Edwin S Webster Foundation
The Edwin S. Webster Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1948 by Edwin Sibley Webster (1867-1950), co-founder of the engineering firm Stone & Webster. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since September 1949. The foundation is classified as a private grantmaking foundation and distributes grants to charitable organizations across the United States, with a primary focus on the New England region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$52.1M
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
+16.2% YoY
Grant Count
68
+1.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+14.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edwin S Webster Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support charitable organizations that are well known to the trustees. Primary funding areas include:
- Hospitals and medical research
- Education
- Youth agencies
- Cultural activities
- Programs addressing the needs of minorities
The foundation explicitly states that it gives "primarily to organizations that are well known to the foundation's trustees" and that grant-making is heavily influenced by trustee relationships.
Grantmaking
The foundation considers requests for:
Grant Range
$5,000 to $250,000
Review Cycle
of May 1 and November 1
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation confines its grants primarily to the New England area, with particular emphasis on Massachusetts. No grants are made outside the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets (2024): $52.1 million
- Total assets (2023): $48.5 million
- Growth from 2011: Assets have grown from approximately $26.5 million
Revenue & Expenses (2024):
- Total revenue: $3.36 million
- Total expenses: $2.82 million
- Net income: $541,112
- Total liabilities: $0
Revenue Sources (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $887,325
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2,351,849
Annual Giving:
- 2024: $2.19 million
- 2023: $2.125 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,088,615 | $48,542,988 | $42,500,043 |
| Revenue | $3,362,483 | $3,239,340 | $3,278,545 |
| Expenses | $2,821,371 | $2,404,148 | $2,611,749 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,584,247 | $2,193,133 | $2,365,820 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,019,450 | $2,964,217 | $3,236,020 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,514,720 | $2,204,895 | $2,194,731 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Massachusetts General Hospital ($175,000), Squam Lakes Natural Science Center ($175,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BENNINGTON MUSEUM BENNINGTON, VT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BETSY'S PARK HOLDERNESS, NH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BOSTON BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| BRATTLEBORO MUSEUM & ART CENTER BRATTLEBORO, VT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CARE DIMENSIONS DANVERS, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL NORFOLK, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ECHOING GREEN FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDER W HIAM | TRUSTEE (THROUGH 2/26/24) | 5 | $6,000 |
| HENRY U HARRIS III | TRUSTEE | 5 | $14,400 |
| SUZANNE HARTE SEARS | TRUSTEE | 5 | $14,400 |
| THOMAS C BECK | TRUSTEE | 5 | $14,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Edwin S Webster Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support charitable organizations that are well known to the trustees. Primary funding areas include: • Hospitals and medical research • Education • Youth agencies • Cultural activities • Programs addressing the needs of minorities The foundation explicitly states that it gives "primarily to organizations that are well known to the foundation's trustees" and that grant-making is heavily influenced by trustee relationships.
How do I apply for a grant from Edwin S Webster Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $5,000 to $250,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $2.1 to $2.5 million • Number of grants: 60-70 grants distributed annually • Success rate: Approximately 29-36% (roughly 25 grants from 70-85 applications per cycle) **Types of Support:** The foundation considers requests for: • Capital programs • Special projects • Operating income • Endowment grants (occasional larger gifts for institutional endowments) **Application Process:** • Applications a…
Where does Edwin S Webster Foundation make grants?
The foundation confines its grants primarily to the New England area, with particular emphasis on Massachusetts. No grants are made outside the United States.
What size grants does Edwin S Webster Foundation award?
In 2024, Edwin S Webster Foundation awarded 68 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Edwin S Webster Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Edwin S Webster Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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