Legacy Fund for Boston Inc
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc is a Boston, Massachusetts public charity focused on preserving places and spaces meaningful to Boston residents and the historic character of the city. It supports nonprofit work that enhances Boston’s physical character, community and neighborhood diversity, and cultural life, with particular emphasis on historic preservation.
Key facts about Legacy Fund for Boston Inc
In short: Legacy Fund for Boston Inc gave $602K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $46K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 92-0856043
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $602,426
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- Average grant
- $46,340
- Median grant
- $45,661
- Total assets
- $1,730,409
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
-25.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$602K
Grant Count
13
Avg Grant Size
$46K
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s mission is to support “the endurance of places and spaces that are meaningful to Bostonians and the historic character of the entire city of Boston.” Its stated program purpose includes grants for charitable, educational, and literary activities, including historic preservation and restoration.
The 2025 guidelines describe support for planning, research, and educational projects that advance historic preservation, particularly smaller strategic efforts that prepare organizations for capital projects or longer-term preservation goals. Listed activities include preservation studies and reports; planning, interpretation, and condition-assessment documents; work addressing gaps in preservation, especially in historically underrepresented communities; public education and awareness initiatives; professional planning and design services; and early-stage project planning and documentation.
Applicants must be qualified nonprofit organizations, projects must be within Boston, and projects must relate to or promote historic preservation. The grantees’ missions illustrate the range of organizations supported: Revolutionary Spaces describes its work as stewarding the Old South Meeting House and Old State House as gathering spaces for civic exchange and democracy; Beacon Hill Friends House describes a Quaker-centered mission that includes providing a place to meet, worship, and learn. These are the grantees’ missions, not the fund’s.
Grantmaking
IRS filing data reports 13 grants totaling **$602,426** for filing year 2025. The grants ranged from **$16,000 to $100,000**, with a median of **$45,661**. Among the largest listed awards were **$100,000** to the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England for accessibility improvements at the Chinatown Heritage Center, **$97,265** to Revolutionary Spaces for Old State House sub-basement stabilization and water mitigation, and **$64,000** to Second Church in Dorchester for a clock tower and roof restoration phase.
Review Cycle
of **September 1, 2026**; that deadline has passed. It does not provide a later deadline in the supplied information.
How to Apply
. It also states that Hemenway & Barnes philanthropic advisory staff monitor grants, grantees submit final reports at the end of the grant term, and reports are reviewed and shared with the directors. The website lists a Letter of Inquiry deadline of **September 1, 2026**; that deadline has passed. It does not provide a later deadline in the supplied information.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s stated project eligibility is limited to projects located within the City of Boston. Its filing data shows that all reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts; the listed awards include Boston neighborhoods and other Boston locations such as Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Charlestown.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $602K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England ($100K). Together the top 10 received $542K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 13 (54%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England Boston, MA | The chinatown heritage center, to improve the physical accessibility at the former josiah quincy school | $100,000 |
| Revolutionary Spaces Inc Boston, MA | Old State House Sub-Basement Stabilization and Water Mitigation | $97,265 |
| Second Church in Dorchester Church of the Nazarene Dorchester, MA | Phase iii of clock tower restoration and roof frr | $64,000 |
| Boston Women's Heritage Trail Boston, MA | For memorializing the residents of the home for aged colored women in boston who are buried at cedar grove cemetery | $50,000 |
| Shirley-Eustis House Association Boston, MA | Shirley-Eustis House Stable Historic Structures Report | $50,000 |
| Vilna Shul Boston Center for Jewish Culture Inc Boston, MA | Capital restoration, preservation, and rehabilitation of vilna shul history sanctuary and vestibule | $50,000 |
| Beacon Hill Friends House Inc Boston, MA | Repair of Structural Pillars at the Friends House | $45,661 |
| Eliot Congregational Church Roxbury, MA | The Eliot Church Restoration Project | $30,000 |
| Footlight Club Jamaica Plain, MA | The Eliot Hall Exterior Restoration Project (Phase I) | $30,000 |
| Charlestown Preservation Society Charlestown, MA | A forensic anthropologist as part of the charlestown 1775 archaeology project. | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
IRS filing data reports:
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,730,409 | $71,142 | $662,427 | $602,426; 13 grants |
| 2024 | $2,330,870 | $70,401 | $84,354 | 0 grants reported |
| 2023 | $2,313,387 | $2,346,628 | $36,563 | 0 grants reported |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,730,409 | $2,330,870 | $2,313,387 |
| Revenue | $71,142 | $70,401 | $2,346,628 |
| Expenses | $662,427 | $84,354 | $36,563 |
| Net Investment Income | $36,845 | $40,639 | $13,096 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carissa Demore as president, Julian Phillips as treasurer, and Ryan McManus as clerk. Directors listed include Deneen Crosby, Gerald W. R. Ward, Byron Rushing, and Dakota Jones. The filing also lists Katherine Kottaridis as president, Alison Frazee as treasurer, and Candelaria Silva-Collins as director until February 2025.
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc is led by Carissa Demore, President since 2025 (on filings since 2023); 2 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carissa Demore
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Kottaridis
President
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Candelaria Silva-Collins
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Deneen Crosby
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Byron Rushing
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gerald W. R. Ward
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dakota Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alison Frazee
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan McManus
Clerk
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julian Phillips
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Kathy Kottaridis (2023) — President
- Former: Vin Cipolla (2023) — Director · Filing note: Thru 6-28-23
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "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 $1K, to Deneen Crosby (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 75 State St 16Th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (877) 829-5500
Website: https://hembar.com
Frequently asked questions about Legacy Fund for Boston Inc
How much does Legacy Fund for Boston Inc give each year?
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc gave $602K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
What is Legacy Fund for Boston Inc's typical grant size?
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc's median grant in 2025 was $45,661, and its average grant was $46,340, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Legacy Fund for Boston Inc give grants?
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (6 grants), Dorchester, MA (2 grants) and Roxbury, MA (2 grants).
Does Legacy Fund for Boston Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Legacy Fund for Boston Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Legacy Fund for Boston Inc's largest grantees?
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England ($100,000), Revolutionary Spaces Inc ($97,265) and Second Church in Dorchester Church of the Nazarene ($64,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Legacy Fund for Boston Inc?
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $71K.
What does Legacy Fund for Boston Inc fund?
The fund’s mission is to support “the endurance of places and spaces that are meaningful to Bostonians and the historic character of the entire city of Boston.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Legacy Fund for Boston Inc?
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check hembar.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Legacy Fund for Boston Inc's EIN?
Legacy Fund for Boston Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-0856043. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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