Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a public charity based in Lowell, Massachusetts, founded in 1997. It supports nonprofits and area students through grantmaking, scholarships, and special funding initiatives, with the stated aim of improving quality of life in Greater Lowell and Merrimack Valley.
Key facts about Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc
In short: Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc gave $3.9M across 110 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Massachusetts. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 04-3401997
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,867,270
- Grants made (2025)
- 110
- Average grant
- $35,157
- Median grant
- $17,796
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (46 of 110, 2025)
- Total assets
- $75,199,784
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- The 2026 Discretionary Grants Cycle deadline was March 2, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.; applicants were to be notified in…
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; 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.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$75.2M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+40.1% YoY
Grant Count
110
+23.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+13.3% YoY
Is Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 46 of 110 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
GLCF’s mission is to foster community growth and development through funding, leadership, and collaboration. Its filing describes its work as attracting funds, distributing grants, and serving as a catalyst and leader in addressing identified and emerging community needs. The foundation says it makes grants to nonprofits, awards high school scholarships, and supports special funding initiatives.
The foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting collaboration and direct services across a range of community needs. Its 2026 Discretionary Grants Program identifies Leclair Elder Services, Children’s Services, and LGBTQ+ Services as strategic categories. Its 2026 Women Working Wonders Fund cycle focused on programs that empower women and girls, including support for women in transition, leadership development, and environmental beautification.
Examples of organizations supported in 2025 illustrate the range of grantees. Merrimack Valley Food Bank says its mission is to help address hunger and nutrition needs. New England Quilt Museum says it presents, preserves, and studies American quiltmaking. Hidden Battles Foundation describes its work as providing activity-based therapy, suicide-prevention awareness, and support for families affected by suicide. Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell says it aims to help young people realize their potential, while Coalition for a Better Acre describes work in affordable housing, community engagement, and supportive programs. Dwelling House of Hope says it works to alleviate poverty among New Americans and low-income families through food assistance and educational, social, and cultural initiatives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, GLCF reported 110 grants totaling $3,867,270. Grant amounts ranged from $5,200 to $277,348, with a median of $17,796.
Review Cycle
The 2026 Discretionary Grants Cycle deadline was March 2, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.; applicants were to be notified in mid-May.
How to Apply
using the Common Grant Application. The cycle covered Leclair Elder Services, Children’s Services, and LGBTQ+ Services, with requests of up to $10,000 considered. The stated eligibility criteria included qualifying nonprofit status or an eligible fiscal sponsor, congregation, government, or education organization; service to at least one of the listed Greater Lowell communities; and nondiscriminatory service. Agencies with multiple locations were asked to submit one application encompassing all sites. The Children’s Services guidelines welcomed proposals supporting children and young adults from birth through age 22. The 2026 Women Working Wonders cycle used a one-step electronic application and allowed one submission per organization; that cycle is listed as closed.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc
Discretionary Grant: Children’s Services
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Discretionary Grant: Leclair Elder Services
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Discretionary Grant: LGBTQ+
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
GLCF’s Discretionary Grants Program serves 21 communities: Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Lowell, Pepperell, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Westford, and Wilmington. The foundation describes its broader service area as Greater Lowell and Merrimack Valley. In 2025, 98% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 110 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2019) to $3.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 110 grants totaling $3.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Merrimack Valley Food Bank Inc ($277K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
472 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 382 grants of 472 (81%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Merrimack Valley Food Bank Inc Lowell, MA | Agriculture, Fishing, & Forestry - K31 Food Banks, Pantries | $277,348 |
| Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership Lowell, MA | HUMAN SERVICES - L00 Housing General | $275,086 |
| UMass Lowell Lowell, MA | EDUCATION - B00 General | $212,900 |
| Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell Inc Lowell, MA | Human Services - O20 Youth Centers and Clubs | $188,749 |
| New England Quilt Museum Lowell, MA | ARTS & CULTURE - A00 General | $182,116 |
| Merrimack Repertory Theatre Inc (MRT) Lowell, MA | ARTS & CULTURE - A00 General | $171,940 |
| Hidden Battles Foundation Dracut, MA | Public Affairs - W30 Veteran's Affairs | $146,214 |
| Lowell Cemetery Lowell, MA | ENVIRONMENT - C00 General | $100,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell Inc Lowell, MA | Human Services - O20 Youth Centers and Clubs | $92,341 |
