Greater Lowell Community Foundation
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a community foundation established in 1997 and based in Lowell, Massachusetts. The organization operates as a philanthropic fundraising services company dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Lowell region. GLCF comprises more than 450 charitable funds and serves as a donor-advised fund manager, connecting philanthropic donors with local nonprofit organizations and community programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$70.0M
+13.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
-17.2% YoY
Grant Count
89
-5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
-12.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To foster community growth and development through funding, leadership, and collaboration to transform the lives of the individuals and organizations we serve.
The foundation fulfills its mission through:
- Grant-making to nonprofit organizations, high school scholarships, and special funding initiatives
- Working in partnership with donors and other funders to achieve high-impact philanthropy
- Serving as a convener and center of information where ideas are shared to leverage common agendas and resources
Primary Focus Areas: The foundation's grantmaking focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. The foundation addresses social, educational, economic, environmental, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $2,000 to $20,000, with typical awards historically between $5,100 and $229,842.
Grant Range
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How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves 21 communities in Greater Lowell, Massachusetts. Lowell is described as a gateway city of 110,000 with a very large and diverse immigrant population. The foundation's primary geographic focus is the Greater Lowell/Merrimack Valley area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $69,957,157
- Total Revenue: $7,589,018
- Total Expenses: $6,474,219
- Annual Giving: Approximately $4.9 million
Historical Distribution: Since its founding in 1997, the foundation has distributed over $35 million in grants and scholarships to the community.
Financial Rating: The foundation maintains a 97% rating on Charity Navigator, earning a Four-Star rating. The organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) and has been tax-exempt since July 1998.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $69,957,157 | $61,872,454 | $53,462,931 |
| Revenue | $7,589,018 | $8,510,011 | $9,411,237 |
| Expenses | $6,474,219 | $7,200,108 | $5,650,735 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,938,341 | $1,982,949 | $1,462,078 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
100 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Discretionary Grant: Children’s Services
GREATER LOWELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Discretionary Grant: Leclair Elder Services
GREATER LOWELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Discretionary Grant: LGBTQ+
GREATER LOWELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Contacts:
- Maria Papandreou, Grants Manager (maria@glcfoundation.org)
- Eric Healy, Board Member
- Diana Nguyen, Board Member
Staff: The foundation employs 13 staff members as of 2024.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES F LINNEHAN | PRESIDENT/CE | 40 | $191,603 |
| HOWARD AMIDON | VP OF PHILAN | 40 | $123,300 |
| JENNIFER ARADHYA | VP FOR MARKE | 40 | $141,247 |
| JANINNE NOCCO | CONTROLLER | 40 | $107,482 |
| CHESTER SZABLAK | BOARD CHAIR | 5 | — |
| KAREN FREDERICK | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| MICHAEL R KING | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| CHARLES H COMTOIS CPA | ASSISTANT TR | 5 | — |
| DOROTHY CHEN-COURTIN PHD | CLERK | 5 | — |
| ATTY ANDREA S BATCHELDER | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| SUSANNE BEATON | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| BRIAN L CHAPMAN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| JOHN P CHEMALY | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| YUN-JU CHOI | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| STEPANIE CRONIN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| DAVID DALEY | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| DANIEL DONAHUE | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ERIC P HEALY | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ANDREW MACY | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| PATTU MASON | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| GLEN MELLO | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| DIANA NGUYEN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| SHIELA OCH | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| JUANCARLOS RIVERA | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| BRIAN J STAFFORD | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| JAY STEPHENS | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated increased grantmaking activity in recent years, with 2025 marking its largest discretionary grant distribution in history. Recent grant awards have supported diverse organizations including arts institutions, elder services, children's services, and LGBTQ+ organizations. The foundation continues to expand its grant programs and community partnerships to address the significant challenges facing the Greater Lowell region, including poverty, educational attainment gaps, and immigrant community support needs.
Greater Lowell Community Foundation awards $700K in grants to 47 nonprofitsContact Information
Address: 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202 Lowell, MA 01852-1707
Phone: (978) 970-1600
Email: grants@glcfoundation.org
Website: www.glcfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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