Forum for the Future of Higher Education
To engage in activities which promote education, including conducting research and presenting public discussion groups, forums, panel lectures, and similar programs on educational issues.
Forum for the Future of Higher Education at a glance
- Total assets
- $1,440,385
- +35.2% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $692,456
- +166.3% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $42,456
- -43.4% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $353,053
- -19.9% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Forum for the Future of Higher Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $200K (2022) to $200K (2023). In 2023 it made 1 grant totaling $200K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Inform a national conversation on the future of higher education | $200,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Forum for the Future of Higher Education?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,440,385 | $692,456 | $353,053 | — | — | $42,456 |
| 2024 | $1,065,356 | $259,980 | $440,900 | — | — | $74,980 |
| 2023 | $2,089,333 | $596,697 | $1,004,342 | $200,000 | 1 | $65,807 |
| 2022 | $2,373,869 | $508,973 | $1,880,114 | $200,000 | 1 | $14,814 |
| 2021 | $2,907,657 | $491,278 | $805,785 | — | — | $278 |
| 2020 | $3,222,164 | $1,499,216 | $1,430,047 | — | — | $28,473 |
About Forum for the Future of Higher Education
Based on IRS filings
Forum for the Future of Higher Education is a public charity focused on Education, based in Cambridge, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. Net investment income was $42K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Forum for the Future of Higher Education is led by Laurie P. Patton, President on the 2025 filing; none of the 22 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Laurie P. Patton
President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Goodwin H. Liu
Chair of Board
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cherry A. Murray
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David M. Rubenstein
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Oxtoby
Former President
President → Former President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah F. Rutter
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeannette M. Wing
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Mark Hansen
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kwame Anthony Appiah
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Jay Shapiro
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Robinson
Executive Officer
Chief Operating Officer → Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natasha Trethewey
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pauline Yu
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shirley M. Tilghman
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen B. Heintz
Vice Chair of Board
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Earl Lewis
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth L. Wallach
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula J. Giddings
Vice Chair of Board
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret A. Hamburg
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip N. Bredesen
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Deavere Smith
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Woodruff
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Louise H. Bryson (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Nancy C. Andrews (2022–2023) — Chair of Board
- Former: Joel W Meyerson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Carl H. Pforzheimer III (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Diane P. Wood (2022) — Vice Chair of Board
- Former: Geraldine L. Richmond (2022) — Secretary
- Former: Nannerl O. Keohane (2022) — Member
- Former: Daniel M Meyers (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: John Curry (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: John J Degioia (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Linda Hill (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael McPherson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ted Mitchell (2020–2021) — Past Director
- Former: William Hanson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: William Massy (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Joseph Mullinix (2021) — Director
- Former: Molly Corbett Broad (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Forum for the Future of Higher Education
How large is Forum for the Future of Higher Education?
Forum for the Future of Higher Education reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $692K.
What is Forum for the Future of Higher Education?
Forum for the Future of Higher Education is a public charity focused on Education, based in Cambridge, MA. It holds $1.4M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Forum for the Future of Higher Education operate?
Forum for the Future of Higher Education has awarded grants in Massachusetts.
What is Forum for the Future of Higher Education's EIN?
Forum for the Future of Higher Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3333819. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Forum for the Future of Higher Education's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
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
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Forum for the Future of Higher Education'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.
Forum for the Future of Higher Education down — hundreds of funders to go?