Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $6,000,000
- Assets: $138,000,000
- Decision Time: Varies by cycle (3 cycles annually)
- Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000
- Median Grant: $45,000
- Geographic Focus: Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts
Contact Details
Address: 89 South Street, Suite 404, Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 426-5600
Email: info@hyamsfoundation.org
Website: hyamsfoundation.org
Pre-Application Support: The foundation strongly encourages grantseekers to make contact with staff to discuss proposed projects before submitting an application.
Overview
Founded in 1921 by Boston metallurgist and engineer Godfrey M. Hyams, The Hyams Foundation is a private, independent foundation with approximately $138 million in assets and annual giving of around $6 million. The foundation's mission is to increase economic, racial, and social justice and power within working-class communities in Massachusetts, with an overarching goal of dismantling persistent, racialized economic disparities. Under the leadership of Executive Director Lisa Owens (appointed 2021), Hyams has maintained its commitment to racial justice, movement building, and systems change. The foundation is a signatory to Philanthropy's Promise, committing to allocate the majority of grantmaking dollars to marginalized communities and at least 25% to social justice strategies. In 2023, Hyams made 93 grants totaling approximately $5.98 million, ranging from $50 to $466,000.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
Core Support Grants: General operating or project support for movement base building groups, coalitions, and movement support organizations. Three grant cycles per year (winter, spring, fall). Priority given to requests with public policy and/or systems change focus. The foundation prioritizes current or previous grantees and considers only a few new applications each year.
Building Movement Infrastructure Project (BMIP): Awards mini-grants to grassroots organizations through need-specific funds. Eligible organizations must maintain active membership in one or more designated movement organizations. Includes:
- Communications Fund (communications infrastructure development)
- Executive Transitions Fund (leadership transitions)
- Hardware/Software/IT TA Fund (technology infrastructure)
- Movement Convenings Fund (meeting space rental)
- Small Capital Projects Fund (space and real estate needs)
- Political Security Fund (security training support)
Special Opportunities Fund: Provides flexibility to support a limited number of discrete, time-bound initiatives that respond to urgent community needs or catalyze action on racial equity issues in greater Boston. May not be used to address cash flow or financial emergencies of individual nonprofits.
Program-Related Investments (PRIs): Opportunities for local nonprofits focused on affordable housing and community revitalization, particularly in working-class neighborhoods.
Priority Areas
- Movement building and grassroots organizing
- Systems change and public policy advocacy
- Racial justice and equity initiatives
- Economic justice for working-class communities
- Affordable housing and community development
- Civic engagement
- Immigrant rights and services
What They Don't Fund
- Organizations without clear missions benefiting low-income and minority communities
- Organizations lacking solid organizational capacity (inactive boards, weak financial management)
- Direct service programs without systems change or advocacy components
- Organizations outside Boston and Chelsea focus areas
- Cash flow or financial emergencies (Special Opportunities Fund restriction)
Governance and Leadership
Executive Director: Lisa Owens (appointed January 2021) brings over 30 years of experience building grassroots organizations and supporting social justice movements. Previously Executive Director of City Life/Vida Urbana, a nationally recognized housing justice organization. A movement builder and popular educator, Owens has taught community organizing and nonprofit management at local universities. Upon her appointment, she stated: "I'm excited to join the Hyams team at this time of heightened political, economic, and social crisis and opportunity. I'm looking forward to working with the Hyams community of grantees, staff and board members to meet this moment, strengthen our movements and build power."
Deputy Director: David Moy (joined the Foundation in 2006)
Board Composition: The Board of Trustees and eight-person staff actively work to address racism through grantmaking. The board is majority people of color. In 2011, Marti Wilson Taylor became the first board chair of color.
Historical Leadership: Elizabeth B. Smith (Beth Smith) served as Executive Director for 26 years (1990-2016), transforming Hyams into a major proponent for racial justice and equity. Jocelyn Sargent was the first Executive Director of color (2016-2019).
Related Entity: The trustees of The Hyams Foundation also serve as trustees of the Isabel F. Hyams Fund, a public charity that devotes all its income to operations in East Boston.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
Step 1 - Initial Contact: The foundation strongly encourages grantseekers to contact staff to discuss proposed projects BEFORE beginning an application. Contact general questions to info@hyamsfoundation.org or (617) 426-5600. New applicants can submit a simple letter of interest.
