John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation
The John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its grantor’s guidance directs trustees to make distributions primarily to the Roman Catholic Church and Church-related charitable, educational, and medical organizations, supporting the Catholic faith, young people’s development, and people unable to support themselves.
John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation gave $4.4M across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $164K), mostly in Massachusetts. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,418,950
- +91.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +42.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $163,665
- +35.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $73,178,981
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (15 of 27, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% 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 John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
Applicants may request a preliminary application through the foundation’s website. Trustees and their advisors review preliminary applications and invite selected applicants to submit a final application; final applications are by invitation only. Applicants may be asked for an organization description, a description and budget for the project or need, a board list, and financial and tax reports. The website says a current IRS Form 990 must be submitted with the application. Requests of $50,000 or more generally require CPA-certified financial statements for the most recent two years; donee-prepared financials are acceptable for smaller requests. The foundation favors proposals for immediate program costs or facilities and equipment needed within the next year, and does not fund endowments or other investments. Up to five future annual installments may be considered; at least five years must pass after the final installment before renewed funding will be considered, and consistent permanent annual funding is not approved.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are reviewed in two four-month cycles each year: October through January and April through July. Preliminary applications are due by the end of the first month of the relevant cycle; invited final applications are due by the end of the third month.
- Deadline
- Applications are reviewed in two four-month cycles each year: October through January and April through July.
- Contact
Application contact: The Board Of Trustees
Mailing address: C/O Choate PO Box 961019, Boston, MA 02196
Phone: (617) 248-4045
Email: mcneicefoundation@choate.com
Website: https://mcneicefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation
Who John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cardinal Spellman High School ($350K). Together the top 10 received $2.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 82 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says awards are rarely made to organizations outside Massachusetts. All 2025 grant dollars reported in the filing went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 27 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $157K; repeat grants $172K. How we count
Medians: $125K first-time, $200K repeat.
- 44% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 2578% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2023) to $4.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $4.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Spellman High School Brockton, MA | General Purpose | $350,000 |
| St John the Baptist Catholic Church Quincy, MA | General Purpose | $350,000 |
| Austin Preparatory School Reading, MA | General Purpose | $250,000 |
| Campaign for Catholic Schools Braintree, MA | General Purpose | $250,000 |
| Daughters of St Paul Boston, MA | General Purpose | $250,000 |
| Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish Millis, MA | General Purpose | $250,000 |
| The Catholic Community Fund of the Archdiocese of Boston Braintree, MA | General Purpose | $250,000 |
| Trustees of Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | General Purpose | $250,000 |
| Catholic Center at Northeastern University Boston, MA | General Purpose | $200,000 |
| Montrose School Medfield, MA | General Purpose | $200,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,178,981 | $5,270,662 | $5,114,030 | $4,418,950 | 27 | $4,801,748 | $4,774,201 | $3,695,070 |
| 2024 | $71,443,464 | $2,872,143 | $2,927,541 | $2,302,280 | 19 | $2,652,835 | $1,872,333 | $3,345,713 |
| 2023 | $64,268,972 | $54,067,579 | $262,197 | $45,000 | 7 | $142,142 | $2,674,893 | $1,037,752 |
| 2022 | $11,289,145 | $5,968,888 | $301,822 | $165,000 | 11 | $257,374 | $250,259 | $403,364 |
| 2021 | $6,268,648 | $272,614 | $428,698 | $292,500 | 18 | — | $238,624 | $273,969 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M 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
The grantor’s stated guidance identifies three purposes: supporting and promoting the Catholic faith and mission of the Catholic Church; the spiritual and intellectual education, training, and development of young people; and supporting those unable to support themselves. The foundation also considers charitable, educational, and medical organizations related to the Church.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work. South Shore Community Action Council describes its mission as addressing poverty and helping individuals and families participate in community life. Saint Francis House says it provides refuge and pathways to stability for adults experiencing homelessness and poverty. My Brothers Keeper describes providing furniture, household items, services, and food to people in need. Other 2025 grantees include religious and educational organizations, a provider of housing and support for pregnant women and mothers, and Three Sisters Garden Project, which describes community engagement and education through sustainable land stewardship and food and farming.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $4,418,950. Itemized grants ranged from $25,000 to $350,000, with a median of $200,000. Its website generally describes awards as being in the range of $25,000 to $250,000 per year.
Among the largest reported 2025 grants were $350,000 each to Cardinal Spellman High School and St John the Baptist Catholic Church; $250,000 each to Austin Preparatory School, Campaign for Catholic Schools, Daughters of St Paul, Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, The Catholic Community Fund of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Trustees of Boston College; and $200,000 each to the Catholic Center at Northeastern University, Montrose School, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and Saint Bridget School. The filing lists the purposes of these grants as “General Purpose.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cameron Casey, John Shaughnessy Jr, George Ashur, and Edward G Casey as trustees, and Margarete A Portanova as trustee and executive director. The foundation’s website identifies Margarete Anne McNeice Portanova as its executive director.
John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation is led by Margarete A Portanova, Trustee & Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Margarete A Portanova
Trustee & Executive Director
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$48K (2021) → $62K (2025)
Edward G Casey
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Ashur
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Shaughnessy Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cameron Casey
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: A Silvana Giner (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: John A McNeice Jr. (2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $62K, to Margarete A Portanova (Trustee/Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation
How much does John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation give each year?
John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation gave $4.4M across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 19 grants.
What is John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $200,000, and its average grant was $163,665, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation that year got $157K on average.
Where does John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation give grants?
John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants), Braintree, MA (3 grants) and Lawrence, MA (2 grants).
Does John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (27 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cardinal Spellman High School ($350,000), St John the Baptist Catholic Church ($350,000) and Austin Preparatory School ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation?
John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation reported $73.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation fund?
The grantor’s stated guidance identifies three purposes: supporting and promoting the Catholic faith and mission of the Catholic Church; the spiritual and intellectual education, training, and development of young people; and supporting those unable to support themselves. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation?
Applicants may request a preliminary application through the foundation’s website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation's EIN?
John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3371560. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-a-mcneice-jr-charitable-foundation-morg_68691626952141eb83430dba5da0b58d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043371560_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-a-mcneice-jr-charitable-foundation-morg_68691626952141eb83430dba5da0b58d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 John A McNeice Jr Charitable 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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