Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc
The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc, known as Mass Humanities, is a public charity based in Northampton, Massachusetts. Founded in 1974, it supports humanities projects and public programs that bring people together, encourage civic engagement, and build a more equitable Commonwealth.
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc at a glance
In short: Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc gave $963K across 52 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in Massachusetts. 71% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $963,214
- -55.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 52
- -38.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $18,523
- -28.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $6,920,035
- +2.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 71% first-time grantees (37 of 52, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc
- How to Apply
-
For Project Grants, the program description says a Letter of Intent is required. The website directs prospective applicants to review program materials and workshops for grant-specific application details.
- Review Cycle
- The listed Reading Frederick Douglass Together deadline of April 17, 2026, has passed.
- Deadline
- The listed Reading Frederick Douglass Together deadline of April 17, 2026, has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 66 Bridge Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 584-8440
Website: https://masshumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc
Clemente Course in the Humanities
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Expand Massachusetts Stories
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Expand Massachusetts Stories- Open Track Grant
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northeastern University ($20K). Together the top 10 received $200K.
Grant Size Distribution
376 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 376 grants of 376 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated mission centers on the people of Massachusetts, and its website describes grantmaking for communities across the state. In filing year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 2% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc open to new grantees?
71%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 37 of 52 grantees (71%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $390K (2019) to $2.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 52 grants totaling $963K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University Boston, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| Concord Museumconcord Antiquarian Society Concord, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| New Bedford Whaling Museum (Old Dartmouth Historical Society DBA) New Bedford, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| Uu Urban Ministry Roxbury, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| Lynn Museumlynnarts Lynn, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| Historic Newton Newton, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| Polus Center for Social & Economic Development Inc Athol, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England Boston, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| Save the Harborsave the Bay Boston, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
| Multicultural AIDS Coalition Boston, MA | Humanities | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,920,035 | $4,058,392 | $3,421,703 | $963,214 | 52 | $91,207 |
| 2023 | $6,755,618 | $4,346,368 | $4,244,888 | $2,181,633 | 84 | $92,245 |
| 2022 | $5,466,465 | $3,451,533 | $2,377,075 | $801,021 | 46 | $99,454 |
| 2021 | $5,459,240 | $2,846,841 | $2,944,579 | $1,478,147 | 137 | $27,319 |
| 2020 | $4,601,710 | $2,478,105 | $2,242,262 | $636,503 | 57 | $56,148 |
| 2019 | $4,320,830 | $2,102,774 | $1,956,346 | $390,270 | 32 | $68,429 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to create opportunities for the people of Massachusetts to transform their lives and build a more equitable Commonwealth through the humanities. Its filing describes its program as regrants and allocations for the advancement of humanities projects.
Recent grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Historic Newton says it connects the community with its history to enrich future generations. The Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry describes its work as advancing racial, social, and economic justice. Chuang Stage says it develops multilingual theatre and Asian American stories, while the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England describes its work as preserving Chinese culture and promoting the welfare of the Chinese community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Mass Humanities reported 52 grants totaling $963,214. Awards ranged from $7,750 to $20,000, with a median of $20,000. The listed largest grants were $20,000 each. Recipients included Northeastern University, Concord Museum/Concord Antiquarian Society, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Historic Newton, the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, and the Lynn Museum/LynnArts.
The website describes Expand Massachusetts Stories as a program for projects that collect, interpret, or share narratives about the Commonwealth, especially voices and experiences that have gone unrecognized or excluded from public conversation. Its 2025 “Promises of the Revolution” cycle offered awards of up to $20,000; that cycle is past, and the website says Expand Massachusetts Stories is paused for 2026. Reading Frederick Douglass Together offers grants of up to $1,800 for public readings and discussions in Massachusetts. Its listed 2026 application deadline, April 17, 2026, has passed. The website also lists Project Grants for Massachusetts humanities projects, with a Letter of Intent required.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michelle Toni McComb as chair, Steve Immerman as vice chair, and Deborah Hall as secretary. It lists Marita Rivero, Erin Williams, Larry Hott, Aaron Vega, Kristin McGurn, Gage McWeeny, and Michael Meltsner as directors.
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc is led by Brian Boyles, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 2 of 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brian Boyles
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$25K (2019) → $139K (2024)
Michelle Toni McComb
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Brevik
Director of Development
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$111K (2024)
Dave Slatery
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin I. Williams
Director
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gage McWeeny
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marita Rivero
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Meltsner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Vega
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Miller
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin McGurn
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kyera Singleton
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Hott
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brittney Walley
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Goode
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cj Crowder
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deena Caswell
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leo Hwang
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Chambers II
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Muhammad Burhan
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Casper
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Imari Paris Jefferies
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Hall
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Immerman
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (30)
- Former: Candace Lee Heald (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Lennie Alickman (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Rajini Srikanth (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Yves Salomon-Fernandez (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Paul D. Bosco (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Amy Macdonald (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Bruce Grinnell (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Denise Kaigler (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello (2019–2022) — Chair
- Former: Gail Reimer (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jackie Jenkins-Scott (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Lyell Franke (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Peggy Kemp (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Phitsamay Uy (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Whitney Battle-Baptiste (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: William M. Fowler Jr. (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Lawrence Hott (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Stephen D. Immerman (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Willis G. Wang (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Hilda Ramirez (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Ramon Borges-Mendez (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Alice Delana (2019) — Director
- Former: Bianca Sigh Ward (2019) — Director
- Former: David Tebaldi (2019) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Emma J. Teng (2019) — Director
- Former: Glynda Benham (2019) — Treasurer
- Former: Jill Sullivan (2019) — Director
- Former: Michael J. Pappone (2019) — Director
- Former: Ron Slate (2019) — Director
- Former: Tom Putnam (2019) — Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $139K, to Brian Boyles (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc
How much does Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc give each year?
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc gave $963K across 52 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.2M across 84 grants.
What is Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc's typical grant size?
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $18,523, across 52 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc that year got $19K on average.
Where does Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc give grants?
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (12 grants), Roxbury, MA (3 grants), Springfield, MA (3 grants) and Newton, MA (2 grants).
Does Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 52 grants with a stated purpose on Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Humanities" (52 grants).
Who are Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc's largest grantees?
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Northeastern University ($20,000), Concord Museumconcord Antiquarian Society ($20,000) and New Bedford Whaling Museum (Old Dartmouth Historical Society DBA) ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 6% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc?
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc reported $6.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.1M.
What does Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to create opportunities for the people of Massachusetts to transform their lives and build a more equitable Commonwealth through the humanities. Its filing describes its program as regrants and allocations for the advancement of humanities projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc?
For Project Grants, the program description says a Letter of Intent is required. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc's EIN?
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2504778. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 25, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/massachusetts-foundation-for-the-humanities-and-public-policy-inc-morg_186151959bf8491e9a8f62893a6fb6fe
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222504778_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities \& Public Policy Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/massachusetts-foundation-for-the-humanities-and-public-policy-inc-morg_186151959bf8491e9a8f62893a6fb6fe},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc'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.
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?