Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc logo

Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Northampton, MA EIN: 22-2504778 Website

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.

Key facts about Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc

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.

EIN
22-2504778
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$963,214
Grants made (2024)
52
Average grant
$18,523
Median grant
$20,000
New grantees (estimate)
71% first-time grantees (37 of 52, 2024)
Total assets
$6,920,035
Primary geography
Massachusetts (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
For Project Grants, the program description says a Letter of Intent is required. Full details ↓
Deadline
The listed Reading Frederick Douglass Together deadline of April 17, 2026, has passed.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$6.9M

+2.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$963K

-55.8% YoY

Grant Count

52

-38.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$19K

-28.7% YoY

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.

  • 12% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method

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.

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.

Review Cycle

The listed Reading Frederick Douglass Together deadline of April 17, 2026, has passed.

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.

Open Grants

10 open opportunities from Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc

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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

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.

Cities

BostonWorcesterCambridgeNew BedfordSpringfieldAmherstRoxburySalemGreenfieldHolyokeLowellPittsfieldWalthamDorchesterConcordHadleyNorthamptonGloucesterJamaica PlainLawrence

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M32 grants2019 57 grants2020 137 grants2021 46 grants2022 84 grants2023 52 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $390K (2019) to $2.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 52 grants totaling $963K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Northeastern University: $20KNortheastern University$20KConcord Museumconcord Antiquarian Society: $20KConcord MuseumconcordAntiquarian Society$20KNew Bedford Whaling Museum (Old Dartmouth Historical Society DBA): $20KNew Bedford Whaling Museum(Old Dartmouth Historical…$20KUu Urban Ministry: $20KUu Urban Ministry$20KLynn Museumlynnarts: $20KLynn Museumlynnarts$20KHistoric Newton: $20KHistoric Newton$20KPolus Center for Social & Economic Development Inc: $20KPolus Center for Social &Economic Development Inc$20KChinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England: $20KChinese ConsolidatedBenevolent Association of New…$20KSave the Harborsave the Bay: $20KSave the Harborsave the Bay$20KMulticultural AIDS Coalition: $20KMulticultural AIDS Coalition$20K

The largest 2024 recipient was Northeastern University ($20K). Together the top 10 received $200K.

Grant Size Distribution

376 grants across all recorded years

376<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 376 grants of 376 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Northeastern University Boston, MAHumanities$20,000
Concord Museumconcord Antiquarian Society Concord, MAHumanities$20,000
New Bedford Whaling Museum (Old Dartmouth Historical Society DBA) New Bedford, MAHumanities$20,000
Uu Urban Ministry Roxbury, MAHumanities$20,000
Lynn Museumlynnarts Lynn, MAHumanities$20,000
Historic Newton Newton, MAHumanities$20,000
Polus Center for Social & Economic Development Inc Athol, MAHumanities$20,000
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England Boston, MAHumanities$20,000
Save the Harborsave the Bay Boston, MAHumanities$20,000
Multicultural AIDS Coalition Boston, MAHumanities$20,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2024 $6,920,035 $4,058,392 $3,421,703 $963,214 across 52 grants
2023 $6,755,618 $4,346,368 $4,244,888 $2,181,633 across 84 grants
2022 $5,466,465 $3,451,533 $2,377,075 $801,021 across 46 grants
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$6,920,035$6,755,618$5,466,465
Revenue$4,058,392$4,346,368$3,451,533
Expenses$3,421,703$4,244,888$2,377,075
Net Investment Income$91,207$92,245$99,454

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 25, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 7, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 23, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 23, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 24, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 17, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

Brian Boyles — Executive Director: $139KBrian BoylesExecutive Director$139KJill Brevik — DIR of Development: $111KJill BrevikDIR of Development$111K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $139K, to Brian Boyles (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 66 Bridge Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 584-8440
Website: https://masshumanities.org

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.

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