF's accelerator process or other Philanthropy Massachusetts convenings to gain visibility with foundation staff.
• The 1–2 paragraph inquiry email is the only formal entry point: Keep it short, focused on organisational growth potential and mission alignment. Do not send a full proposal unsolicited.
• Eligibility is tightly defined: Budget between $500,000–$4 million, 2+ years old, paid full-time ED, existing outcome metrics, and a strategic growth plan. Confirm all boxes are ticked before making contact.
• Capacity building is the pitch, not programme delivery: Frame your ask around what organisational infrastructure investment will enable — specifically around staff, fundraising, and earned revenue growth — with quantified targets.
• Multi-year funding is the norm: Position your request as a 3–5 year partnership that will lead to measurable growth and reduced dependence on any single funder. The foundation wants grantees to become more financially sustainable, not more Devonshire-dependent.
• The 10% rule caps your ask: Expect no more than approximately 10% of your annual budget per year. Larger grants (such as the $728,000 to Tech Goes Home) are tied to larger or growing organisations.
• Direct service organisations are favoured: If advocacy is a significant part of your work, emphasise the direct service dimensions of your programmes to align with the foundation's stated preferences.

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References

1. The Devonshire Foundation — Official Website: https://www.thedevonshirefoundation.org — Homepage, About Us, Grant Guidelines, Grantees, The Funding Process, Our Team pages. Accessed February 2026.

2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — The Devonshire Foundation Inc.: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46004808 — 990-PF filings (2009–2024); financial data including total assets ($37,016,295), charitable disbursements ($3,491,666 in most recent year), leadership. Accessed February 2026.

3. Instrumentl — 990 Report, The Devonshire Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/devonshire-foundation-co-howland-capital — Grant count data (53 awards in 2022; 41 in 2023; 40 in 2024), grant range ($500–$300,000), annual giving ($2,970,575). Accessed February 2026.

4. CauseIQ — The Devonshire Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-devonshire-foundation,046004808/ — Organisational classification, EIN confirmation, financial overview. Accessed February 2026.

5. Charity Navigator — The Devonshire Foundation Inc.: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/046004808 — Organisational details, IRS ruling year (1951), address confirmation. Accessed February 2026.

6. Social Innovation Forum — "The Devonshire Foundation Extends a $25,000 Match Challenge": https://socialinnovationforum.org/blog/devonshire-foundation-extends-25000-match-challenge-social-innovation-forum — Details on match challenge grant and nine-year partnership with SIF. Accessed February 2026.

7. Social Innovation Forum — "Celebrating SIF Funders' Proactive Response to COVID-19": https://socialinnovationforum.org/blog/celebrating-sif-funders-proactive-response-covid-19 — Kayla Wiggin described as "impactful funder and thoughtful partner". Accessed February 2026.

8. Tech Goes Home — "TGH Receives Major Grant from The Devonshire Foundation": https://newtechgoeshome.org/2023/03/16/tech-goes-home-receives-major-grant-from-the-devonshire-foundation/ — $728,000 grant details; Kate Grundy quote. Accessed February 2026. (Note: Page returned 404 on direct fetch; details confirmed via web search summary.)

9. Fenn School Alumni Awards — Tony Howland 2023 Distinguished Alumnus: https://www.fenn.org/alumni/alumni-awards — Leadership background on Weston "Tony" Howland III. Accessed February 2026.

10. Grantmakers.io — Devonshire Foundation Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/046004808-devonshire-foundation/ — 990-PF data, geographic giving patterns, NTEE classification (T20). Accessed February 2026.

11. Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition — Funder Spotlight: Kayla Wiggin: https://www.mattapanfoodandfit.org/post/funder-spotlight-kayla-wiggin-of-the-devonshire-foundation — Grants Manager profile and sector engagement. Accessed February 2026.