Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is a public charity based in Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1991. It supports charitable work benefiting residents of Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties through competitive and designated grants, donor-advised grants, and a scholarship program.
Key facts about Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
In short: Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts gave $22.4M across 392 grants in 2025 (avg $57K), mostly in Massachusetts. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 22-3089640
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $22,442,706
- Grants made (2025)
- 392
- Average grant
- $57,252
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (98 of 383, 2025)
- Total assets
- $292,131,079
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- For Flexible Funding, organizations begin with an eligibility quiz before proceeding to the application; the 2026 cycle is past and the 2027 opportunity is closed. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The listed next deadline for the Edward P.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 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 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$292.1M
+3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$22.4M
+75.1% YoY
Grant Count
392
+24.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
+40.3% YoY
Is Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 98 of 383 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $30K 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to enrich the quality of life of people in its region by encouraging philanthropy, developing a permanent, flexible endowment, assessing and responding to emerging and changing needs, serving as a resource, catalyst, and coordinator for charitable activities, and promoting efficiency in the management of charitable funds.
Its website identifies priorities that include effective nonprofits led by people of color; high-quality early education and care; more accessible and affordable post-secondary education or training with pathways to completion and employment; and a vibrant local arts and creativity ecosystem. It also says it will not knowingly support organizations that do not comply with its Anti-Discrimination Policy.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of work. The Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts describes its mission as helping Southeast Asians in central Massachusetts succeed while maintaining their cultural identity and encouraging civic engagement. Hyde Square Task Force describes its work as creative youth development and cultural engagement in Boston’s Latin Quarter. Double Edge Theatre describes itself as an art, community, and cultural collective. Other 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated missions involve media-arts job training and placement, Cambodian performing arts, land conservation, and health care.
The Foundation also administers a scholarship program. Its filing describes a centralized application process for scholarships and loans, with awards based on factors including financial need and academic merit and subject to individual fund terms. Its scholarship information says students use one application to be matched with eligible scholarships.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 392 grants totaling $22,442,706. Awards ranged from $5,019 to $615,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed grants included $615,000 each to Front Porch Arts Collective of Boston, Castle of Our Skins, Jean Appolon Expressions, Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, and Hyde Square Task Force. Other large awards included $575,276 to Double Edge Theatre Productions, $515,000 each to Elevated Thought, Angkor Dance Troupe, and The Loop Lab, and $470,000 to Saint Michael’s College.
The Foundation’s Flexible Funding program offers unrestricted support for organizations’ day-to-day operations. The 2026 overview described an eligibility quiz followed by a full application, with one application covering the program’s funding areas. Its 2026 application period, August 4 through September 8, 2025, has passed. The 2027 Flexible Funding page is marked closed; it describes an eligibility and administrative review followed by panel review, with decisions considering available funding, applications received, geographic representation across the three counties, and support for a diverse range of organizations. The Foundation especially welcomes smaller, newer, non-traditional, or fiscally sponsored organizations without substantial institutional philanthropy and prioritizes organizations rooted in their communities.
A separate Community Resilience Grants initiative was described as a one-time $1 million process for urgent, flexible support to frontline organizations across Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Grants of up to $50,000 were intended for organizations providing direct services addressing essential daily needs. That opportunity is marked closed.
Review Cycle
The listed next deadline for the Edward P. Boland, Louis F. Oldershaw and Virginia W. Oldershaw, and Roland C. Packard Memorial scholarship funds is March 2, 2027.
How to Apply
For Flexible Funding, organizations begin with an eligibility quiz before proceeding to the application; the 2026 cycle is past and the 2027 opportunity is closed. Students seeking scholarships use the Foundation’s centralized application rather than applying to individual scholarships.
Open Grants
96 open opportunities from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
African American Achievement Fund Grant
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Amount
Up to US $3,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Alan H. Rifkin Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Amount
Up to US $3,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Anthony A. Renaud Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Amount
Up to US $3,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website identifies Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties as its regional service area. Its 2025 filing reports that 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 4% to Connecticut, 4% to Vermont, 2% to New York, and 1% to New Hampshire. The Foundation also describes a partnership supporting Springfield-serving organizations through Flexible Funding.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 392 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.5M (2019) to $22.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 392 grants totaling $22.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Front Porch Arts Collective of Boston ($615K). Together the top 10 received $5.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,718 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,318 grants of 1,718 (77%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Front Porch Arts Collective of Boston Boston, MA | A: Arts, Culture & Humanities | $615,000 |
| Castle of Our Skins Inc Boston, MA | A: Arts, Culture & Humanities | $615,000 |
| Jean Appolon Expressions Inc Malden, MA | A: Arts, Culture & Humanities | $615,000 |
| Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Mass Inc Worcester, MA | P: Human Services | $615,000 |
| Hyde Square Task Force Inc Jamaica Plain, MA | O: Youth Development | $615,000 |
| Double Edge Theatre Productions Inc Ashfield, MA | A: Arts, Culture & Humanities | $575,276 |
| Elevated Thought Inc Lawrence, MA | A: Arts, Culture & Humanities | $515,000 |
| Angkor Dance Troupe Inc Lowell, MA | A: Arts, Culture & Humanities | $515,000 |
| The Loop Lab Inc Cambridge, MA | J: Employment | $515,000 |
| Saint Michael's College Colchester, VT | B: Education | $470,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $292,131,079 | $37,101,884 | $29,767,872 | $22,442,706 |
| 2024 | $282,374,225 | $37,016,434 | $20,102,825 | $12,816,255 |
| 2023 | $239,194,168 | $15,810,875 | $21,533,142 | $16,273,023 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $292,131,079 | $282,374,225 | $239,194,168 |
| Revenue | $37,101,884 | $37,016,434 | $15,810,875 |
| Expenses | $29,767,872 | $20,102,825 | $21,533,142 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,082,004 | $12,015,570 | $3,477,064 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Megan Burke as President and CEO; Shannon Gurek as VP Finance & Operations; Joanna Ballantine as VP Philanthropic Services; Denise Hurst as VP of Community Impact; Briana Wales-Th axton as VP People and Culture; Meredith Lewis as Director of Community Impact and Partnerships; Karin George as Chair; Charles D’Amour as Vice Chair; and Tara Brewster and Nikki Burnett as Foundation Trustees.
