Harper Family Foundation
Harper Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It reported making 18 grants totaling $12,500 in filing year 2024, supporting charitable organizations in several states.
Harper Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Harper Family Foundation gave $13K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $694.444), top state Massachusetts. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,500
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $694
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $172,845
- +3.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (40% 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 Harper Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Tgp 160 Federal Street 20Th, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 951-2777
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Harper Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Center for Biological Diversity ($2K). Together the top 10 received $9K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 92 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts (40%), New Mexico (20%), Arkansas (12%), Alabama (8%), and New York (8%). The listed grants also included recipients in Connecticut and Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Harper Family Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 18 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $719. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% 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 $12K (2021) to $13K (2022). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $13K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Biological Diversity Tucson, AR | for it's general use | $1,500 |
| Harwich Conservation Trust South Harwich, MA | general support | $1,500 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, AL | for its general use | $1,000 |
| Union Theological Seminary New York, NY | General purposes | $1,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | for its general use | $1,000 |
| Cape Cod Theater West Harwich, MA | for its general use | $500 |
| Cat Companions Inc Newton, MA | General use | $500 |
| Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries Newton, MA | for its general use | $500 |
| El Calvario United Methodist Church Las Cruces, NM | General funds | $500 |
| Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod Yarmouth Port, MA | general purpose | $500 |
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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 | $172,845 | $23,960 | $17,366 | $12,500 | 18 | $12,500 | $9,340 | $12,975 |
| 2023 | $166,400 | $7,635 | $17,191 | $12,500 | 18 | $12,500 | $3,165 | $11,725 |
| 2022 | $175,979 | $12,153 | $18,143 | $13,000 | 17 | $13,000 | $5,434 | $11,611 |
| 2021 | $182,484 | $40,822 | $16,189 | $11,600 | 19 | $11,600 | $30,822 | $11,915 |
| 2020 | $157,832 | $24,879 | $15,378 | $11,700 | 20 | — | $14,814 | $10,455 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harper Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13K 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 grants included support for organizations working in conservation, religious and theological education, social justice, and other areas. Harwich Conservation Trust describes its mission as preserving and conserving open space in Harwich, Massachusetts. Union Theological Seminary says it educates leaders for ministry, advances social justice, and enriches the academy through teaching and research. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes its work as advancing racial justice, dismantling white supremacy, and promoting human rights. Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries says it mobilizes congregations and communities across economic, religious, racial, and ethnic boundaries to work for a just and peaceful society, spiritual growth, and interfaith understanding. The National Park Foundation describes its work as generating private support and building partnerships to protect, preserve, and restore America’s national parks and their resources.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $12,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $1,500, with a median grant of $500. Notable grants included $1,500 to Harwich Conservation Trust; $1,500 to the Center for Biological Diversity; $1,000 each to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Union Theological Seminary, and Yale University; and $500 to each of Cape Cod Theater, Cat Companions Inc, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, El Calvario United Methodist Church, Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod, KRWG New Mexico State University, and Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. The National Park Foundation also received $500 in 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John P Fulginiti and Charles Harper as trustees.
Harper Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John P Fulginiti
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
$3K (2024)
Charles H Harper
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bradley R Cook (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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $3K, to John P Fulginiti (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Harper Family Foundation
How much does Harper Family Foundation give each year?
Harper Family Foundation gave $13K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13K across 18 grants.
What is Harper Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Harper Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $694, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harper Family Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does Harper Family Foundation give grants?
Harper Family Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Mexico (20%) and Arkansas (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Las Cruces, NM (4 grants) and Newton, MA (2 grants).
Does Harper Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Harper Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Harper Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Harper Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Center for Biological Diversity ($1,500), Harwich Conservation Trust ($1,500) and Southern Poverty Law Center ($1,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Harper Family Foundation?
Harper Family Foundation reported $173K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $13K (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 Harper Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in conservation, religious and theological education, social justice, and other areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harper Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harper Family Foundation's EIN?
Harper Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-1142855. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Harper Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
Live grants for the work Harper Family Foundation funds
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Figures come from Harper Family 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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