Marilyn Mason Foundation
Marilyn Mason Foundation is a private foundation, based in Lincoln, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $31K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $20K. Net investment income was $2K.
Marilyn Mason Foundation at a glance
In short: Marilyn Mason Foundation gave $20K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,012
- +42.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,502
- -28.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $30,820
- -37.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (43% 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 Marilyn Mason Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Apollo Ensemble of Boston ($6K). Together the top 8 received $20K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 18 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Marilyn Mason Foundation gives
- Giving grew 901% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $2K (2021) to $20K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo Ensemble of Boston Boston, MA | Operating Fund | $6,050 |
| Maggies Enthuse Charity | Sponsor Race for Cancer Research | $4,662 |
| American Guild of Organists New York, NY | Funds for Marilyn Mason Organ Composition Award | $4,000 |
| Fractured Atlas Music Hartsdale, NY | Support Production of Recording for Gaia Quartet | $2,000 |
| Mass Chamber Music Artists Belmont, MA | Operating Fund | $1,000 |
| Mass Eye Ear Hospital Boston, MA | Sponsor Charity Running Race for Medical Research | $1,000 |
| Keeping the Blues Alive Deerfield Beach, FL | Support Ongoing Expenses for Musical Education | $800 |
| Orchestra Book Club Medford, MA | Support Ongoing Expenses for Musical Concerts | $500 |
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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 | $30,820 | $8,986 | $27,121 | $20,012 | 8 | $20,012 | $1,877 | $18,794 |
| 2024 | $48,955 | $32,108 | $20,953 | $14,000 | 4 | $14,000 | $25,155 | $17,420 |
| 2023 | $37,800 | $22,617 | $18,820 | $13,000 | 4 | $13,000 | $16,797 | $14,021 |
| 2022 | $34,003 | $5,374 | $7,970 | $2,000 | 1 | $2,000 | — | $14,118 |
| 2021 | $36,299 | $7,218 | $9,364 | $2,000 | 1 | $2,000 | — | — |
| 2020 | $38,445 | $19,217 | $20,541 | $9,000 | 2 | — | $7,676 | $12,581 |
| 2019 | $39,769 | $5,519 | $5,760 | — | — | — | — | $9,708 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marilyn Mason Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Marilyn Mason Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Edward A. Brown
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2019) → $2K (2025)
Merritt C. Brown
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2019) → $2K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $2K, to Merritt C Brown (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Marilyn Mason Foundation
How much does Marilyn Mason Foundation give each year?
Marilyn Mason Foundation gave $20K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $14K across 4 grants.
What is Marilyn Mason Foundation's typical grant size?
Marilyn Mason Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $2,502, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Marilyn Mason Foundation give grants?
Marilyn Mason Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was New York (30%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Marilyn Mason Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of Marilyn Mason Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Marilyn Mason Foundation's largest grantees?
Marilyn Mason Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Apollo Ensemble of Boston ($6,050), Maggies Enthuse Charity ($4,662) and American Guild of Organists ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Marilyn Mason Foundation?
Marilyn Mason Foundation reported $31K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Marilyn Mason Foundation's EIN?
Marilyn Mason Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3317749. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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