Make Waves Foundation
Make Waves Foundation is a private foundation, based in Westborough, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $24K. Net investment income was $72K.
Make Waves Foundation at a glance
In short: Make Waves Foundation gave $24K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $23,700
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- Average grant
- $2,633
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,934,632
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Make Waves Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation ($10K). Together the top 7 received $24K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 27 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Make Waves Foundation gives
- Giving fell 91% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 40% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2023) to $381K (2021). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $24K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation Hyannis, MA | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Xaverian Brothers High School Westwood, MA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Central Park Conservancy Inc New York, NY | General Fund | $2,500 |
| The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research New York, NY | General Fund | $2,500 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Trinity College Annual Fund-Teaching and Mentoring | $1,000 |
| Xaverian Brothers Baltimore, MD | General Fund | $1,000 |
| Xaverian Brothers Baltimore, MD | General Fund | $1,000 |
| Cotuit Library Cotuit, MA | General Fund | $500 |
| Xaverian Brothers High School Westwood, MA | General Fund | $200 |
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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 | $1,934,632 | $117,772 | $134,387 | $23,700 | 9 | $82,570 | $71,955 | $204,426 |
| 2023 | $1,564,536 | $76,266 | $114,205 | $20,000 | 1 | $72,750 | $34,811 | $148,541 |
| 2022 | $1,602,475 | $131,529 | $354,386 | $271,467 | 4 | $313,890 | $91,033 | $149,837 |
| 2021 | $1,825,332 | $286,578 | $459,530 | $381,365 | 8 | $420,178 | $247,227 | $173,440 |
| 2020 | $1,998,284 | $129,505 | $446,554 | $370,960 | 5 | — | $91,607 | $149,166 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Make Waves Foundation reported a distributable amount of $204K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Make Waves Foundation is led by Kristen Boomer, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kristen Boomer
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$62K (2020) → $72K (2025)
Pamela J. Egan
President, Treasurer & Member
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda E. Egan
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John R. Egan Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen T. Egan
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John R. Egan
Vice President, Secretary & Member
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $72K, to Kristen Boomer (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Make Waves Foundation
How much does Make Waves Foundation give each year?
Make Waves Foundation gave $24K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Make Waves Foundation's typical grant size?
Make Waves Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,633, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Make Waves Foundation give grants?
Make Waves Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (21%) and Maryland (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Westwood, MA (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does Make Waves Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Make Waves Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Make Waves Foundation's largest grantees?
Make Waves Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation ($10,000), Xaverian Brothers High School ($5,200 across 2 grants) and Central Park Conservancy Inc ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Make Waves Foundation?
Make Waves Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $83K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $204K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Make Waves Foundation's EIN?
Make Waves Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3732775. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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