Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2024, it made 40 grants totaling $30,100 to charitable organizations.
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold at a glance
In short: Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold gave $30K across 40 grants in 2024 (avg $752.5), mostly in Massachusetts. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $30,100
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $753
- -13.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $934,043
- +46.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (9 of 40, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (83% 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 Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold
- How to Apply
-
Requests may be submitted in any form that informs the trustees of the applicant’s exact status and the reason for the grant request. The filing lists Richard Olney as the contact and states that grants are for charitable organizations only.
- Contact
Application contact: Richard Olney
Mailing address: 53 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 482-5270
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Marion Foundation ($5K). Together the top 10 received $19K.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Massachusetts recipients received 83% of grant dollars. Recipients in New York received 7%, New Jersey 5%, Maryland 2%, and Pennsylvania 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 40 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $417; repeat grants $850. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 70% 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 $28K (2023) to $48K (2020). In 2024 it made 40 grants totaling $30K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Marion Foundation Marion, MA | General Purposes | $5,250 |
| Alma Del Mar Foundation New Bedford, MA | General Purposes | $2,500 |
| South Coast Community Foundation New Bedford, MA | General Purposes | $2,500 |
| Thayer Academy Braintree, MA | General Purposes | $2,500 |
| Wheaton College Norton, MA | Annual Fund | $1,500 |
| Tenacre Annual Fund Princeton, NJ | General Purposes | $1,500 |
| South Coast Health Systems New Bedford, MA | Medical Research | $1,000 |
| New Bedford Light New Bedford, MA | General Purpose | $1,000 |
| Friends of Harvard Tennis Boston, MA | General Purposes | $750 |
| Hackley School Tarrytown, NY | Educational Programs | $500 |
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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 | $934,043 | $364,883 | $37,459 | $30,100 | 40 | $31,333 | $178,018 | $44,888 |
| 2023 | $639,470 | $83,250 | $32,523 | $27,800 | 32 | $29,015 | $87,443 | $33,872 |
| 2022 | $588,743 | $115,556 | $43,257 | $36,350 | 26 | $37,475 | $14,951 | $32,881 |
| 2021 | $516,448 | $83,966 | $49,251 | $44,500 | 26 | $45,625 | $88,467 | $33,283 |
| 2020 | $481,744 | $21,692 | $52,453 | $48,250 | 28 | — | $4,906 | $28,574 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold reported a distributable amount of $45K 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 grant record shows support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Alma del Mar Foundation says it provides financial assistance to further the educational goals of Alma del Mar Charter School, while Wheaton College describes its work as providing a liberal arts education. New Bedford Light says it provides in-depth, fact-based journalism and a platform for diverse community voices. The Mattapoisett Land Trust says its purpose is acquiring land and interests in land for open-space and natural-resource protection.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 40 grants totaling $30,100. Grants ranged from $250 to $5,250, with a median of $500. The largest grants were $5,250 to Marion Foundation and $2,500 each to Alma del Mar Foundation, South Coast Community Foundation, and Thayer Academy. Other grants included $1,500 to Wheaton College and $1,000 each to South Coast Health Systems, for medical research, and New Bedford Light.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christopher B Arnold and Patricia H Arnold as trustees.
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher B. Arnold
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia H. Arnold
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold
How much does Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold give each year?
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold gave $30K across 40 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $28K across 32 grants.
What is Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold's typical grant size?
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $753, across 40 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold that year got $417 on average.
Where does Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold give grants?
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold gives mostly in Massachusetts: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Bedford, MA (13 grants), Boston, MA (4 grants), Mattapoisett, MA (2 grants) and Mattapoisetts, MA (2 grants).
Does Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 40) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold's largest grantees?
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold's largest 2024 grantees include Marion Foundation ($5,250), Alma Del Mar Foundation ($2,500) and South Coast Community Foundation ($2,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold?
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold reported $934K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $31K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $45K (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 Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold fund?
No mission statement is provided. The grant record shows support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold?
Requests may be submitted in any form that informs the trustees of the applicant’s exact status and the reason for the grant request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold's EIN?
Christopher & Patricia Higgins Arnold's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3534717. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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
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