Boston Center for Blind Children Inc
Boston Center for Blind Children Inc is a private foundation based in Spencer, Massachusetts. It makes annual grants to nonprofit organizations serving blind and visually impaired people in Massachusetts.
Key facts about Boston Center for Blind Children Inc
In short: Boston Center for Blind Children Inc gave $250K across 14 grants in 2026 (avg $18K), mostly in Massachusetts. 7% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 04-2103910
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026
- Annual giving (2026)
- $249,650
- Grants made (2026)
- 14
- Average grant
- $17,832
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2026)
- Total assets
- $5,619,440
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (88% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website lists April 15 as the annual proposal deadline; the 2026 deadline has passed.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2026 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.6M
+8.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$250K
+8.3% YoY
Grant Count
14
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+8.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Boston Center for Blind Children Inc reported a distributable amount of $271K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Boston Center for Blind Children Inc open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 93% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (−2%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to award financial assistance through grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations providing care, treatment, and services to blind and visually impaired people in Massachusetts. Its website describes support for recreational programs, literacy and vision programs, and school, camp, and respite programs.
Among its 2026 grantees, Perkins School for the Blind says it serves children and young adults with multiple disabilities and their families through education, accessibility, professional development, and innovation. National Braille Press says it promotes blind children’s literacy through braille and provides access to information for blind people. Guiding Eyes for the Blind says it provides guide dogs to people with vision loss. These are the grantees’ stated missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $249,650. Grant amounts ranged from $3,600 to $45,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest awards included $45,000 to Perkins School for the Blind, $33,000 to the Association of Blind Citizens, $30,000 to the Carroll Center for the Blind, and $25,000 to National Braille Press. Other awards included $20,000 each to Wheelock Family Theater and Polus Center, and $15,000 each to Lowell Association for the Blind and The Seeing Eye.
Review Cycle
The website lists April 15 as the annual proposal deadline; the 2026 deadline has passed. It lists August 15 of the year following funding as the deadline for recipients’ reports.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated grantmaking focus is organizations providing services in Massachusetts for blind and visually impaired people. In 2026, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 8% to New Jersey, and 4% to New York. The foundation’s website identifies out-of-state recipients The Seeing Eye and Guiding Eyes for the Blind as serving Massachusetts residents.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $222K (2024) to $255K (2023). In 2026 it made 14 grants totaling $250K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Perkins School for the Blind ($45K). Together the top 10 received $226K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 68 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins School for the Blind Watertown, MA | Cash Grant for Operations | $45,000 |
| Assn of Blind Citizens Holbrook, MA | Cash Grant for Operations | $33,000 |
| Carrol Center for the Blind Newton, MA | Cash Grant for Operations | $30,000 |
| National Braille Press Boston, MA | Cash Grant for Operations | $25,000 |
| Wheelock Family Theater Boston, MA | Cash Grant for Operations | $20,000 |
| Polus Center Athol, MA | Cash Grant for Operations | $20,000 |
| Lowell Assn for the Blind Lowell, MA | Cash Grant for Operations | $15,000 |
| The Seeing Eye Inc Morristown, NJ | Cash Grant for Operations | $15,000 |
| Mass Audubon Society Lincoln, MA | Cash Grant for Operations | $13,050 |
| Guiding Eyes for the Blind Yorktown Heights, NY | Cash Grant for Operations | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $5,619,440 | $353,392 | $301,373 | $249,650 |
| 2025 | $5,191,519 | $158,686 | $277,954 | $230,600 |
| 2024 | $4,880,374 | $138,930 | $261,158 | $222,109 |
The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Metric | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,619,440 | $5,191,519 | $4,880,374 |
| Revenue | $353,392 | $158,686 | $138,930 |
| Expenses | $301,373 | $277,954 | $261,158 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $249,650 | $230,600 | $222,109 |
| Net Investment Income | $185,669 | $337,172 | $430,770 |
| Distributable Amount | $271,487 | $249,631 | $230,510 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists William G. McDevitt III as president, Anne V. McBride as treasurer, and Caroline B. Grady as secretary. Directors listed are Todd Grady, Marilyn Novich, and Marianne Riggio.
Boston Center for Blind Children Inc is led by William G McDevitt III, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
William G McDevitt III
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marianne Riggio
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Marilyn Novich
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Todd Grady
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Anne V McBride
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Caroline B Grady
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John T Bennett Jr. (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 3 Cornfield Road, Spencer, MA 01562
Phone: (774) 200-9719
Website: https://www.bostoncenterforblindchildren.org
Frequently asked questions about Boston Center for Blind Children Inc
How much does Boston Center for Blind Children Inc give each year?
Boston Center for Blind Children Inc gave $250K across 14 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $231K across 14 grants.
What is Boston Center for Blind Children Inc's typical grant size?
Boston Center for Blind Children Inc's median grant in 2026 was $15,000, and its average grant was $17,832, across 14 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Boston Center for Blind Children Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does Boston Center for Blind Children Inc give grants?
Boston Center for Blind Children Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants).
Does Boston Center for Blind Children Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Boston Center for Blind Children Inc's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cash Grant for Operations" (14 grants).
Who are Boston Center for Blind Children Inc's largest grantees?
Boston Center for Blind Children Inc's largest 2026 grantees include Perkins School for the Blind ($45,000), Assn of Blind Citizens ($33,000) and Carrol Center for the Blind ($30,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Boston Center for Blind Children Inc?
Boston Center for Blind Children Inc reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $250K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $271K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Boston Center for Blind Children Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to award financial assistance through grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations providing care, treatment, and services to blind and visually impaired people in Massachusetts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Boston Center for Blind Children Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Boston Center for Blind Children Inc's EIN?
Boston Center for Blind Children Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2103910. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Does Boston Center for Blind Children Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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