Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation logo

Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation

BOSTON, MA EIN: 04-6111826 Website

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

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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:

  1. Programs that effectively divert court-involved youth and juvenile offenders from escalating involvement in the criminal justice system
  2. Programs that promote the use and acceptance of alternatives to incarceration and intermediate criminal sanctions
  3. Innovative and effective approaches to rehabilitation for detained and incarcerated juvenile and adult offenders
  4. Methods that improve the administration of justice and the quality of services for individuals appearing before criminal court
  5. 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

10states
+2 more states

Cities

AmherstAuburndaleAustinBedfordBeverlyBostonBrewsterBrocktonBrunswickCambridgeCentervilleChelseaConcordDedhamDorchesterEasthamptonFoxboroFraminghamGreenfieldHartland

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
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$653K$1M$2M$3M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
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

$0$276K$552K$828K$1M68 grants202066 grants202183 grants202265 grants202374 grants202473 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR …$70KCENTER FOR LAW BRAIN AND…$25KCITIZENS FOR JUVENILE JU…$25KMASS INC$23KCLARK UNIVERSITY$20KEMERSON COLLEGE$20KMASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY …$20KNEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PR…$20KOLD COLONY YMCA$20KONE CAN HELP INC$20K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

245<$50K5$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Executive Director: Thomas E. Coury

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

THOMAS E COURYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$163K

From 2025 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
THOMAS E COURYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40$163,154
BENJAMIN J WILLIAMS JRTRUSTEE1
THEODORE E OBERTRUSTEE0.5
PETER P BROWNTRUSTEE0.5

Contact Information

Address: 355 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Phone: 617-247-3500

Fax: 617-247-3505

Website: www.shawfoundation.org

EIN: 04-6111826

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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