Boston Bar Foundation
The Boston Bar Foundation (BBF) is a public charity based in Boston, Massachusetts, and the charitable arm of the Boston Bar Association. Formed in 1957, it supports legal services, access to justice, and public-interest work by the bar, with a stated focus on the Greater Boston area.
Boston Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: Boston Bar Foundation gave $2.4M across 56 grants in 2025 (avg $44K), mostly in Massachusetts. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,439,084
- +37.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 56
- +64.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $43,555
- -16.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $17,660,066
- +13.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (18 of 47, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Boston Bar Foundation
- Review Cycle
- February 28, 2027.
- Deadline
- February 28, 2027.
- Next open deadline
- February 28, 2027 (Boston Bar Foundation IOLTA Grants)
- Contact
Mailing address: 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 742-0615
Website: https://bostonbarfoundation.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 Boston Bar Foundation
Who Boston Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greater Boston Legal Services ($510K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 121 grants of 161 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The BBF IOLTA Grants program identifies the Greater Boston area as its geographic scope. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Boston Bar Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 18 of 47 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $71K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $33K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2019) to $2.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 56 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Boston Legal Services Boston, MA | Support Legal Aid | $500,000 |
| Boston Bar Association Boston, MA | Support pro bono and public service projects that engage lawyers in our community | $300,000 |
| Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association Boston, MA | Support Legal Aid | $210,000 |
| Political Asylumimmigration Representation Project Boston, MA | Support Legal Aid | $125,000 |
| Metrowest Legal Services Framingham, MA | Support Legal Aid | $100,000 |
| De Novo Center for Justice and Healing Cambridge, MA | Support Legal Aid | $90,000 |
| Prisoners Legal Services Boston, MA | Support Legal Aid | $85,000 |
| Veteran's Legal Services Boston, MA | Support Legal Aid | $65,000 |
| Rian Immigration Center Boston, MA | Support Legal Aid | $60,000 |
| Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Boston, MA | Increasing Access to Justice | $55,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Boston Bar Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,660,066 | $3,939,366 | $3,306,682 | $2,439,084 | 56 | $399,630 |
| 2024 | $15,510,433 | $3,381,995 | $2,266,803 | $1,769,847 | 34 | $74,334 |
| 2023 | $12,609,247 | $2,806,999 | $2,043,099 | $1,446,556 | 27 | $50,378 |
| 2022 | $10,948,237 | $1,799,920 | $1,942,300 | $1,454,650 | 24 | $132,346 |
| 2021 | $12,346,547 | $1,575,167 | $1,639,778 | $1,280,970 | 20 | $257,271 |
| 2020 | $11,227,107 | $1,700,244 | $1,737,500 | $1,317,283 | 28 | $169,918 |
| 2019 | $10,747,443 | $1,899,434 | $1,665,278 | $1,238,997 | 21 | $226,288 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The BBF’s stated mission is to promote justice by funding and promoting innovation in legal services, enhancing access to justice for underserved people, and supporting the bar’s public-interest activities. Its filing describes additional support for projects or studies addressing unmet community needs, access to justice, mentoring young people, and philanthropy.
The foundation’s grant program invites eligible Greater Boston nonprofits to apply for projects that provide civil legal services to low-income or underserved populations, strengthen pro bono programs, or enhance the administration of justice in Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing also describes scholarships through the Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Boston Foundation for Asian Community Fund.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among grantees. Greater Boston Legal Services describes itself as a provider of free civil legal assistance to low-income people in metropolitan Boston. MetroWest Legal Services says it provides free civil legal services to low-income, elderly, disabled, and other disenfranchised people in 45 communities. De Novo Center for Justice and Healing describes its work as providing integrated legal and mental-health services to address poverty, inequity, and trauma.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the BBF reported 56 grants totaling $2,439,084. Grant amounts ranged from $5,250 to $500,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $500,000 to Greater Boston Legal Services for legal aid; $300,000 to the Boston Bar Association for pro bono and public-service projects engaging lawyers; $210,000 to the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association for legal aid; $125,000 to the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project for legal aid; and $100,000 to MetroWest Legal Services for legal aid. Other listed grants included $90,000 to De Novo Center for Justice and Healing, $85,000 to Prisoners Legal Services, and $65,000 to Veteran’s Legal Services.
