Cardinal Brook Trust
Cardinal Brook Trust is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1989. As a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation, it maintains significant assets and engages in active grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$124.6M
+20.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+9176.7% YoY
Grant Count
12
+140.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$190K
+3765.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cardinal Brook Trust reported a distributable amount of $7.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is giving primarily for environmental programs, health care, and education. According to its filings, the trust also supports philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking initiatives, as well as human services.
Grantmaking
Cardinal Brook Trust made 50 grants in its most recent reporting year. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $2,200,000. The foundation has demonstrated support across diverse organizations, including educational institutions and community-based nonprofits. A documented grant includes $3,125 to Barre Center for Buddhist Studies for general support.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the Boston area and surrounding regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $103,661,109
- Total revenues: $50,394,251
- Total expenses: $572,982
- Total grants and contributions: $44,647,114
- Investment income and dividends: $3,721,168
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,726,058
As of 2024 (most recent filing):
- Total assets: $124,608,800
- Total giving: $2,284,379
The foundation has zero employees and maintains its principal address at c/o KLR, 99 Summer Street, Suite 520, Boston, MA 02110.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $124,608,800 | $103,661,109 | $53,788,650 |
| Revenue | $23,714,697 | $50,394,251 | $4,873,717 |
| Expenses | $2,914,968 | $572,982 | $2,832,864 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,315,629 | $61,973 | $2,470,288 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,128,557 | $5,349,700 | $4,515,672 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,031,657 | $4,385,176 | $2,835,599 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
143 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Johnson Family Gift Fund - Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund ($1,000,000), Mt Grace Land Trust ($600,000), Mass General ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HARVARD COLLEGE SCHOOLYARD PROJECT PETERSHAM, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| ISLAND HOUSING TRUST WEST TISBURY, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,379 |
| JOHNSON FAMILY GIFT FUND - BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE GIFT FUND BOSTON, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | $1,000 |
| MARTHA'S VINEYARD VISION FELLOWSHIP VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $90,000 |
| MASS GENERAL BOSTON, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| MT GRACE LAND TRUST ATHOL, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC RADIO SPRINGFIELD, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| QUABBIN FOOD CONNECTOR ORANGE, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| STILLPOINT MARTHA'S VINEYARD INC VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is supported by Karen & David Davis.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HANNAH JOHNSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NATHAN DAVIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JACOB DAVIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| REBECCA AURES | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KAREN DAVIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID DAVIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cardinal Brook Trust fund?
The foundation's mission is giving primarily for environmental programs, health care, and education. According to its filings, the trust also supports philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking initiatives, as well as human services.
How do I apply for a grant from Cardinal Brook Trust?
Cardinal Brook Trust made 50 grants in its most recent reporting year. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $2,200,000. The foundation has demonstrated support across diverse organizations, including educational institutions and community-based nonprofits. A documented grant includes $3,125 to Barre Center for Buddhist Studies for general support.
Where does Cardinal Brook Trust make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the Boston area and surrounding regions.
What size grants does Cardinal Brook Trust award?
In 2024, Cardinal Brook Trust awarded 12 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $190K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cardinal Brook Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cardinal Brook Trust reported a distributable amount of $7.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cardinal Brook Trust's EIN?
Cardinal Brook Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3050557. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cardinal Brook Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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