Highland Street Connection
Highland Street Connection, also known as the Highland Street Foundation, is a private foundation based in Newton, Massachusetts. Established in 1989 and tax-exempt since April 1990, the organization operates as a family foundation focused on grantmaking to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$60.4M
-9.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
+11.2% YoY
Grant Count
410
+51.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-26.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Highland Street Connection reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to address "the most pressing needs and concerns for children and families in Massachusetts and California." The trustees have focused on providing assistance to disadvantaged and underserved children through the funding of programs that support education and mentoring.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Mentoring and youth development
- Housing
- Health care
- Environment
- The arts
- Social services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation requires grantseekers to complete an eligibility quiz to get started. It reviews unsolicited letters of intent throughout the year.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations located predominantly in Massachusetts, with additional giving in California and occasional support elsewhere.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $66,830,483
- Total revenue: $6,029,075
- Total expenses: $7,928,618
- Net income: -$1,899,543
- Total liabilities: $10,000,000
- Staff: 5 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $60,381,854 | $66,830,483 | $72,739,346 |
| Revenue | $6,706,408 | $6,029,075 | $2,828,124 |
| Expenses | $8,160,981 | $7,928,618 | $7,425,387 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,745,145 | $6,584,697 | $6,092,167 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,417,546 | $4,756,192 | $1,576,261 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,547,048 | $1,199,349 | $3,812,678 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Highland Street Connection
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Be Like Brit Foundation ($50,000), Boston College ($50,000), Boston Public Library Fund ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE CAPE AND ISLANDS VETERANS OUTREACH CENTER HYANNIS, MA | FOR EMPOWERMENT. | $5,000 |
| 2LIFE COMMUNITIES BRIGHTON, MA | FOR COMMUNITY. | $10,000 |
| ABADA-CAPOEIRA SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR COMMUNITY. | $500 |
| ACTION FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOSTON, MA | FOR COMMUNITY. | $2,000 |
| ADOPT-A-STUDENT FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. | $25,000 |
| ALMA DEL MAR FOUNDATION NEW BEDFORD, MA | FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. | $2,500 |
| AMELIA PARK CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WESTFIELD, MA | FOR ARTS AND CULTURE. | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION BOSTON, MA | FOR COMMUNITY. | $5,000 |
| AMICI CANNIS USA FORT COLLINS, CO | FOR HEALTHCARE. | $25,000 |
| ANDY TALLEY BONE MARROW FOUNDATION DEVON, PA | FOR COMMUNITY. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Blake Jordan – Executive Director
- Joann McGrath – Trustee
- David J. McGrath III – Trustee
- Scott J. McGrath – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOANN MCGRATH | TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
| DAVID J MCGRATH III | TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
| SEAN P MCGRATH | TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
| BLAKE JORDAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $493,532 |
| MICHAEL KEATING | TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced $750,000 in grants to help cultural partners during the COVID-19 crisis. The organization also operates a Community Impact Consulting program that seeks requests for proposals from nonprofit partners.
Highland Street Foundation announces $750,000 in grants to help culturalFrequently Asked Questions
What does Highland Street Connection fund?
The foundation's mission is to address "the most pressing needs and concerns for children and families in Massachusetts and California." The trustees have focused on providing assistance to disadvantaged and underserved children through the funding of programs that support education and mentoring. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Mentoring and youth development • Housing • Health care • Environment • The arts • Social services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Highland Street Connection?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 321 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $4,400,675 (2023) • Typical award range: $400–$250,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • YMCA of Greater Boston: $145,000 • Greater Boston Food Bank: $128,000 • Boston Symphony Orchestra: $120,000 **Application Process:** The foundation requires grantseekers to complete an eligibility quiz to get started. It reviews unsolicited letters of intent throughout the year.
Where does Highland Street Connection make grants?
The foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations located predominantly in Massachusetts, with additional giving in California and occasional support elsewhere.
What size grants does Highland Street Connection award?
In 2024, Highland Street Connection awarded 410 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Highland Street Connection required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Highland Street Connection reported a distributable amount of $3.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Highland Street Connection's EIN?
Highland Street Connection's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3048298. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Highland Street Connection's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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