← Back to US Funders Directory

Amelia Peabody Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.3M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Amelia Peabody Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,333,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $135,682,150 (2023)
  • Average Grant: ~$40,000
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $100,000+
  • Decision Time: 3 months from deadline
  • Number of Awards: 158 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (strong preference for areas outside Greater Boston)
  • Application Cycles: 3 per year (February, May, September)

Contact Details

Address: 10 S Main St Unit 103, Topsfield, MA 01983

Phone: 781-237-6468

Fax: 781-237-5014

Website: www.ameliapeabody.org

Online Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=ameliapeabody

Overview

Founded in 1942, the Amelia Peabody Foundation is a private foundation with a clear mission: "to increase the positive learning experiences available to materially disadvantaged young people living in Massachusetts." With total assets of $135.7 million and annual giving of $6.3 million across 158 grants in 2023, the foundation provides critical support to nonprofit organizations working with disadvantaged youth and families across the Commonwealth.

The foundation takes its name and approach seriously, guided by founder Amelia Peabody's philosophy: "If I ever do take up a charity, I intend to do it, and not half do it." This commitment manifests in the foundation's focus on building relationships with nonprofit organizations and providing flexible funding with a bias toward capacity building. The trustees have increasingly prioritized funding organizations that support kids and families outside of Greater Boston, particularly in parts of the state where there is more limited access to other philanthropic support, including gateway cities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers three types of grants:

  1. General Operating Grants: $15,000 - $50,000 (typically one year)

    • Support for day-to-day operations of qualifying organizations
    • Flexible use of funds for organizational needs

  2. Programmatic Grants: $15,000 - $50,000 (typically one year)

    • Support for specific programs in youth development or family stabilization
    • Focus on measurable outcomes and community impact

  3. Capital Grants: $50,000 - $100,000+ (up to three years)

    • Facility and technology improvements
    • Projects that expand capacity or reach

The foundation currently has three specific priority areas for capital funds:

  • Increasing access to childcare for low-income families
  • Increasing access to healthcare through community health centers or other community-based interventions
  • Creating shelter/affordable housing

Priority Areas

Youth Development: Pre-school through secondary education enrichment programs, including:

  • Out-of-school time and sport programs
  • Charter schools
  • Youth centers
  • YMCAs and YWCAs
  • Boys & Girls Clubs
  • Education persistence and enrichment programs
  • Mentoring and youth guidance

Family Stabilization: Programs addressing critical family needs, including:

  • Homelessness and affordable housing
  • Food insecurity
  • Workforce development training programs
  • Work preparedness programs

Preferred Organizational Types: Neighborhood and community centers, youth centers, charter schools, out-of-school time and sport programs, YMCAs and YWCAs, and Boys & Girls Clubs.

Geographical Priority: While all grants must support work in Massachusetts, the foundation increasingly prioritizes funding organizations outside Greater Boston, particularly in under-resourced communities and gateway cities where philanthropic support is more limited.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not fund:

  • Grants directly to individuals
  • Vehicles
  • Promotional videos
  • Conferences
  • Endowments
  • Independent research
  • Advertisements
  • Sponsorships for events
  • Fundraising events
  • Lobbying activities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees organized into Executive, Investment, and Grantmaking Committees:

Executive Committee:

  • Joseph E. Kelly
  • Vincent J. Marturano

Investment Committee:

  • Margaret N. St. Clair
  • David H. Carlson (also serves on Grantmaking Committee)

Grantmaking Committee:

  • David H. Carlson
  • Michael D. Weekes

The trustees meet three times per year to review and approve grant applications, and will only consider one grant application per organization per calendar year.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications through an online portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=ameliapeabody.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must have IRS 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination
  • Must have a Massachusetts address
  • Charitable work must be carried out in Massachusetts
  • Only one application per organization per calendar year

Application Availability: Applications become available two months before each deadline.

Application Deadlines for 2026:

  • February 3, 2026 (decisions in May 2026)
  • May 12, 2026 (decisions in September 2026)
  • September 1, 2026 (decisions in December 2026)

Pre-Application Support: The foundation offers a limited number of pre-application submission sessions to answer questions specifically related to fit or scope of a potential application.

Decision Timeline

The grant review process follows these steps:

  1. Initial Screening: Applications are reviewed for completeness. Incomplete applications will be contacted to submit missing information.

  2. Assessment: Once complete, applications are evaluated based on the foundation's priority areas and goals by the grantmaking team.

  3. Site Visits: Some applicants may be contacted for additional information or site visits, though not all applications require this.

  4. Trustee Review: Grant proposals are approved or declined at one of three yearly grant meetings of the trustees.

  5. Notification: Applicants receive notification of the decision via email usually within three months of the application deadline.

Total Timeline: Approximately 3 months from application deadline to notification.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may reapply to the foundation, but with specific restrictions:

  • Must wait until the same grant cycle the following year to reapply
  • No new funding is released until previous grant reports are filed and approved
  • Organizations must ensure all previous grant conditions are met before reapplying

Reporting Requirements

Grant recipients must submit:

  • Narrative report at end of grant term
  • Financial report at end of grant term
  • Reports submitted through the foundation's online grantmaking portal

Application Success Factors

The Amelia Peabody Foundation receives many more applications than it can fund in each cycle, making selectivity a key factor. Based on the foundation's own guidance, here are the factors that distinguish successful applications:

Strong Leadership and Staffing

The foundation explicitly states that "the people who lead and staff the organization are most instrumental in bringing about positive changes in the lives of youth and families." They look for:

  • Experienced, qualified staff
  • Organizations that employ members of the communities they serve
  • Evidence of strong organizational leadership

Geographic and Community Focus

Applications are strengthened by:

  • Serving communities outside Greater Boston
  • Working in under-resourced communities, including gateway cities
  • Operating in areas with limited access to other philanthropic support
  • Serving low-income youth and families

Leveraging Impact

The foundation values:

  • Projects that help leverage additional funding from other sources
  • Grants that take an organization to a new level of operations
  • Capacity-building initiatives

Application Quality

The foundation provides clear guidance about what they want to see:

  • Be specific: Clearly explain the organization, proposed project, implementation plan, and target beneficiaries
  • Be concise: Do NOT include letters of support, lengthy program descriptions, extensive organizational histories, publicity materials, or brochures
  • Right-size the request: Grant amount should match proposal requirements and organizational capacity
  • Check your fit: Ensure organizational alignment with foundation priorities before applying

Focus on Mission Alignment

The foundation has a "strong history of supporting programs for low-income youth from under-resourced communities" and has expanded to include family stabilization, workforce development, food insecurity, and other stabilizing supports for families. Applications should demonstrate clear alignment with these priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic advantage: Organizations serving communities outside Greater Boston, particularly in gateway cities and under-resourced areas, have a strategic advantage in the competitive application process.

  • One shot per year: With only one application allowed per organization per calendar year, ensure your proposal is complete, well-aligned, and properly timed before submitting.

  • Keep it focused and concise: The foundation explicitly discourages lengthy background materials. Focus on clearly explaining your organization, project, implementation, and beneficiaries without excessive documentation.

  • Three-month decision window: Plan your organizational cash flow and project timelines around the three-month review period from deadline to notification.

  • Leadership matters: The foundation evaluates organizational leadership and staff quality as instrumental factors. Highlight your team's experience and community connections.

  • Leverage and capacity-building: Projects that help secure additional funding or significantly expand organizational capacity are particularly attractive for larger grants in the $50,000+ range.

  • Complete previous obligations first: Before reapplying, ensure all previous grant reports are filed and approved. The foundation will not release new funding until this is done.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory