Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation
The Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation is an independent private foundation established in 1959 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation focuses on criminal and juvenile justice reform, with particular emphasis on improving how the justice system operates and serves offenders and at-risk youth.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.6M
+7.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$972K
+6.4% YoY
Grant Count
73
-1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+7.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on the study of prevention, correction, and alleviation of crime and delinquency, and the rehabilitation of adult and juvenile offenders. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that demonstrate current awareness of major issues confronting the criminal justice system.
Primary funding priorities include:
- Programs that effectively divert court-involved youth and juvenile offenders from escalating involvement in the criminal justice system
- Programs that promote the use and acceptance of alternatives to incarceration and intermediate criminal sanctions
- Innovative and effective approaches to rehabilitation for detained and incarcerated juvenile and adult offenders
- Methods that improve the administration of justice and the quality of services for individuals appearing before criminal court
- Initiatives that impact current public policy in criminal justice through education, training, and effective advocacy
Specific funding interests include:
- Research, analysis, and journalism examining important criminal and juvenile justice issues
- Innovative approaches to the reintegration of adult and juvenile offenders leaving correctional and detention facilities
- Programs demonstrating effective inter-agency and community collaboration models for crime prevention
- Initiatives addressing the legal, social, and rehabilitative needs of offenders through advocacy, public education, and training
Grantmaking
The foundation made 54 total grants in 2025 totaling approximately $793,960.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Massachusetts, though it also supports work in Pennsylvania and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total Assets: $13,630,186
- Total Annual Giving: $971,660
- Total Revenues: $2,373,112
- Total Expenses: $1,391,295
- Number of Employees: 1
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,630,186 | $12,648,369 | $12,329,485 |
| Revenue | $2,373,112 | $1,615,295 | $1,220,657 |
| Expenses | $1,391,295 | $1,296,411 | $1,337,386 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,183,665 | $1,140,790 | $1,183,871 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,204,726 | $1,372,973 | $1,033,142 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,432,454 | $1,267,284 | $1,193,969 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Community Resources for Justice ($70,000), Center for Law Brain and Behavior ($25,000), Citizens for Juvenile Justice ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADOLESCENT CONSULTATION SERVICES INC CAMBRIDGE, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE JUVENIAL JUSTICE COURT CLINIC ADVOCACY PROJECT. | $5,000 |
| ADOLESCENT CONSULTATION SERVICES INC CAMBRIDGE, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL EVENT | $1,500 |
| AMAZING GRACE OF CAPE COD CENTERVILLE, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH INCARCERATED PARENTS. | $15,000 |
| AMIRAH INC BEVERLY, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROJECT. | $10,000 |
| BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PITTSFIELD, MA | SUPPORT FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE THEATRICAL PRODUCTION. | $4,000 |
| BOSTON FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | SUPPORT FOR TBF CIVIC FUND. | $5,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF BOSTON BOSTON, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE YOUTH CONNECTS ANNUAL EVENT. | $5,000 |
| BROCTON INTERFAITH COMMUNITY INC BROCKTON, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM PROJECT. | $15,000 |
| CENTER FOR LAW BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR BOSTON, MA | SUPPORT FOR THE EMERGING ADULT OFFENDER PROJECT. | $25,000 |
| CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MA LYNN, MA | SUPPORT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Thomas E. Coury
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS E COURY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $163,154 |
| BENJAMIN J WILLIAMS JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| THEODORE E OBER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| PETER P BROWN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 355 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-247-3500
Fax: 617-247-3505
Website: www.shawfoundation.org
EIN: 04-6111826
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on the study of prevention, correction, and alleviation of crime and delinquency, and the rehabilitation of adult and juvenile offenders. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that demonstrate current awareness of major issues confronting the criminal justice system. **Primary funding priorities include:** 1. Programs that effectively divert court-involved youth and juvenile offenders from escalating involvement in the criminal justice system 2. Programs that p…
How do I apply for a grant from Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $256 to $70,000. **Application Timeline:** Requests for funding are due no later than February 1st annually, with funding decisions made no later than May 31st. **Recent Grants (2025):** • Community Resources for Justice: $70,000 (support for the Greater Boston Coming Home Offender Resource Directory) • Worcester Common Ground: $30,000 (support for the Worcester County Coming Home Directory) • Prisoners' Legal Services: $30,000 (support for the Priso…
Where does Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Massachusetts, though it also supports work in Pennsylvania and Vermont.
What size grants does Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation award?
In 2025, Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation awarded 73 grants totaling $972K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation's EIN?
Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6111826. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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