Whitehead Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,245,000 (2025)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: N/A (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $150,000
• Geographic Focus: Massachusetts, District of Columbia, New York, and select other states

Contact Details

No public contact information available for grant inquiries as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Whitehead Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Lenox, Massachusetts, with total assets of approximately $48.9 million as of 2025. The foundation distributed $2,245,000 in grants during 2025 and operates as an invitation-only funder, working exclusively with preselected charitable organizations. The foundation has maintained consistent giving patterns, awarding 62 grants in 2025, 62 in 2024, 65 in 2023, and 66 in 2022. With significant revenue from investment income and asset sales ($7.97 million in 2025), the foundation maintains a strategic approach to philanthropy focused on education, human services, and community support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Support Grants: $1,000 - $150,000 (invitation-only to preselected organizations)
• Application Method: No public application process; grants made at trustee discretion

Priority Areas

• Education
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
• Human Services
• Community Development

Geographic Distribution

Primary focus areas include:

• Massachusetts
• District of Columbia
• New York
• Additional states served: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota

Governance and Leadership

Key Officers (all serving without compensation):

• J. Gregory Whitehead - President, Director
• Timothy P. Maloney - Treasurer, Director
• Susan Ginsburg - Vice President, Director
• Lillian Lennox Whitehead - Secretary, Director

The foundation operates with a lean governance structure and all officers serve on a volunteer basis, ensuring maximum funds are directed toward charitable purposes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Whitehead Foundation Inc only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations they have identified and vetted.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - organizations are preselected by trustees

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application strategies do not apply. Organizations that align with the foundation's focus areas of education, human services, and community development in Massachusetts, District of Columbia, and New York may be considered for future support if identified by the trustees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Whitehead Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited grant applications or proposals • All grant recipients are preselected by the foundation's trustees • The foundation has significant assets ($48.9 million) and maintains consistent annual giving around $2.2 million • Grant sizes typically range from $1,000 to $150,000 • Geographic focus is primarily Massachusetts, District of Columbia, and New York • The foundation supports education, human services, and philanthropic initiatives • With 60+ grants awarded annually, the foundation maintains an active but closed grant-making program

References

• Instrumentl 990 Report Database - Whitehead Foundation Inc profile (accessed February 2024)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Whitehead Foundation Inc (EIN: 474303914) (accessed February 2024)
• Grantmakers.io Profile - Whitehead Foundation Inc (accessed February 2024)
• IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022-2024)