The BBF IOLTA Grants program invites applications from eligible nonprofit organizations in the Greater Boston area. The program identifies civil legal services, pro bono work, and improvements to the administration of justice as funding objectives. The available program information does not specify application materials or a submission process.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Megan Gates as president and Stephen P. Hall as past president. Trustees listed include John Affuso, Mark R. Fitzgerald, Scott A. Faust, David L. Ferrera, Martha J. Nahill Frahm, Hannah L. Kilson, Shiva Kavimi, and Joseph L. Bierwirth Jr.
Boston Bar Foundation is led by Megan N. Gates, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 30 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Megan N. Gates
President
Treasurer → President Elect, 2024
President Elect → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard M. Page Jr.
Assistant Secretary & Executive Director
Assistant Secretary → Assistant Secretary & Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Stehle
Trustee
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suma V. Nair
Trustee
Trustee → Secretary, 2020
Secretary → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David L. Ferrera
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott A. Faust
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Gomes
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chinh H. Pham
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher G. Clark
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Affuso
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph L. Bierwirth Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rene Inomata
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hannah L. Kilson
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc A. Rubenstein
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark R. Fitzgerald
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha J. Nahill Frahm
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew V. P. McTygue
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Parker
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Sampson McMorrow
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nigel Long
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raquel Webster
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shiva Kavimi
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Escobedo Hart
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Colin Van Dyke
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Nagle
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Fleming
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Finegan
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen P. Hall
Past President
President-Elect → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Manleen Singh
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy R. Wilsker
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Edward H. Seksay (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Esme Caramello (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kathleen C. Henry (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Krietta Bowens Jones (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Martin F. Murphy (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Christine M. Netski (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Deborah J. Manus (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Russell Beck (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Paige Scott Reed (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Paul G. Cushing (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Leiha Macauley (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: William E. Hannum III (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Christopher M. Morrison (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Mark D. Smith (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Carol A. Starkey (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Diana K. Lloyd (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Anthony A. Froio (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Jonathan Albano (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Lisa G. Arrowood (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas J. Gallitano (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Boston Bar Foundation
How much does Boston Bar Foundation give each year?
Boston Bar Foundation gave $2.4M across 56 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 34 grants.
What is Boston Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
Boston Bar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $43,555, across 56 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Boston Bar Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does Boston Bar Foundation give grants?
Boston Bar Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (37 grants), Framingham, MA (2 grants), Lawrence, MA (2 grants) and Jamaica Plain, MA (2 grants).
Does Boston Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 56 grants with a stated purpose on Boston Bar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Legal Aid" (40 grants) and "Increasing Access to Justice" (14 grants).
Who are Boston Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
Boston Bar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Greater Boston Legal Services ($510,000 across 2 grants), Boston Bar Association ($300,000) and Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association ($210,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Boston Bar Foundation?
Boston Bar Foundation reported $17.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.9M.
What does Boston Bar Foundation fund?
The BBF’s stated mission is to promote justice by funding and promoting innovation in legal services, enhancing access to justice for underserved people, and supporting the bar’s public-interest activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Boston Bar Foundation?
Boston Bar Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check bostonbarfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Boston Bar Foundation's EIN?
Boston Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6111344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 29, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 9, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Boston Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Boston Bar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/boston-bar-foundation-morg_38bdc5f61fe44a28b1db17215b04ecbe
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046111344_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Boston Bar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/boston-bar-foundation-morg_38bdc5f61fe44a28b1db17215b04ecbe},
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 Boston Bar 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.
Boston Bar Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?