Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation
The Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Established in 2012, it directs grants and contributions primarily to programs and institutions supporting education, children’s health and welfare, communities, and the environment.
Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation gave $665K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), top state Maine. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $665,000
- +96.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +100.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,500
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $7,378,575
- -0.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Maine (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 184 Cliff Road, Wellesley, MA 02481
Phone: (781) 235-4161
Website: https://lawryfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Colby College ($235K across 4 grants). Together the top 9 received $665K.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 84 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in Maine (36% of grant dollars), Massachusetts (34%), North Carolina (15%), and California (15%). The website says the foundation makes grants to both local and national organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation gives
- Giving fell 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 182% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $339K (2023) to $898K (2021). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $665K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colby College Waterville, ME | Unrestricted | $125,000 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Stanford University Stanford, CA | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Colby College Waterville, ME | Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Boston Children's Hospital Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Boston Children's Hospital Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Vital CXNS Newton, MA | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Colby College Waterville, MA | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
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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 | $7,378,575 | $284,287 | $667,118 | $665,000 | 14 | $665,000 | $275,672 | $365,614 |
| 2023 | $7,396,682 | $608,198 | $347,373 | $339,000 | 7 | $339,000 | $601,422 | $366,080 |
| 2022 | $6,857,581 | $2,024,510 | $794,687 | $783,000 | 18 | $783,000 | $954,175 | $315,478 |
| 2021 | $7,860,803 | $458,404 | $955,404 | $897,500 | 24 | $898,000 | $368,240 | $386,561 |
| 2020 | $7,912,370 | $2,463,312 | $581,303 | $543,000 | 21 | — | $1,897,193 | $262,433 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $366K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated focus is education, children’s health and welfare, communities, and the environment. It says its grant decisions consider an organization’s effectiveness, how a contribution could further its impact or reach, and the quality of its stewardship and governance. The website states there is no set minimum or maximum grant amount.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. WGBH Educational Foundation describes its work as providing programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain. Vital CxNs says it partners with communities to build a more accessible, effective, and equitable health ecosystem. Other 2024 recipients included colleges, a children’s hospital, and community organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $665,000. The grants ranged from $5,000 to $125,000, with a median of $37,500. The website lists cumulative grant and donation commitments of more than $4 million since the charitable gift fund began in 1998.
Among the 2024 grants, Colby College received $125,000 and a separate $75,000 grant; Duke University and Stanford University each received $100,000. WGBH Educational Foundation received grants of $50,000 and $25,000, and Boston Children’s Hospital received two grants of $50,000 each. The listed grants specify unrestricted purposes.
The foundation’s website says it currently does not accept solicitations, and its 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants may be funded by the foundation or by the charitable gift fund, with the funding source determined case by case.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Seth W. Lawry and Cynthia C. Lawry as trustees.
Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cynthia C. Lawry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Seth W. Lawry
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 Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation
How much does Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation give each year?
Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation gave $665K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $339K across 7 grants.
What is Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $37,500, and its average grant was $47,500, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation give grants?
Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's top state is Maine, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (34%) and North Carolina (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants) and Waterville, ME (3 grants).
Does Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Colby College ($235,000 across 4 grants), Duke University ($100,000) and Stanford University ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation?
Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation reported $7.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $665K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $366K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated focus is education, children’s health and welfare, communities, and the environment. It says its grant decisions consider an organization’s effectiveness, how a contribution could further its impact or reach, and the quality of its stewardship and governance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's EIN?
Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1560816. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cynthia-c-and-seth-w-lawry-family-foundation-morg_06a66db061d8425f84e4b4fb7478a2c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461560816_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cynthia-c-and-seth-w-lawry-family-foundation-morg_06a66db061d8425f84e4b4fb7478a2c6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Cynthia C and Seth W Lawry Family Foundation'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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