Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations in Massachusetts and several other states, including organizations involved in education, health, animal welfare, and community services.
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 at a glance
In short: Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 gave $84K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Massachusetts. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $83,600
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,697
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,011,201
- +17.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (3 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Apply by sending a letter describing the organization and proposed use of funds, or a scholarship grant application. The filing states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Deborah J Manus Co Nutter Mcclennen
Mailing address: 155 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA 02205-8982
Phone: (617) 439-2000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northern Middlesex Regional High School Scholarship Fund ($10K). Together the top 10 received $49K.
Grant Size Distribution
153 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 153 grants of 153 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Massachusetts recipients accounted for 57% of grant dollars, followed by California (16%), North Carolina (14%), New York (5%), and Minnesota (4%). These figures describe the distribution of grants by recipient state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 31 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 90% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
- In 2024 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 (2020–2024). 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 $76K (2020) to $89K (2022). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Middlesex Regional High School Scholarship Fund Townsend, MA | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Friends of Lawrence Library Lawrence, MA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Nashoba River Watershed Association Groton, MA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Santa Catalina School Monterey, CA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| UNC Health Foundation Chapel Hill, NC | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Carolina Tiger Rescue Pittsboro, NC | General Fund | $4,000 |
| Guiding Eyes for the Blind Yorktown Heights, NY | General Fund | $4,000 |
| Townsend Congregational Church Townsend, MA | General Fund | $4,000 |
| Shubert Club Inc Saint Paul, MN | General Fund | $3,500 |
| United Way Boston, MA | General Fund | $3,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729?
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 | $1,011,201 | $246,014 | $96,631 | $83,600 | 31 | $87,611 | $237,731 | $95,287 |
| 2023 | $861,817 | $137,796 | $100,473 | $83,600 | 31 | $87,894 | $129,256 | $87,158 |
| 2022 | $824,492 | $157,258 | $104,366 | $89,100 | 32 | $94,212 | $147,104 | $88,452 |
| 2021 | $771,599 | $57,648 | $91,166 | $76,400 | 30 | $80,846 | $47,328 | $91,626 |
| 2020 | $805,117 | $46,045 | $84,533 | $76,000 | 29 | — | $40,404 | $80,602 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 reported a distributable amount of $95K 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
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, UNC Health Foundation says it inspires philanthropic support for UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine; Santa Catalina School describes its work as developing students’ excellence, values, and commitment to service; and Carolina Tiger Rescue says its mission is saving and protecting wildcats in captivity and in the wild. Guiding Eyes for the Blind says it provides guide dogs to people with vision loss.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $83,600. Grant amounts ranged from $800 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000. Among its largest grants were $10,000 to Northern Middlesex Regional High School Scholarship Fund; $5,000 each to Friends of Lawrence Library, Nashoba River Watershed Association, Santa Catalina School, and UNC Health Foundation; and $4,000 each to Carolina Tiger Rescue, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and Townsend Congregational Church. The listed purposes for these grants were “general fund.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles P. Burnham as president, Lynn Lamar as vice president, and Deborah J. Manus as treasurer, secretary, and clerk.
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 is led by Charles P. Burnham, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles P. Burnham
President
President & Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$750 (2020) → $750 (2024)
Lynn Lamar
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$750 (2020) → $750 (2024)
Deborah J. Manus
Treasurer, Secretary & Clerk
Clerk → Treasurer, Secretary & Clerk, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: E. Barnes M. Abbott (2020–2022) — Treasurer
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 $750, to Lynn Lamar (Vice President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729
How much does Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 give each year?
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 gave $84K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $84K across 31 grants.
What is Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729's typical grant size?
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,697, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 that year got $1K on average.
Where does Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 give grants?
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 gives mostly in Massachusetts: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (16%) and North Carolina (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pepperell, MA (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Townsend, MA (2 grants) and Lawrence, MA (2 grants).
Does Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (29 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729's largest grantees?
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729's largest 2024 grantees include Northern Middlesex Regional High School Scholarship Fund ($10,000), Friends of Lawrence Library ($5,000) and Nashoba River Watershed Association ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729?
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $88K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $95K (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 Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729's EIN?
Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2979498. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 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
Live grants for the work Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Creative Impact Grants $500 - $2,500 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729 funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/burnham-foundation-inc-0726729-morg_37329eea01a5436d8313fc965ae11c73
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222979498_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Burnham Foundation Inc \#0726729 funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/burnham-foundation-inc-0726729-morg_37329eea01a5436d8313fc965ae11c73},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Burnham Foundation Inc #0726729'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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