Bierly Boasberg Foundation
The Bierly Boasberg Foundation is a private foundation based in West Newton, Massachusetts. In 2025, it made 58 grants totaling $1,526,403 to organizations including arts, education, animal welfare, community, and health-related grantees.
Bierly Boasberg Foundation at a glance
In short: Bierly Boasberg Foundation gave $1.5M across 58 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Massachusetts. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,526,403
- +178.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 58
- -17.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,317
- +236.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,100
- Total assets
- $8,831,926
- -4.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (9 of 58, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (79% 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 Bierly Boasberg Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Margaret Boasberg. Form and materials are not applicable. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Margaret Boasberg
Mailing address: PO Box 650202, West Newton, MA 02465-0202
Phone: (617) 965-3626
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bierly Boasberg Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nantucket Performing Arts Center ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
300 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 293 grants of 300 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 15% to recipients in Virginia. Georgia, North Carolina, and New York each received 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bierly Boasberg Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 58 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $124K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 294% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 241% 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 $362K (2023) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 58 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nantucket Performing Arts Center Nantucket, MA | General Support | $1,105,924 |
| University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA | General Support | $213,083 |
| Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Atlanta, GA | General Support | $29,814 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | General Support | $25,559 |
| John D Solomon Fellowship Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $13,000 |
| Sconset Trust Siasconset, MA | General Support | $12,724 |
| ASPCA Waltham, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Boston Boston, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Camp Holiday Trails Charlottesville, VA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Nantucket Safe Harbor for Animals Nantucket, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bierly Boasberg Foundation?
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 | $8,831,926 | $896,348 | $1,611,028 | $1,526,403 | 58 | $1,526,653 | $166,747 | $633,363 |
| 2024 | $9,217,217 | $854,761 | $630,887 | $547,676 | 70 | $549,766 | $399,824 | $563,163 |
| 2023 | $8,731,182 | $656,483 | $430,798 | $361,744 | 60 | $364,381 | $162,853 | $458,117 |
| 2022 | $8,431,435 | $987,702 | $446,558 | $387,380 | 61 | $387,942 | $312,114 | $368,544 |
| 2021 | $7,780,667 | $771,896 | $468,611 | $381,645 | 51 | $381,927 | $163,849 | $393,617 |
| 2020 | $7,356,240 | $2,502,465 | $446,430 | $395,893 | 62 | — | $1,879,166 | $317,612 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bierly Boasberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $633K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2025 grants included support for performing arts, universities, animal welfare, children and families, community organizations, and conservation. For example, Sconset Trust says its mission is to preserve the character of the village of ’Sconset through land conservation and preservation of significant structures. Nantucket Safe Harbor for Animals says it provides shelter and care for animals in need and promotes animal welfare. Camp Holiday Trails says it creates a community that empowers children and teens with medical needs to thrive.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 58 grants totaling $1,526,403. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,105,924, with a median of $1,100. The largest grants included $1,105,924 to Nantucket Performing Arts Center for general support and $213,083 to the University of Virginia for general support. Other notable grants included $29,814 to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, $25,559 to Duke University, and $13,000 to John D Solomon Fellowship, each for general support.
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing lists Margaret Boasberg as the contact; application form and materials are not applicable. Awards are restricted to charitable, educational, or scientific purposes defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher Bierly and Margaret Boasberg as trustees.
Bierly Boasberg Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christopher Bierly
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Boasberg
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Bierly Boasberg Foundation
How much does Bierly Boasberg Foundation give each year?
Bierly Boasberg Foundation gave $1.5M across 58 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $548K across 70 grants.
What is Bierly Boasberg Foundation's typical grant size?
Bierly Boasberg Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,100, and its average grant was $26,317, across 58 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bierly Boasberg Foundation that year got $124K on average.
Where does Bierly Boasberg Foundation give grants?
Bierly Boasberg Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nantucket, MA (11 grants), Newton, MA (6 grants), Boston, MA (5 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does Bierly Boasberg Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Bierly Boasberg Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (58 of 58) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bierly Boasberg Foundation's largest grantees?
Bierly Boasberg Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Nantucket Performing Arts Center ($1,105,924), University of Virginia ($213,083) and Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund ($29,814), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bierly Boasberg Foundation?
Bierly Boasberg Foundation reported $8.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $633K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bierly Boasberg Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2025 grants included support for performing arts, universities, animal welfare, children and families, community organizations, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bierly Boasberg Foundation?
Contact Margaret Boasberg. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bierly Boasberg Foundation's EIN?
Bierly Boasberg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6903459. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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
Live grants for the work Bierly Boasberg Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bierly Boasberg Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bierly-boasberg-foundation-morg_fa1c540a4c2247b9906050975e74f4f8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046903459_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bierly Boasberg Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bierly-boasberg-foundation-morg_fa1c540a4c2247b9906050975e74f4f8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Bierly Boasberg 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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