Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It makes grants to charitable organizations, with stated interests in strengthening the education, independence, and socioeconomic stability of women+, girls+, children, and youth, as well as preserving the natural environment.
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc gave $835K across 52 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Massachusetts. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $835,460
- +2.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 52
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,067
- +6.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $10,512,599
- +1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (6 of 52, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its program information describes two annual cycles, with May 1 and November 1 deadlines. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits based in or serving low-income residents of Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, or Somerville. Application materials are not specified.
- Review Cycle
- The May 1, 2026 deadline has passed. The next listed deadline is November 1, 2026.
- Deadline
- The May 1, 2026 deadline has passed.
- Next open deadline
- November 1, 2026 (Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation Grants)
- Contact
Mailing address: C/O Fiduciary Trust Co PO Box 5, Boston, MA 02205-5806
Phone: (617) 482-5270
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc
ABSC Foundation Grants
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc
Amount
US $15,000 - US $20,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation Grants
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc
Amount
$5K – $25K
Deadline
November 1, 2026
Listed date — confirm with the funder
Who Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Philanthropy Massachusetts ($40K). Together the top 10 received $270K.
Grant Size Distribution
270 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 270 grants of 270 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s grant-program information limits its main program to organizations based in or serving low-income residents of Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, and Somerville, Massachusetts. In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 5% to New Hampshire, and 1% to New York. The program information says a separate Anna B. Stearns Fund at the NH Charitable Foundation serves northern New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 52 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $750K (2023) to $1.5M (2021). In 2025 it made 52 grants totaling $835K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Philanthropy Massachusetts Boston, MA | General Purposes | $40,460 |
| Justice Resource Institute Needham, MA | General Purposes | $35,000 |
| Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice Boston, MA | General Purpose | $30,000 |
| Science Club for Girls Cambridge, MA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| Sociedad Latina Inc Roxbury, MA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| La Alianza Hispana Inc Boston, MA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| Brookview House Inc Dorchester Center, MA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| Resilient Sisterhood Project Newton Upper Falls, MA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| CASA Myrna Vazquez Boston, MA | General Purposes | $20,000 |
| Planned Parenthood League Boston, MA | General Purposes | $20,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,512,599 | $1,244,770 | $1,046,675 | $835,460 | 52 | $968,242 | $1,131,916 | $964,354 |
| 2024 | $10,314,566 | $830,103 | $1,019,027 | $812,300 | 54 | $944,534 | $796,898 | $962,941 |
| 2023 | $10,503,584 | $777,226 | $945,072 | $749,700 | 49 | $880,347 | $751,512 | $896,345 |
| 2022 | $10,722,188 | $975,831 | $1,292,402 | $1,037,100 | 54 | $1,164,356 | $853,733 | $902,067 |
| 2021 | $10,990,107 | $2,453,888 | $1,673,488 | $1,481,500 | 61 | $1,597,683 | $2,418,707 | $991,127 |
| 2020 | $10,209,707 | $774,106 | $1,147,666 | $955,000 | 66 | — | $702,737 | $886,148 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $964K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated interests include strengthening the education, independence, and capabilities of young people—especially girls—and of women+ and their children; supporting girls+’ healthy development; and protecting and preserving the natural environment. Its grant-program description says it supports opportunities and services leading to independence and self-sufficiency, with an emphasis on prevention rather than remediation.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of services. Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice describes its work as providing pro bono legal services to asylum-seeking families. Science Club for Girls says it offers free experiential STEM programs and mentoring for girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities. Brookview House describes helping homeless and at-risk families build skills to break cycles of homelessness and poverty. Other grantees include La Alianza Hispana, which says it provides social and health services to the Latino community in Greater Boston, and Bridge Over Troubled Waters, which serves homeless, at-risk, and runaway youth.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported making 52 grants totaling $835,460. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $40,460, with a median of $15,000. Its largest 2025 grants included $40,460 to Philanthropy Massachusetts, $35,000 to Justice Resource Institute, and $30,000 to Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice. Other notable awards included $25,000 each to Science Club for Girls, Sociedad Latina, La Alianza Hispana, Brookview House, and Resilient Sisterhood Project.
The foundation’s grant-program information lists an award range of $5,000–$25,000 for the Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation Grants program and $15,000–$20,000 for ABSC Foundation Grants. It limits applicants to one proposal per year; denied applicants must wait two years before applying again.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sylvia Simmons, Kathryn A. Wheeler, Katie Smith Milway, Alexandra Oliver-Davila, Alison Simmons, Andrea Zayas, Elaine Ng, and Lorna Rivera as trustees. Jennifer Collins is listed as president and clerk, and Paige Johnson Roth as treasurer.
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc is led by Jennifer Collins, President & Clerk on every filing since 2020; 6 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Collins
President & Clerk
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alexandra Oliver-Davila
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$150 (2020) → $400 (2025)
Alison Simmons
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$150 (2021) → $150 (2025)
Andrea Zayas
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$150 (2021) → $0 (2025)
Kathryn A. Wheeler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$400 (2020) → $150 (2025)
Katie Smith Milway
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$150 (2020) → $0 (2025)
Elaine Ng
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
$150 (2025)
Lorna Rivera
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
$150 (2025)
Sylvia Simmons
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paige Johnson Roth
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
$150 (2020) → $150 (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $400, to Alexandra Oliver-Davila (Trustee). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc
How much does Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc give each year?
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc gave $835K across 52 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $812K across 54 grants.
What is Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,067, across 52 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc give grants?
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (21 grants), Cambridge, MA (4 grants), Roxbury, MA (4 grants) and Needham, MA (3 grants).
Does Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (52 of 52) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Philanthropy Massachusetts ($40,460), Justice Resource Institute ($35,000) and Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc?
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc reported $10.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $968K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $964K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated interests include strengthening the education, independence, and capabilities of young people—especially girls—and of women+ and their children; supporting girls+’ healthy development; and protecting and preserving the natural environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6144732. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/anna-b-stearns-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_223436f0d4c24884bb48d2535f405c8d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046144732_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/anna-b-stearns-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_223436f0d4c24884bb48d2535f405c8d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation Inc'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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