Highland Partners Charitable Fund
Highland Partners Charitable Fund is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It supports nonprofit organizations working in areas including children and education, community support, the environment, healthcare, individual empowerment, and the arts and humanities.
Highland Partners Charitable Fund at a glance
In short: Highland Partners Charitable Fund gave $3.1M across 78 grants in 2024 (avg $40K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,137,776
- +8.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 78
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $40,228
- -0.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $55,242,319
- +0.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Highland Partners Charitable Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The fund states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says all grant recipients must be qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing with verified tax identification numbers.
- Contact
Mailing address: Bowditchdewey 75 Federal St 1000, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 757-6517
Website: https://highlandpartnersfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Highland Partners Charitable Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Newton Wellelsey Hospital ($275K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
267 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 267 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s website says most grants are focused in Massachusetts and California. Its 2024 filing data show that 75% of grant dollars went to Massachusetts, 9% to Rhode Island, and 5% to California, with smaller shares going to Pennsylvania and Arizona. The listed 2024 grants also include recipients in Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 78 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Highland Partners Charitable Fund gives
- 82% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 103% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $798K (2020) to $3.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 78 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Newton Wellelsey Hospital Newton, MA | General Operating Support | $275,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club-Newport County Newport, RI | General Operating Support | $255,000 |
| Greater Boston YMCA Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $225,000 |
| Greater Boston Food Bank Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $201,000 |
| Appalachian Mountain Club Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $180,000 |
| Mab Community Services Brookline, MA | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Sudbury Valley Trustees Sudbury, MA | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Year up Phoenix, AZ | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Capital City Medical Teams Salem, OR | General Operating Support | $60,525 |
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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 | $55,242,319 | $3,906,863 | $3,575,800 | $3,137,776 | 78 | $3,137,776 | $3,361,496 | $2,929,697 |
| 2023 | $54,856,994 | $4,788,851 | $3,313,536 | $2,899,157 | 72 | $2,899,157 | $4,376,567 | $2,702,496 |
| 2022 | $53,466,126 | $1,764,021 | $3,540,400 | $2,856,800 | 61 | $2,856,800 | $1,569,621 | $2,715,381 |
| 2021 | $55,157,934 | $5,461,987 | $2,014,802 | $1,547,700 | 37 | $1,547,700 | $5,100,009 | $2,926,209 |
| 2020 | $52,572,555 | $3,031,511 | $1,164,755 | $798,100 | 19 | — | $2,668,405 | $2,981,959 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Highland Partners Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s website describes its support as helping organizations empower children and adults, promote healthy lifestyles, preserve natural resources, and celebrate the arts and humanities. Its listed areas include arts and humanities, community and healthcare, education and empowerment, and the environment.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the work represented in its giving. The Greater Boston Food Bank says it acquires, sorts, and distributes food through member agencies and direct distribution sites. The Appalachian Mountain Club describes its work as protecting, promoting enjoyment of, and building understanding of the Appalachian region’s mountains, forests, waters, and trails. Sudbury Valley Trustees says it protects natural areas and farmland for wildlife and people in communities around the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund reported 78 grants totaling $3,137,776. Grants ranged from $1,002 to $275,000, with a median of $25,000. Most of the grant dollars went to Massachusetts recipients (75%); Rhode Island accounted for 9%, California 5%, Pennsylvania 3%, and Arizona 3%.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $275,000 to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, $255,000 to Boys & Girls Club–Newport County, $225,000 to Greater Boston YMCA, $201,000 to Greater Boston Food Bank, and $180,000 to Appalachian Mountain Club. Each was listed for general operating support. Other examples include $150,000 to MAB Community Services, $100,000 each to Sudbury Valley Trustees, the University of Pennsylvania, and Year Up, and $60,525 to Capital City Medical Teams.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Holly M. Bruce, Scott J. McGrath, and Samuel C. Sichko as trustees.
Highland Partners Charitable Fund's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Holly M. Bruce
Trustee
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samuel C. Sichko
Trustee
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott J. McGrath
Trustee
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Highland Partners Charitable Fund
How much does Highland Partners Charitable Fund give each year?
Highland Partners Charitable Fund gave $3.1M across 78 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 72 grants.
What is Highland Partners Charitable Fund's typical grant size?
Highland Partners Charitable Fund's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $40,228, across 78 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Highland Partners Charitable Fund give grants?
Highland Partners Charitable Fund gives mostly in Massachusetts: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Rhode Island (9%) and California (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (36 grants), San Diego, CA (5 grants), La Jolla, CA (4 grants) and Newton, MA (3 grants).
Does Highland Partners Charitable Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Highland Partners Charitable Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (78 of 78) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Highland Partners Charitable Fund's largest grantees?
Highland Partners Charitable Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Newton Wellelsey Hospital ($275,000), Boys & Girls Club-Newport County ($255,000) and Greater Boston YMCA ($225,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Highland Partners Charitable Fund?
Highland Partners Charitable Fund reported $55.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Highland Partners Charitable Fund fund?
The fund’s website describes its support as helping organizations empower children and adults, promote healthy lifestyles, preserve natural resources, and celebrate the arts and humanities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Highland Partners Charitable Fund?
The fund 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 Highland Partners Charitable Fund's EIN?
Highland Partners Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2813823. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Highland Partners Charitable Fund 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Highland Partners Charitable Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/highland-partners-charitable-fund-morg_257d57e1abd54df48049ff0fa054b799
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832813823_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Highland Partners Charitable Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/highland-partners-charitable-fund-morg_257d57e1abd54df48049ff0fa054b799},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Highland Partners Charitable Fund'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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