Amelia Peabody Foundation
The Amelia Peabody Foundation is a private foundation based in Topsfield, Massachusetts. It supports Massachusetts nonprofit organizations whose work enhances community vitality and strengthens the lives of children and families, with a particular focus on youth and families in under-resourced communities.
Amelia Peabody Foundation at a glance
In short: Amelia Peabody Foundation gave $8.7M across 152 grants in 2024 (avg $57K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,677,334
- +35.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 152
- -3.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $57,088
- +40.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $165,467,815
- +22.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Amelia Peabody Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s website provides application materials and instructions. Applications are reviewed after each deadline; early submissions receive no priority. The Foundation states that it receives more requests than it can fund.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 application deadlines are February 3, May 12, and September 1.
- Deadline
- The 2026 application deadlines are February 3, May 12, and September 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Joseph Kelly
Mailing address: 10 S Main Street Unit 103, Topsfield, MA 01983
Phone: (781) 237-6468
Email: jkelly@ameliapeabody.org
Website: https://ameliapeabody.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Amelia Peabody Foundation
Who Amelia Peabody Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Family Aid Boston Inc ($667K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
685 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 430 grants of 685 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds charitable work carried out in Massachusetts, and all of its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts. It has a special concern for programs operating across the Commonwealth, primarily outside Greater Boston. Trustees increasingly prioritize organizations serving communities outside Greater Boston, particularly areas with more limited access to philanthropic support.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 152 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Amelia Peabody Foundation gives
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.3M (2020) to $8.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 152 grants totaling $8.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Family Aid Boston Inc Boston, MA | General | $500,000 |
| Friendly House Inc Worcester, MA | General | $500,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell Lowell, MA | Believe & Become Capital Campaign | $360,000 |
| Argosy Collegiate Charter School Foundation Fall River, MA | Middle School Capital Project | $250,000 |
| Friendly House Inc Worcester, MA | General | $166,667 |
| Family Aid Boston Inc Boston, MA | General | $166,667 |
| Chicopee Boys & Girls Club Inc Chicopee, MA | General | $150,000 |
| African Community Education Program Inc Worcester, MA | ACE Building Renovations | $150,000 |
| Mujeres Unidas Avanzando Dorchester, MA | General | $125,000 |
| Friends of Libertas Academy Charter School Inc Springfield, MA | General | $125,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $165,467,815 | $40,912,971 | $11,579,384 | $8,677,334 | 152 | $9,684,420 | $39,044,682 | $8,927,439 |
| 2023 | $135,682,150 | $7,649,417 | $10,869,158 | $6,383,000 | 157 | $8,514,077 | $4,933,129 | $8,789,051 |
| 2022 | $138,892,222 | $7,798,601 | $11,299,093 | $8,058,700 | 191 | $9,140,400 | $4,677,164 | $9,203,935 |
| 2021 | $142,407,971 | $16,470,894 | $11,884,438 | $8,638,800 | 184 | $9,777,264 | $13,881,180 | $9,523,035 |
| 2020 | $137,864,233 | $5,564,295 | $10,120,154 | $6,284,000 | 1 | — | $2,706,363 | $8,390,034 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Amelia Peabody Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to support charitable organizations across Massachusetts and extend the positive social impact of Amelia Peabody’s philanthropic legacy. Its grants support programs and services for youth and families, especially those from under-resourced communities.
Its youth development focus includes preschool through secondary education enrichment. Family stabilization grants focus on homelessness, food insecurity, and workforce development. For capital funding, the Foundation identifies priorities of increasing childcare access for low-income families, expanding access to healthcare through community health centers or other community-based interventions, and creating shelter or affordable housing.
The Foundation supports Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) organizations. Examples of grantees include Friendly House, whose mission is to promote the educational, social, and family betterment of Worcester residents and provide coordinated neighborhood services; Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, which aims to help young people realize their potential; and African Community Education Program, which provides transitional education support to immigrants and refugees of African origin.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation awarded 152 grants totaling $8,677,334. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median of $40,000. Grants can support general operations, programs, or capital projects; sponsorships for events are not considered.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $500,000 to Family Aid Boston and $500,000 to Friendly House; $360,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell for its Believe & Become Capital Campaign; and $250,000 to Argosy Collegiate Charter School Foundation for its Middle School Capital Project. Other awards included $150,000 to African Community Education Program for building renovations and $125,000 to Youth Development Organization for operations.
Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s grant application platform. Applicants need an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter with a Massachusetts address, and requests must be for charitable work in Massachusetts. The Foundation advises applicants to clearly describe their organization, proposed work, approach, and intended beneficiaries. It does not fund requests for vehicles, promotional videos, conferences, endowments, independent research, seed money, advertisements, sponsorships, fundraising events, or lobbying. Trustees consider one application per organization per calendar year. Most grants are for one year; some capital grants can extend up to three years.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joseph Kelly as Executive Director and CIO. Trustees listed are Margaret St Clair, Vincent Marturano, Deborah Carlson, Dolores Reid, and David Carlson. The filing also lists Beatrice Waring as Beneficiary and Phillip Waring as Former Trustee - Retiree.
Amelia Peabody Foundation is led by Joseph Kelly, Executive Director & CIO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph Kelly
Executive Director & CIO
Chief Investment Officer → Executive Director & CIO, 2024
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$312K (2020) → $404K (2024)
Deborah Carlson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Dolores Reid
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Margaret St Clair
Trustee
Executive Director → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$332K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Vincent Marturano
Trustee
On filings since 2022
6 hrs/week
$10K (2022) → $20K (2024)
David Carlson
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
6 hrs/week
$5K (2024)
Phillip Waring
Former Trustee - Retiree
Trustee → Former Trustee - Retiree, 2022
On filings since 2020
$20K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Beatrice Waring
Beneficiary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bayard Waring (2020–2022) — Former Trustee - Retiree
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $404K, to Joseph Kelly (Executive Director and CIO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Amelia Peabody Foundation
How much does Amelia Peabody Foundation give each year?
Amelia Peabody Foundation gave $8.7M across 152 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.4M across 157 grants.
What is Amelia Peabody Foundation's typical grant size?
Amelia Peabody Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $57,088, across 152 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Amelia Peabody Foundation give grants?
Amelia Peabody Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lawrence, MA (13 grants), Worcester, MA (11 grants), Boston, MA (11 grants) and Springfield, MA (11 grants).
Does Amelia Peabody Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 21% of Amelia Peabody Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 152) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (27 grants) and "Youth Development Programs" (3 grants).
Who are Amelia Peabody Foundation's largest grantees?
Amelia Peabody Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Family Aid Boston Inc ($666,667 across 2 grants), Friendly House Inc ($666,667 across 2 grants) and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell ($490,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Amelia Peabody Foundation?
Amelia Peabody Foundation reported $165.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Amelia Peabody Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to support charitable organizations across Massachusetts and extend the positive social impact of Amelia Peabody’s philanthropic legacy. Its grants support programs and services for youth and families, especially those from under-resourced communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Amelia Peabody Foundation?
The Foundation’s website provides application materials and instructions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Amelia Peabody Foundation's EIN?
Amelia Peabody Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6036558. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Amelia Peabody Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Amelia Peabody Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/amelia-peabody-foundation-morg_0f7161b77d3b4f62932495b6299b7153
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046036558_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Amelia Peabody Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/amelia-peabody-foundation-morg_0f7161b77d3b4f62932495b6299b7153},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Amelia Peabody Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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