Gravestar Foundation
Gravestar Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing lists grants to organizations working in areas including food and nutrition, health, foster care, education, theatre, and coastal conservation.
Gravestar Foundation at a glance
In short: Gravestar Foundation gave $148K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Massachusetts. 48% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $147,500
- +20.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- +3.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,463
- +16.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,596,072
- -3.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (13 of 27, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gravestar Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. It lists Anthony J Barsamian as the contact, accepts any form and materials, and states that there are no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Anthony J Barsamian
Mailing address: C/O Gravestar Inc 160 Second St, Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: (617) 492-4118
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gravestar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Servings Inc ($20K). Together the top 10 received $69K.
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 110 grants of 112 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Massachusetts organizations received 83% of grant dollars. Ohio, Virginia, Vermont, and Georgia each received 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gravestar Foundation open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 27 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $107K (2021) to $202K (2022). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $148K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Servings Inc Jamaica Plain, MA | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Rise Above Foundation Inc Northbridge, MA | Charitable | $7,000 |
| Anna Jaques Hospital Newburyport, MA | Charitable | $7,000 |
| Armenia Assembly of America Stoneham, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Armenia Tree Project Boston, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Center for Coastal Studies Inc Provincetown, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| City Year Inc Boston, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Esperanza Academy Lawrence, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Helping Our Women Provincetown, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Lend a Hand Society Boston, MA | Chartiable | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gravestar Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,596,072 | $57,927 | $160,194 | $147,500 | 27 | $152,285 | $53,169 | $164,463 |
| 2023 | $2,698,339 | $88,858 | $162,334 | $122,000 | 26 | $122,000 | $51,074 | $141,909 |
| 2022 | $2,771,815 | $1,084,054 | $223,195 | $201,745 | 19 | $201,745 | $1,345,697 | $126,637 |
| 2021 | $1,910,956 | $112,110 | $129,585 | $106,750 | 19 | $106,750 | $90,761 | $158,734 |
| 2020 | $1,928,431 | $-22,839 | $177,519 | $150,860 | 21 | — | $12,003 | $133,144 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gravestar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Community Servings says it provides medically tailored meals and groceries to people who are chronically or critically ill and their families. Rise Above Foundation describes providing Massachusetts children in foster care with access to enriching activities and experiences. Other supported organizations include a supportive-housing provider for people with developmental disabilities, a service organization for women with serious or disabling illnesses, a supplier of essential items to children in low-income or homeless situations, a professional theatre and dramatic education company, a coastal research and conservation organization, and a tuition-free all-girls middle school.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $147,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest listed grants were $20,000 to Community Servings Inc. and $7,000 each to Rise Above Foundation Inc. and Anna Jaques Hospital. Other listed awards included $5,000 each to Armenia Assembly of America, Armenia Tree Project, Center for Coastal Studies, City Year, Esperanza Academy, Helping Our Women, Lend a Hand Society, Pebbles of Strength, and Solon Community Living.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carolyn G Mugar and Anthony J Barsamian as trustees.
Gravestar Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carolyn G. Mugar
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony J. Barsamian
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Janet M. Corpus (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Gravestar Foundation
How much does Gravestar Foundation give each year?
Gravestar Foundation gave $148K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $122K across 26 grants.
What is Gravestar Foundation's typical grant size?
Gravestar Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,463, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gravestar Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Gravestar Foundation give grants?
Gravestar Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (8 grants), Stoneham, MA (4 grants), Provincetown, MA (2 grants) and Winchester, MA (2 grants).
Does Gravestar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Gravestar Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (16 grants) and "Chartiable" (11 grants).
Who are Gravestar Foundation's largest grantees?
Gravestar Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Servings Inc ($20,000), Rise Above Foundation Inc ($7,000) and Anna Jaques Hospital ($7,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gravestar Foundation?
Gravestar Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $152K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $164K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Gravestar Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Community Servings says it provides medically tailored meals and groceries to people who are chronically or critically ill and their families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gravestar Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gravestar Foundation's EIN?
Gravestar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3391926. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Gravestar Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gravestar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gravestar-foundation-morg_dca9906301434c47a6eb82ab52b70e8f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043391926_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gravestar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gravestar-foundation-morg_dca9906301434c47a6eb82ab52b70e8f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gravestar Foundation'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.
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