Step 2 - Invitation to Apply: Based on the initial meeting or letter, staff determine whether to extend an invitation to apply. The foundation prioritizes current or previous grantees and considers only a few new applications annually.
Step 3 - Application Submission: If invited, submit a formal application. The foundation emphasizes that they care about the substance of the work, not the form of the narrative.
Application Method: Three Core Support grant cycles per year (winter, spring, fall). BMIP has its own process for member organizations.
Decision Timeline
Three grant cycles annually for Core Support grants (winter, spring, fall). Specific decision timelines not publicly disclosed but vary by grant type and cycle.
Success Rates
The foundation made 93-99 grants annually in recent years from total applications received. Exact success rates not publicly disclosed, but competition is significant for new applicants as the foundation "prioritizes support for current or previous grantees and only considers a few new applications each year."
Reapplication Policy
Not publicly specified. Contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplication after an unsuccessful submission.
Application Success Factors
Critical Alignment Factors:
- Deep commitment to racial justice and addressing racial inequities - grantee reviews emphasize "Don't even think about them unless you are very committed to both [community organizing and racial equity]"
- Focus on grassroots organizing, movement building, and systems change rather than direct services only
- Public policy advocacy and systems change components
- Clear mission benefiting low-income and minority communities in Boston/Chelsea
- Demonstrated organizational capacity including active, effective board and solid financial management practices
- Board and staff diversity (explicitly evaluated in applications)
- Democratic decision-making processes
What the Foundation Values (from grantee experiences):
- Authentic grassroots voice and authentic relationship building
- Speaking truth to power
- Organizations that continuously push boundaries on diversity issues
- Risk-taking approaches to social change
- Building genuine relationships, not just transactional funding requests
Application Approach:
- Contact foundation staff early - before writing your proposal
- Be prepared for the foundation to "push organizations on diversity and democratic decision-making"
- Focus on substance over polished presentation - "it's really about the substance of the work"
- Demonstrate alignment with working-class communities and their leadership
- Show how your work addresses systemic, racialized economic disparities
Recent Grant Examples:
- Resist: $466K for Boston Education Justice Alliance, Matahari Women Workers' Center, Reclaim Roxbury (2022)
- Community Labor United Inc: $370K for Democracy HUBs Boston Redistricting Education, New England United for Justice (2022)
- Third Sector New England Inc: $260K for Center for Support Immigrant Organizing and Voter Table Education (2022)
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Make early contact: Reach out to foundation staff before starting your application - this is strongly encouraged and helps determine fit
- Racial justice is central: The foundation only funds organizations deeply committed to racial justice and addressing racial inequities through systems change
- Current grantees prioritized: Very few new applications are considered each year, making new applicant success highly competitive
- Movement building focus: Emphasize grassroots organizing, coalition work, and advocacy over direct services
- Authenticity matters: Remain true to grassroots mission and authentic relationship building - the foundation values substance over polish
- Be prepared for rigor: Hyams consistently challenges grantees on diversity, democratic decision-making, and authentic community voice
- Geographic specificity: Must serve working-class communities specifically in Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts
- Multi-year support possible: Current grantees receive ongoing support, suggesting the value of building long-term relationships
References
- The Hyams Foundation official website: hyamsfoundation.org (accessed January 2025)
- Instrumentl 990 Report: "The Hyams Foundation Inc | Boston, MA | 990 Report" (2023 data)
- Inside Philanthropy: "Hyams Foundation | Massachusetts Grants"
- GrantAdvisor reviews: "Read & write reviews of Hyams Foundation Inc" (grantee testimonials)
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: "The Hyams Foundation Inc - Nonprofit Explorer" (EIN 46-0136680)
- Foundation Directory/Candid: "The Hyams Foundation Inc | Foundation Directory"
- National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: "Bringing community into decision-making: Hyams Foundation" (September 2018)
- Nonprofit Quarterly: "How Foundations Can Co-Create Movement Infrastructure" (Building Movement Infrastructure Project details)
- Hyams Foundation History page: hyamsfoundation.org/history/ (historical information, accessed January 2025)
- Various interviews and announcements regarding Lisa Owens' appointment (2020-2021)