Digs Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Chatham, MA EIN: 47-6774819

Digs Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chatham, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $994K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 22 grants totaling $80K. Net investment income was $66K.

Key facts about Digs Foundation

In short: Digs Foundation gave $80K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Massachusetts. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
47-6774819
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$79,877
Grants made (2024)
22
Average grant
$3,631
Median grant
$2,500
New grantees (estimate)
9% first-time grantees (2 of 22, 2024)
Total assets
$993,507
Primary geography
Massachusetts (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$994K

-3.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$80K

+13.5% YoY

Grant Count

22

+4.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$4K

+8.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Digs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $90K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Digs Foundation open to new grantees?

9%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 22 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 91% 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.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of all 22 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

New OrleansBraintreeBostonHinghamBeverlyChestnut HillEvanstonOssiningSouth HamiltonWorcesterYarmouthportGenevaChicagoDallasJamaica PlainAtlantaBostnBrooklineEastonGreenwich

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K32 grants202021 grants202120 grants202221 grants202322 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Cathedral High School Boston: $15KCathedral High School Boston$15KCampaign for Catholic Schools: $14KCampaign for Catholic Schools$14KLandmark School: $6KLandmark School$6KCatholic Charities Archdiocese Boston: $5KCatholic Charities ArchdioceseBoston$5KCollege of the Holy Cross: $5KCollege of the Holy Cross$5KHobart and William Smith Colleges: $5KHobart and William SmithColleges$5KTulane University: $5KTulane University$5KNativity Preparatory School of Boston: $3KNativity Preparatory School ofBoston$3KBoston College: $3KBoston College$3KCardinal Cushing Center School: $3KCardinal Cushing Center School$3K

Grant Size Distribution

116 grants across all recorded years

116<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL BOSTON Boston, MATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$15,000
CAMPAIGN FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Braintree, MATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$14,000
LANDMARK SCHOOL Beverly, MATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$6,000
CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE BOSTON Boston, MATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$5,000
COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS Worcester, MATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$5,000
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES Geneva, NYTO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$5,000
TULANE UNIVERSITY New Orleans, LATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$5,000
NATIVITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF BOSTON Jamaica Plain, MATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$3,000
BOSTON COLLEGE Chestnut Hill, MATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$2,500
CARDINAL CUSHING CENTER SCHOOL Braintree, MATO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION$2,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K$200K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$993,507$1,033,797$1,041,229
Revenue$68,073$36,283$52,483
Expenses$83,556$70,381$115,216
Qualifying Distributions$81,673$70,377$77,205
Net Investment Income$66,190$36,283$52,483
Distributable Amount$89,624$76,164$76,296

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Digs Foundation is led by Andy Shafter, President, Clerk & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Andy Shafter

    President, Clerk & Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    $13K (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Maryann Shafter

    Treasurer & Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    $13K (2020) → $0 (2024)

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 2022 IRS filing

Andy Shafter — President/Clerk/Trustee: $19KAndy ShafterPresident/Clerk/Trustee$19KMaryann Shafter — Treasurer/Trustee: $13KMaryann ShafterTreasurer/Trustee$13K

Frequently asked questions about Digs Foundation

How much does Digs Foundation give each year?

Digs Foundation gave $80K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $70K across 21 grants.

What is Digs Foundation's typical grant size?

Digs Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,631, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Digs Foundation that year got $1K on average.

Where does Digs Foundation give grants?

Digs Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Louisiana (12%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and Braintree, MA (3 grants).

Does Digs Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Digs Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Provide Financial Assistance to Charitable Organization" (22 grants).

Who are Digs Foundation's largest grantees?

Digs Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cathedral High School Boston ($15,000), Campaign for Catholic Schools ($14,000) and Landmark School ($6,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Digs Foundation?

Digs Foundation reported $994K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $82K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $90K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Digs Foundation?

Digs Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chatham, MA. It holds $994K in total assets as of 2024.

What is Digs Foundation's EIN?

Digs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6774819. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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