| Coalition for a Better Acre Inc Lowell, MA | Human Services - P85 Homeless Services | $91,679 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $75,199,784 | $8,814,269 | $7,354,074 | $3,867,270 (110 grants) |
| 2024 | $69,957,157 | $7,589,018 | $6,474,219 | $2,761,257 (89 grants) |
| 2023 | $61,872,454 | $8,510,011 | $7,200,108 | $3,335,905 (94 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $75,199,784 | $69,957,157 | $61,872,454 |
| Revenue | $8,814,269 | $7,589,018 | $8,510,011 |
| Expenses | $7,354,074 | $6,474,219 | $7,200,108 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,616,338 | $2,938,341 | $1,982,949 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Chester Szablak, Board Chair; Karen Frederick, Vice Chair; Michael R. King, Treasurer; Charles H. Comtois, Assistant Treasurer; and Dorothy Chen-Courtin, Clerk. Directors listed include Atty. Andrea S. Batchelder, Susanne Beaton, Yun-Ju Choi, Stepanie Cronin, and David Daley.
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc is led by James F. Linnehan Jr. Esq., President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 4 of 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James F. Linnehan Jr. Esq.
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$144K (2019) → $202K (2025)
Chester Szablak
Board Chair
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew S. Macey
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Atty Andrea S Batchelder
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ben K James
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian J Stafford
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric P Healy
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Glen Mello
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Stephens
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
JuanCarlos Rivera
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patti Mason
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susanne Beaton
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yun-Ju Choi
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana Nguyen
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stepanie Cronin
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Daley
Director
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shiela Och
Director
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cherrice Lattimore
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard H. Amidon
Vice President of Philanthropy
Vice President for Phila → Vice President of Philan, 2024
Vice President of Philan → Vice President of Philanthropy, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$103K (2019) → $129K (2025)
Jennifer Aradhya
Vice President for Marketing
Vice President of Market → Vice President for Marke, 2024
Vice President for Marke → Vice President for Marketing, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $149K (2025)
Janinne Nocco
Controller
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$107K (2024) → $121K (2025)
Charles H Comtois CPA
Assistant Treasurer
Assistant Tr → Assistant Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dorothy Chen-Courtin PhD
Clerk
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Frederick
Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael R King
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Brian L. Chapman (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: John P. Chemaly (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Daniel J. Donahue (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Atty Matthew C. Donahue (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: James C. Shannon III (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Lianna Kushi (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Niki Tsongas (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Sheila Och (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Steven Joncas (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Ryan Swartz (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $202K, to James F Linnehan (President/CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 100 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852
Phone: (978) 970-1600
Website: https://glcfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc
How much does Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc give each year?
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc gave $3.9M across 110 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 89 grants.
What is Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $17,796, and its average grant was $35,157, across 110 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc that year got $31K on average.
Where does Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc give grants?
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lowell, MA (49 grants), Boston, MA (9 grants), Concord, MA (5 grants) and Dracut, MA (4 grants).
Does Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (66 of 110) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Agriculture, Fishing, & Forestry - K31 Food Banks, Pantries" (5 grants), "Agriculture, Fishing, & Forestry - K10 Food Security" (4 grants) and "Human Services - O50 Youth Development" (4 grants).
Who are Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Merrimack Valley Food Bank Inc ($277,348), Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership ($275,086) and UMass Lowell ($212,900), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc?
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc reported $75.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.8M.
What does Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc fund?
GLCF’s mission is to foster community growth and development through funding, leadership, and collaboration. Its filing describes its work as attracting funds, distributing grants, and serving as a catalyst and leader in addressing identified and emerging community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc?
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check glcfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3401997. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Greater Lowell Community Foundation Inc by hand.
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