Summer Isle Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $600,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $100,000 - $500,000
• Geographic Focus: Massachusetts and New England region
• Total Assets: $37+ million (2024)

Contact Details

The Summer Isle Foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information. The foundation is based in South Hamilton, Massachusetts (mailing address listed as Woburn, MA).

EIN: 81-3882939

Contact information may be available through IRS Form 990-PF filings on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer.

Overview

The Summer Isle Foundation was established in 2017 as a Massachusetts private foundation (501(c)(3) status granted February 2017). Led by trustees Steven W. Barnes and Deborah A. Barnes, the foundation has grown significantly since its inception, with total assets reaching $37 million and annual charitable disbursements of $650,000 as of 2024. The foundation's grantmaking has steadily increased from $100,000 in 2018 to over $600,000 annually in recent years.

The foundation primarily supports education and healthcare organizations, with a focus on institutions in Massachusetts and New England. Based on recent grant recipients, the foundation appears to favor established institutions with which the trustees have personal connections. Steven W. Barnes is a senior advisor at Bain Capital and former chairman of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as a Syracuse University Board of Trustees member, which informs the foundation's philanthropic approach.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Summer Isle Foundation does not maintain formal grant programs or publicly announced funding categories. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees.

Recent Grant Activity (2023):

• Lawrence Academy (Groton, MA): $500,000 - to promote its charitable purpose
• Boston Children's Hospital: $100,000 - to promote its charitable purpose

Other Known Recipients:

• We Charity
• Rhode Island Hospital Foundation

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants, the foundation supports:

• Education: Independent schools and educational institutions (particularly secondary education)
• Healthcare: Children's hospitals and medical institutions
• Youth Development: Organizations serving young people

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are published. However, the foundation's small number of grants (typically 2 per year) and pattern of supporting established institutions suggests they do not fund:

• Individual applicants or scholarships
• Small grassroots organizations
• International programs
• General operating support for organizations outside their established relationship network

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Steven W. Barnes: Senior Advisor at Bain Capital, former chairman of Bain Capital's Global Private Equity Business. Former chairman of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, member of the trust board of Boston Children's Hospital, and former chairman of Syracuse University Board of Trustees. Joined Bain in 1988.
• Deborah A. Barnes: Co-trustee and philanthropic partner in the Barnes family's giving initiatives.

The Barnes family has a strong history of philanthropy, including major gifts to Syracuse University (the Barnes Center at The Arch, the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, and the Barnes Professorship in Entrepreneurship).

Neither trustee receives compensation for their service to the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Summer Isle Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, typically to organizations with which they have established relationships.

The foundation made only 2 grants in 2023, indicating a highly selective and relationship-based approach to grantmaking. Unsolicited proposals are not actively solicited, and there is no application portal, guidelines, or deadline information publicly available.

Getting on Their Radar

Given Steven W. Barnes's background and the foundation's grant history, organizations may increase their visibility by:

• Board-level connections: The foundation's trustees serve on multiple nonprofit boards. Organizations where Barnes family members serve as trustees or board members include Boston Children's Hospital, Syracuse University, MV Youth, and Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County. Relationships through these boards may provide introduction opportunities.

• Shared institutional networks: The foundation supports institutions with which the Barnes family has long-standing relationships, particularly in the Massachusetts education and healthcare sectors. Lawrence Academy received significant support ($500,000), and Steven Barnes has served on the board of Boston Children's Hospital.

• Private equity and business networks: Through Bain Capital connections, the foundation may become aware of organizations supported by the private equity community in Massachusetts and New England.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Given the small number of grants made annually (typically 2), decisions appear to be made on an as-needed basis rather than according to a fixed calendar.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information and closed application process, success factors are inferred from grant patterns:

• Pre-existing relationship with trustees: All documented grants have been to organizations with which the Barnes family has documented connections - either through board service, personal involvement, or institutional relationships.

• Established institutional reputation: The foundation supports well-known, established institutions rather than emerging organizations. Lawrence Academy (founded 1792) and Boston Children's Hospital are both highly regarded New England institutions.

• Education and healthcare focus: The two primary sectors receiving grants align with Steven Barnes's philanthropic involvement, including his board service at educational institutions and Boston Children's Hospital.

• Significant impact opportunities: Grant amounts are substantial ($100,000-$500,000), suggesting the foundation seeks opportunities for meaningful impact rather than spreading resources across many smaller grants.

• Massachusetts/New England connection: All known grant recipients are based in Massachusetts or the broader New England region, reflecting the trustees' geographic focus.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation operates on an invitation-only basis without a public application process - unsolicited proposals are unlikely to be reviewed
• The foundation makes very few grants annually (typically 2), with large grant amounts ($100,000-$500,000)
• Personal relationships with the trustees, particularly through board service or institutional connections, appear essential for funding consideration
• The foundation strongly favors education (particularly independent schools) and healthcare institutions in Massachusetts and New England
• Steven Barnes's background in private equity and nonprofit board leadership influences funding decisions
• Organizations should focus on building authentic relationships with the trustees through shared networks rather than submitting cold applications
• The foundation has grown significantly since 2017 and may expand its grantmaking portfolio over time, though it maintains a highly selective approach

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Summer Isle Foundation (EIN 81-3882939) https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813882939 Accessed: January 16, 2026

2. GrantExec - The Summer Isle Foundation https://grantexec.com/foundations/813882939 Accessed: January 16, 2026

3. Syracuse University Whitman School of Management - Steven '82, H'19 and Deborah Barnes Profile https://whitman.syracuse.edu/about/newsroom/whitman-profiles/profile-detail/steven-'82--h'19-and-deborah-barnes Accessed: January 16, 2026

4. Syracuse University Leadership - Steven W. Barnes https://www.syracuse.edu/about/leadership-administration/board-of-trustees/officers/steven-w-barnes/ Accessed: January 16, 2026

5. Bain Capital - Steven Barnes https://www.baincapital.com/people/steven-barnes Accessed: January 16, 2026

6. Lawrence Academy (Groton, Massachusetts) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Academy_(Groton,_Massachusetts) Accessed: January 16, 2026

7. New Profit - TFA Founder Kopp & Bain's Barnes Join New Profit's Board https://newprofit.org/impact-story/tfa-founder-kopp-bains-barnes-join-new-profits-board-walker-becomes-chairmain/ Accessed: January 16, 2026