Foundations & Grantmakers in Massachusetts
5,604 grantmakers in Massachusetts reported grants on their latest 990s. The 2,527 that made at least 5 grants gave $4.3B. The largest by giving are Boston Foundation Inc, Fidelity Foundation and Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Looking for open funding opportunities instead? Browse Massachusetts grants
Foundation giving in Massachusetts at a glance
Active grantmakers
5,604
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$4.3B
from the 2,527 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$18K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$88K
per grantmaker
Top 10 foundations in Massachusetts by annual giving
| # | Funder | City | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Foundation Inc | Boston | $228.4M | 2,375 |
| 2 | Fidelity Foundation | Boston | $156.2M | 4,430 |
| 3 | Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation | Boston | $135.2M | 108 |
| 4 | Barr Foundation | Boston | $123.2M | 903 |
| 5 | The Broad Institute Inc | Cambridge | $86.0M | 77 |
| 6 | The Klarman Family Foundation | Boston | $82.2M | 260 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp | Boston | $72.6M | 21 |
| 8 | Grantham Foundation for the Protection | Boston | $67.0M | 83 |
| 9 | Adelson Family Foundation | Needham | $66.9M | 55 |
| 10 | The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc | Boston | $66.2M | 165 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 5 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Education 300 · 28%
- Human Services 115 · 11%
- Health 98 · 9%
- Arts, Culture & Humanities 77 · 7%
- Environment & Animals 66 · 6%
- Medical Research 50 · 5%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (43% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Community foundations in Massachusetts
- Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts $22.4M · 392 grants
- Essex County Community Foundation Inc $13.0M · 302 grants
- Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc $12.8M · 381 grants
- Greater Worcester Community Foundation Inc $8.6M · 286 grants
- Community Foundation of North Central MA $4.7M · 115 grants
- Community Foundation for Nantucket Inc $4.1M · 82 grants
- Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc $3.9M · 110 grants
- Community Foundation for MetroWest Inc $3.6M · 158 grants
Showing the largest 8 of 13 with at least 10 grants.
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2024).
Most open to new grantees in Massachusetts
Foundations based in Massachusetts whose latest grant list had the largest share of organizations they had not funded in any earlier year on file.
| # | Funder | First-time grantees | Grantees | Avg first grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barr Foundation | >99% (897) | 903 in 2024 | $136K |
| 2 | New Bedford Economic Development Council Inc | 97% (28) | 29 in 2025 | $13K |
| 3 | Invest in Others Charitable Foundation | 94% (30) | 32 in 2025 | $46K |
| 4 | Foundation for Theological Education in Asia and the Pacific | 93% (39) | 42 in 2024 | $13K |
| 5 | Bill Belichick Foundation Inc | 90% (19) | 21 in 2024 | $10K |
| 6 | Florence Evans Bushee Foundation Inc | 88% (52) | 59 in 2025 | $6K |
| 7 | Sincere Foundation Inc | 82% (27) | 33 in 2025 | $11K |
| 8 | The Mentor Network Charitable Foundation | 81% (17) | 21 in 2025 | $5K |
| 9 | National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance Inc | 78% (54) | 69 in 2025 | $677K |
| 10 | Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund Trust | 77% (41) | 53 in 2024 | $231K |
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990 and 990-PF grant lists. Only foundations with at least 20 grants in each of the last three years (and 20 distinct grantees in the latest), a filing from the last 2 years, and first grants averaging at least $1K are ranked; grants to individuals are left out, and recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed grantee can look new. How we calculate this.
Showing 2,527 grantmakers in Massachusetts with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Fidelity Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$5.0B
Grants
4,430
Total Given
$156.2M
Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$2.6B
Grants
108
Total Given
$135.2M
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
The Broad Institute Inc
Cambridge, MA
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
77
Total Given
$86.0M
The Klarman Family Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$713.2M
Grants
260
Total Given
$82.2M
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp
Boston, MA
Assets
$24.2M
Grants
21
Total Given
$72.6M
Grantham Foundation for the Protection
Boston, MA
Assets
$613.2M
Grants
83
Total Given
$67.0M
Adelson Family Foundation
Needham, MA
Assets
$21.0M
Grants
55
Total Given
$66.9M
The Patrick J McGovern Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
165
Total Given
$66.2M
Popplestone Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$27.6M
Grants
24
Total Given
$51.3M
Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
706
Total Given
$50.6M
Fiduciary Charitable Foundation DBA Fiduciary Trust Charitable
Boston, MA
Assets
$112.2M
Grants
299
Total Given
$49.4M
ONE8 Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$401.1M
Grants
188
Total Given
$48.8M
Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson
Needham, MA
Assets
$714K
Grants
38
Total Given
$40.8M
Provision Ministry Inc
Westborough, MA
Assets
$2.0M
Grants
27
Total Given
$39.3M
National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance Inc
Hadley, MA
Assets
$89.5M
Grants
69
Total Given
$38.4M
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (FKA Oneworld Boston Inc)
Woburn, MA
Assets
$258.2M
Grants
658
Total Given
$38.2M
JSI Research & Training Institute Inc
Boston, MA
Assets
$195.8M
Grants
205
Total Given
$37.4M
Mellen Charitable Fdn (FKA TF Fdn)
Boston, MA
Assets
$307.9M
Grants
17
Total Given
$35.7M
Mathworks Foundation Inc
Natick, MA
Assets
$444.8M
Grants
9
Total Given
$35.4M
The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust
Boston, MA
Assets
$467.7M
Grants
24
Total Given
$34.9M
Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation
Wellesley Hills, MA
Assets
$43.2M
Grants
161
Total Given
$33.8M
The Flatley Foundation
Braintree, MA
Assets
$691.0M
Grants
159
Total Given
$32.8M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Questions about foundations in Massachusetts
What are the largest foundations in Massachusetts?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are Boston Foundation Inc ($228.4M across 2,375 grants), Fidelity Foundation ($156.2M) and Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation ($135.2M). Together the top 10 account for 25% of the $4.3B given by the 2,527 grantmakers in Massachusetts that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical foundation grant in Massachusetts?
The typical grant is about $18K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $88K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Are there community foundations in Massachusetts?
Yes. We found 13 community foundations in Massachusetts with grant activity. The largest by giving are Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Essex County Community Foundation Inc and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc. Community foundations pool gifts from many local donors and usually run open grant rounds for nonprofits in their area, which makes them a good first stop for local funding.
How do I find Massachusetts foundations that accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations in Massachusetts from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.