Hidden Spring Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 27-6367116

Hidden Spring Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. In its 2025 filing, it reported 19 grants totaling $75,111, with awards to charitable organizations in several states; the listed grants include support for schools, health and human services, food assistance, and other charitable work.

Hidden Spring Foundation at a glance

In short: Hidden Spring Foundation gave $75K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Massachusetts. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$75,111
+9.3% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
19
+18.8% vs 2024
Average grant
$3,953
-7.9% vs 2024
Median grant
$3,750
Total assets
$1,446,860
+12.1% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
26% first-time grantees (5 of 19, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Massachusetts (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Hidden Spring Foundation

How to Apply

The foundation’s filing says applications may be submitted at any time. Organizations should submit a brief statement of their purpose, objectives, and activities, along with a copy of their IRS exemption letter under Section 501(c)(3). The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, but gives preference to organizations historically supported by the donor and the donor’s family, as well as referrals from family members. Applications from other organizations are considered to the extent funds are available.

Review Cycle
Applications may be submitted at any time.
Deadline
Applications may be submitted at any time.
Contact

Application contact: Trustees Hidden Spring Foundation
Mailing address: 45 School Street Ste 402, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 426-5755

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Hidden Spring Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Salve Regina Academy: $10KSalve Regina Academy$10KBoston Healthcare for the Homeless: $8KBoston Healthcare for theHomeless$8KHarvard Public Culture Project: $5KHarvard Public Culture Project$5KGroton School: $5KGroton School$5KPlanned Parenthood: $5KPlanned Parenthood$5KBelmont Hill School: $5KBelmont Hill School$5KEcclesia Ministries: $5KEcclesia Ministries$5KInternational Red Cross: $5KInternational Red Cross$5KLoaves and Fishes Food Pantry: $4KLoaves and Fishes Food Pantry$4KEpiphany School: $4KEpiphany School$4K

The largest 2025 recipient was Salve Regina Academy ($10K). Together the top 10 received $55K.

Grant Size Distribution

93 grants across all recorded years

93<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 93 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts (63%), Maine (15%), New Hampshire (13%), Washington, DC (6%), and Ohio (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

Cities

BostonDorchesterBrooklineGrotonSalemBelmontBeverlyCambridgeCincinnatiLos AngelesEllsworthPortageSorrentoMilbridgeMillbridgeWatervilleBooneGorhamNew YorkRoxbury

Is Hidden Spring Foundation open to new grantees?

26%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 19 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

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

  • 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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

$0$20K$40K$60K$80K16 grants2020 17 grants2021 22 grants2022 19 grants2023 16 grants2024 19 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $47K (2023) to $75K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $75K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Salve Regina Academy Gorham, NHFor General Use by the Charity$10,000
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Boston, MAFor General Use by the Charity.$8,031
Harvard Public Culture Project Dorchester, MAFor General Use by the Charity$5,022
Groton School Groton, MAFor General Use by Charity$5,007
Planned Parenthood Boston, MAFor General Use by the Charity$5,007
Belmont Hill School Belmont, MAFor General Use by the Charity$5,000
Ecclesia Ministries Boston, MAFor General Use by the Charity$5,000
International Red Cross Washington, DCFor General Use by the Charity$4,500
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry Ellsworth, MEFor General Use by the Charity.$4,000
Epiphany School Dorchester, MAFor General Use by the Charity.$3,750
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$1,446,860$245,908$89,161$75,11119$83,752$240,499$78,963
2024$1,290,543$201,583$77,196$68,70016$76,464$200,851$82,875
2023$1,168,480$47,043$54,452$46,68919$53,766$52,228$75,799
2022$1,179,268$54,340$83,760$69,57822$83,120$53,700$79,574
2021$1,204,072$235,826$75,154$65,24017$74,535$235,207$79,092
2020$1,043,400$56,587$73,500$63,29116—$55,976$69,887

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hidden Spring Foundation reported a distributable amount of $79K for 2025 — 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 2025 grantees describe a range of work: Groton School says it inspires character, scholarship, leadership, and service; Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry says it works to feed and serve people experiencing hunger in Hancock County, Maine; and Horizons for Homeless Children says it supports homeless children and their families in Massachusetts through early education, play, and related opportunities.

Other 2025 recipients include Belmont Hill School, which describes its work as educating boys and developing good character, and Peabody Essex Museum, which describes offering experiences in the arts, humanities, and sciences. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $75,111. Individual grants ranged from $1,500 to $10,000, with a median of $3,750. The largest listed awards included $10,000 to Salve Regina Academy, $8,031 to Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, and $5,022 to Harvard Public Culture Project. Other listed grants included $5,007 each to Groton School and Planned Parenthood, and $5,000 each to Belmont Hill School and Ecclesia Ministries. The filing describes these awards as being for the recipients’ general use.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Sarah W Fisher, David J A Fisher, Thea P C Fisher, and C T Otto W Fisher as trustees.

Hidden Spring Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • C. T. Otto W. Fisher

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David J. A. Fisher

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah W. Fisher

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thea P. C. Fisher

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Hidden Spring Foundation

How much does Hidden Spring Foundation give each year?

Hidden Spring Foundation gave $75K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $69K across 16 grants.

What is Hidden Spring Foundation's typical grant size?

Hidden Spring Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,750, and its average grant was $3,953, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hidden Spring Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Hidden Spring Foundation give grants?

Hidden Spring Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maine (15%) and New Hampshire (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants) and Dorchester, MA (3 grants).

Does Hidden Spring Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 95% of Hidden Spring Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Hidden Spring Foundation's largest grantees?

Hidden Spring Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Salve Regina Academy ($10,000), Boston Healthcare for the Homeless ($8,031) and Harvard Public Culture Project ($5,022), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Hidden Spring Foundation?

Hidden Spring Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $84K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $79K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Hidden Spring Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Hidden Spring Foundation?

The foundation’s filing says applications may be submitted at any time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Hidden Spring Foundation's EIN?

Hidden Spring Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6367116. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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

Data update history

(5)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 19, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 19, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 18, 2024)
  4. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Browse active grant opportunities in Hidden Spring Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Hidden Spring Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hidden-spring-foundation-morg_c2adba111cc846dabdd0445c00e82525

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_276367116_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Hidden Spring Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/hidden-spring-foundation-morg_c2adba111cc846dabdd0445c00e82525},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Hidden Spring 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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