Grayson Family Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 52-2007478

The Grayson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1996. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization that receives contributions and investment income, which it then distributes to exempt organizations.

Key facts about Grayson Family Foundation

EIN
52-2007478
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,489,250
Grants made (2024)
93
Average grant
$16,013
Median grant
$5,000
New grantees (estimate)
33% first-time grantees (27 of 81, 2024)
Total assets
$6,303,207
Primary geography
Massachusetts (81% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Grayson Family Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Grayson Family Foundation's 93 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (81%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (30 grants), Burlington, VT (10 grants), Cambridge, MA (8 grants) and New York, NY (8 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Grayson Family Foundation open to new grantees?

33%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 27 of 81 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $24K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$6.3M

+0.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.5M

-6.7% YoY

Grant Count

93

+29.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$16K

-27.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grayson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation gives primarily for education. Additional focus areas include:

  • Arts and culture
  • Museums and history museums
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Higher education
  • Philanthropy and nonprofits
  • Religion, particularly Christianity

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$5,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, with particular emphasis on:

  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • New York
  • Vermont
  • Maine
  • California

Major cities receiving support include Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Grant Distribution by State

18states

Share of all 93 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

BostonBurlingtonCambridgeNew YorkScarboroughWashingtonJacksonViennaBrooklineMcleanConcordJamaica PlainActonAlamedaBrunswickCincinnatiDorchesterSouth BurlingtonWalthamYarmouth

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Data (2024):

  • Total assets: $6.3 million
  • Total giving: $1.5 million
  • Total revenues: $889,905
  • Total expenses: $1.6 million
  • Giving rate: approximately 25.5% of assets

Contact Information:

  • Address: 81 Beacon Street, Suite 2, Boston, MA 02108-3421
  • Telephone: 617-784-6304
  • EIN: 52-2007478
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$510K$1M$2M$2M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$6,303,207$6,244,853$6,981,195
Revenue$1,595,532$889,905$272,868
Expenses$1,537,178$1,626,247$1,182,223
Qualifying Distributions$1,495,090$1,599,975$1,148,649
Net Investment Income$1,584,801$606,574$253,886
Distributable Amount$1,323,293$1,272,447$1,365,195

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$399K$798K$1M$2M60 grants202066 grants202157 grants202272 grants202393 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

President and Fellows Harvard: $710K across 3 grantsPresident and Fellows Harvard$710K · 3 grantsWbur Radio Station Fund: $185K across 4 grantsWbur Radio Station Fund$185K · 4 grantsBoston Athenum: $50KBoston Athenum$50KDana Farber Cancer (Jimmy Fund): $45K across 3 grantsDana Farber Cancer (JimmyFund)$45K · 3 grantsAmerican Trust for Oxford University: $45KAmerican Trust for OxfordUniversity$45KMater Cristi Annual Fund: $40K across 3 grantsMater Cristi Annual Fund$40K · 3 grantsMore Than Words: $35KMore Than Words$35KHarvard University: $25KHarvard University$25KTeach for America: $25KTeach for America$25KCato Institute: $20KCato Institute$20K

Grant Size Distribution

348 grants across all recorded years

330<$50K3$50–100K4$100–250K10$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include President and Fellows Harvard ($710,000 across 3 grants), Wbur Radio Station Fund ($185,000 across 4 grants), Boston Athenum ($50,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS HARVARD Cambridge, MAGENERAL$700,000
WBUR RADIO STATION FUND Boston, MAGENERAL$125,000
BOSTON ATHENUM Boston, MAGENERAL$50,000
AMERICAN TRUST FOR OXFORD UNIVERSITY Tuscaloosa, ALGENERAL$45,000
MORE THAN WORDS Waltham, MAGENERAL$35,000
WBUR RADIO STATION FUND Boston, MAGENERAL$25,000
HARVARD UNIVERSITY Cambridge, MAGENERAL$25,000
DANA FARBER CANCER (JIMMY FUND) Boston, MAGENERAL$25,000
WBUR RADIO STATION FUND Boston, MAGENERAL$25,000
TEACH FOR AMERICA New York, NYGENERAL$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Bruns H. Grayson – President
  • Perrin M. Grayson – Secretary/Treasurer
  • Lucy P. Deland – Trustee
  • Susan Adams – Treasurer

All key personnel serve without compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2022 IRS filing

Susan Adams — Treasurer: $20KSusan AdamsTreasurer$20K

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Bruns H GraysonPresident——
Perrin M GraysonSecretary/Treasury——
Lucy P DelandTrustee——
Susan AdamsTreasurer——

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Grayson Family Foundation fund?

The foundation gives primarily for education. Additional focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Museums and history museums • Elementary and secondary education • Higher education • Philanthropy and nonprofits • Religion, particularly Christianity

How do I apply for a grant from Grayson Family Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Grayson Family Foundation make grants?

The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, with particular emphasis on: • Massachusetts • Maryland • New York • Vermont • Maine • California Major cities receiving support include Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.

What size grants does Grayson Family Foundation award?

In 2024, Grayson Family Foundation awarded 93 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Grayson Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Grayson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Grayson Family Foundation's EIN?

Grayson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2007478. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Grayson Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

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