Edwin S Webster Foundation
The Edwin S. Webster Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It supports charitable organizations, generally in New England, with emphasis on hospitals, medical research, education, youth agencies, cultural activities, and programs addressing the needs of minorities.
Edwin S Webster Foundation at a glance
In short: Edwin S Webster Foundation gave $2.5M across 63 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in Massachusetts. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,530,000
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 63
- -7.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,159
- +10.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $56,371,641
- +8.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (8 of 63, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Edwin S Webster Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Review Cycle
- May 1 and November 1 each year. The May 1, 2026 deadline has passed; the next listed deadline is November 1, 2026. The foundation advises applicants to contact its office before applying.
- Deadline
- May 1 and November 1 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Angela Mcintosh
Mailing address: 2 Liberty Square Ste 500, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 391-3082
Email: amcintosh@gmafoundations.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Edwin S Webster Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Greater Boston Food Bank ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
337 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 275 grants of 337 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it generally confines grants primarily to New England. In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to Massachusetts recipients, 14% to New Hampshire, 8% to Vermont, 3% to New York, and 3% to Maine. Its guidelines also state that it makes no grants outside the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 63 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Edwin S Webster Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 63 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2019) to $2.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 63 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Greater Boston Food Bank Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $300,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $225,000 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Holderness, NH | General Operating Support | $125,000 |
| Speare Memorial Hospital Plymouth, NH | General Operating Support | $90,000 |
| Boston Childrens Hospital Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $70,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | General Operating Support | $65,000 |
| Schepens Eye Research Institute Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $65,000 |
| Hospital for Special Surgery New York, NY | General Operating Support | $60,000 |
| Friends of the Children - Boston Inc Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Edwin S Webster Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,371,641 | $5,674,854 | $2,882,476 | $2,530,000 | 63 | $2,599,592 | $5,412,685 | $2,636,697 |
| 2024 | $52,088,615 | $3,362,483 | $2,821,371 | $2,470,000 | 68 | $2,584,247 | $3,019,450 | $2,514,720 |
| 2023 | $48,542,988 | $3,239,340 | $2,404,148 | $2,125,000 | 67 | $2,193,133 | $2,964,217 | $2,204,895 |
| 2022 | $42,500,043 | $3,278,545 | $2,611,749 | $2,285,000 | 70 | $2,365,820 | $3,236,020 | $2,194,731 |
| 2021 | $50,353,144 | $3,865,699 | $2,260,324 | $1,955,000 | 69 | $2,031,790 | $4,040,556 | $2,272,960 |
| 2020 | $44,123,318 | $2,793,167 | $2,216,299 | $1,935,000 | 72 | — | $2,580,557 | $1,932,564 |
| 2019 | $42,126,290 | $1,918,862 | $1,868,747 | $1,575,000 | 69 | — | $1,741,621 | $1,918,384 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edwin S Webster Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2025 — 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 guidelines describe its funding priorities rather than stating a separate mission. They emphasize hospitals, medical research, education, youth agencies, cultural activities, and programs addressing the needs of minorities. Its FAQ says the largest share of grants goes to social-service organizations, followed by hospitals, civic-service organizations, and educational institutions; it also supports arts and environmental issues.
Examples of grantees illustrate this range. The Greater Boston Food Bank describes its work as acquiring and distributing food through member agencies and direct distribution sites. Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston says it focuses on academics, workforce development, and health and wellness for young people. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center describes its mission as advancing understanding of ecology through exploration of New Hampshire’s natural world.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 63 grants totaling $2,530,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $300,000, with a median of $25,000. Examples include $300,000 to The Greater Boston Food Bank, $225,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, $200,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital, $125,000 to Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, and $90,000 to Speare Memorial Hospital. The listed purposes for these grants were general operating support.
The foundation considers capital, project, and general operating requests, and occasionally makes multiple-year grants. Its website says the program is not invitation-only, so it accepts unsolicited requests. It also says trustees tend to have personal knowledge of grantees; the FAQ advises organizations without strong trustee support to seek funding elsewhere.
Applications are submitted online. The filing lists application materials including a budget template, the most recent audit, board list, organizational history and mission, program descriptions and budgets, fiscal-year-end information, net assets, requested amount, previous support, project description, type of support, staffing and collaborators, proposed outcomes, and other funding sources. Applicants must be U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations that are not private foundations under section 509(a). The foundation makes no grants outside the United States or to individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Henry U Harris III, Suzanne Harte Chick, and Thomas C Beck as trustees.
Edwin S Webster Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Henry U. Harris III
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$12K (2019) → $14K (2025)
Thomas C. Beck
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$12K (2019) → $14K (2025)
Suzanne Harte Chick
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$14K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Alexander W. Hiam (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Suzanne Harte Sears (2019–2024) — Trustee
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 $14K, to Henry U Harris III (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Edwin S Webster Foundation
How much does Edwin S Webster Foundation give each year?
Edwin S Webster Foundation gave $2.5M across 63 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.5M across 68 grants.
What is Edwin S Webster Foundation's typical grant size?
Edwin S Webster Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $40,159, across 63 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Edwin S Webster Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Edwin S Webster Foundation give grants?
Edwin S Webster Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Hampshire (14%) and Vermont (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (18 grants), Norfolk, VA (4 grants), Plymouth, NH (3 grants) and Holderness, NH (3 grants).
Does Edwin S Webster Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Edwin S Webster Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (63 of 63) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Edwin S Webster Foundation's largest grantees?
Edwin S Webster Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Greater Boston Food Bank ($300,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston ($225,000) and Massachusetts General Hospital ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Edwin S Webster Foundation?
Edwin S Webster Foundation reported $56.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (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 Edwin S Webster Foundation fund?
The foundation’s guidelines describe its funding priorities rather than stating a separate mission. They emphasize hospitals, medical research, education, youth agencies, cultural activities, and programs addressing the needs of minorities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Edwin S Webster Foundation?
Edwin S Webster Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Edwin S Webster Foundation's EIN?
Edwin S Webster Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6000647. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Edwin S Webster Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Edwin S Webster Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Eastern Bank Foundation
Wakefield, MA
Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$266.7M
Grants
1,786
Total Given
$19.0M
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Liberty Mutual Foundation funds basic needs such as food and shelter, education and workforce development, and climate and community infrastructure, including homelessness and community preparedness programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $35,000, and most funding supports organizations or programs serving the Boston area, though it also gives elsewhere. It accepts unsolicited online requests on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines.
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
706
Total Given
$50.6M
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (FKA Oneworld Boston Inc)
Woburn, MA
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc. funds nonprofits working in human services, education, healthcare, fairness and justice, and the environment, primarily in greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $3.5 million, with a median of $35,000; it accepts letters of inquiry through an online portal during its application cycle, which was not open at the time described.
Assets
$258.2M
Grants
658
Total Given
$38.2M
American Tower Corporation Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
632
Total Given
$1.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Edwin S Webster Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/edwin-s-webster-foundation-morg_0efaec461e2f4b3890819d1dd1eec548
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046000647_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Edwin S Webster Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/edwin-s-webster-foundation-morg_0efaec461e2f4b3890819d1dd1eec548},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Edwin S Webster 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.
Edwin S Webster Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?