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is led by Megan Burke, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 6 of 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Megan Burke
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$192K (2024) → $218K (2025)
Karin George
Chair
Foundation Trustee → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Becky Wai-Ling Packard
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$49K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Meredith Lewis
Director of Cmty Impact & Ptr.
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Doug A. Theobald
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Dunlavy
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Keroack
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Murphy
Foundation Trustee
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Foundation Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mauricia Geissler
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gillian Hinkson
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Burnett
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Vega
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Thomas
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Davis
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Magdalena Gomez
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Schutt
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Payton Shubrick
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tara Brewster
Foundation Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Francia Wisnewski
Foundation Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Lapolice
Foundation Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Briana Wales-Thaxton
Vice President People & Culture
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$138K (2023) → $135K (2025)
Denise Hurst
Vice President of Community Impact
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$143K (2023) → $140K (2025)
Joanna Ballantine
Vice President Philanthropic Services
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$112K (2023) → $170K (2025)
Shannon Gurek
Vice President Finance & Operations
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$25K (2023) → $185K (2025)
Charles D'amour
Vice Chair
Foundation Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Anne Paradis (2019–2024) — Outgoing-Trustee
- Former: Mary-Beth Cooper (2019–2024) — Outgoing-Trustee
- Former: Christina Royal (2020–2024) — Outgoing-Trustee
- Former: Bruce Hiltunen (2019–2023) — Vice President Finance & Operations
- Former: David Pinsky (2019–2023) — Outgoing Trustee
- Former: Elizabeth Sillin (2019–2023) — Outgoing Trustee
- Former: Katharine Allan Zobel (2019–2023) — Outgoing President & CEO
- Former: Mary Ann Spencer (2019–2023) — Outgoing Trustee
- Former: Amy Jamrog (2019–2022) — Foundation Trustee
- Former: Ellen Brout Lindsey (2019–2022) — Outgoing Foundation Trustee
- Former: Ellen Leuchs (2019–2022) — Vice President Philanthropic Services
- Former: George Arwady (2019–2022) — Outgoing Foundation Trustee
- Former: Kerry Dietz (2019–2022) — Outgoing Foundation Trustee
- Former: Daisy Pereira-Tosado (2022) — Director of Philanthropy
- Former: James Ayres (2020–2021) — Vice President Programs & Strategy
- Former: Kamari Collins (2019–2020) — Outgoing Foundation Trustee
- Former: Ramon Torrecilha (2019–2020) — Outgoing Foundation Trustee
- Former: Robert Pura (2019–2020) — Outgoing Foundation Trustee
- Former: Irene Rodrigeuz Martin (2019) — Outgoing Foundation Trustee
- Former: Ralph Tate (2019) — Outgoing Chair
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $218K, to Megan Burke (President & CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 333 Bridge Street, Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: (413) 732-2858
Website: https://communityfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
How much does Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts give each year?
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts gave $22.4M across 392 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $12.8M across 314 grants.
What is Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts's typical grant size?
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $57,252, across 392 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts that year got $29K on average.
Where does Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts give grants?
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts gives mostly in Massachusetts: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Springfield, MA (68 grants), Northampton, MA (29 grants), Holyoke, MA (25 grants) and Greenfield, MA (23 grants).
Does Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 392 grants with a stated purpose on Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "A: Arts, Culture & Humanities" (80 grants), "B: Education" (74 grants) and "P: Human Services" (58 grants).
Who are Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts's largest grantees?
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts's largest 2025 grantees include Front Porch Arts Collective of Boston ($615,000), Castle of Our Skins Inc ($615,000) and Jean Appolon Expressions Inc ($615,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts?
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts reported $292.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $37.1M.
What does Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to enrich the quality of life of people in its region by encouraging philanthropy, developing a permanent, flexible endowment, assessing and responding to emerging and changing needs, serving as a resource, catalyst, and coordinator for charitable activities, and promoting efficiency in the management of charitable funds. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts?
For Flexible Funding, organizations begin with an eligibility quiz before proceeding to the application; the 2026 cycle is past and the 2027 opportunity is closed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts's EIN?
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3089640. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts down — hundreds of funders to go?