Massachusetts Society for Aiding
Massachusetts Society for Aiding is a private foundation based in Bedford, Massachusetts. It supports organizations working in areas that include reentry after incarceration, recovery, housing, community support, and religious activities.
Massachusetts Society for Aiding at a glance
In short: Massachusetts Society for Aiding gave $100K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Massachusetts. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $100,000
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +44.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,692
- -18.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $361,905
- -2.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (3 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Massachusetts Society for Aiding
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing names Peter D. Holt as the contact. It lists no application form or materials and no deadline. The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and restricts awards to organizations that try to help discharged prisoners avoid returning to their former practices.
- Contact
Application contact: Peter D Holt
Mailing address: 284 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
Phone: (617) 913-9721
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Massachusetts Society for Aiding funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Straight Ahead Ministries ($30K). Together the top 10 received $93K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 48 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in 2025 went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Massachusetts Society for Aiding open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 13 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 62% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2024) to $122K (2023). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $100K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Ahead Ministries Lynn, MA | Faith-Based Community Support | $30,000 |
| Future Hope Apprenticeship Dorchester, MA | Recovery Program and Support | $15,000 |
| Place of Promise Lowell, MA | Support | $15,000 |
| New England Aftercare Ministries Framingham, MA | Faith-Based Recovery Support | $8,000 |
| United Baptist Church Boston, MA | Religious | $7,000 |
| Boston Collaborative Hyde Park, MA | Community and Religion Related Support | $5,000 |
| Boston Rescue Mission Boston, MA | Support for Homeless and Other Peiople in Need | $5,000 |
| Fathers' Uplift Inc Dorchester, MA | Mental Health Support and Counseling | $2,500 |
| People Affecting Community Change (Pacc Global) Brockton, MA | Community Support | $2,500 |
| Thrive Communities Lowell, MA | Empower communities to welcome and support individueals transitioning from incarceration | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Massachusetts Society for Aiding?
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 | $361,905 | $98,819 | $109,527 | $100,000 | 13 | $108,237 | $91,729 | $103,508 |
| 2024 | $372,613 | $103,396 | $88,447 | $85,300 | 9 | $87,222 | $93,171 | $87,118 |
| 2023 | $357,664 | $50,381 | $125,018 | $121,925 | 11 | $123,793 | $40,624 | $85,313 |
| 2022 | $432,301 | $145,413 | $119,551 | $116,000 | 7 | $117,110 | $138,288 | $91,753 |
| 2021 | $406,439 | $101,172 | $102,912 | $98,700 | 8 | — | $94,602 | $79,426 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Massachusetts Society for Aiding reported a distributable amount of $104K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing describes a grant restriction focused on organizations trying to help discharged prisoners avoid returning to their former practices.
Grantee missions illustrate the range of work supported. Straight Ahead Ministries describes its work as reducing recidivism among young offenders through faith-based programs and re-integration support involving peer and adult mentoring. Place of Promise says it provides a residence and integrated community support services. New England Aftercare Ministries describes supporting people with substance-abuse problems and helping them reenter society. Boston Rescue Mission says it serves people at risk of homelessness and substance-use disorders. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $100,000. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $30,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Among the listed awards were $30,000 to Straight Ahead Ministries, $15,000 to Future Hope Apprenticeship, $15,000 to Place of Promise, $8,000 to New England Aftercare Ministries, and $7,000 to United Baptist Church. Other listed recipients included Boston Collaborative and Boston Rescue Mission, each awarded $5,000, and Fathers’ Uplift, People Affecting Community Change, Thrive Communities, Highrock Church, and Life After Prison, each awarded $2,500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joel Collins as president; Ed Gaskin as vice president; Peter D. Holt as treasurer; and Andy Halvorson, Shari Johnson, Jua Robinson, Lewis Valenti, Tytus Moen, Carolyn Van Oloo, and Jane Chun as councilors.
Massachusetts Society for Aiding is led by Joel Collins, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joel Collins
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Gaskin
Vice President
Councilor → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter D. Holt
Treasurer
Councilor → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Halvorson
Councilor
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jua Robinson
Councilor
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lewis Valenti
Councilor
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shari Johnson
Councilor
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Van Oloo
Councilor
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tytus Moen
Councilor
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Byron Summer
Councilor
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Chun
Councilor
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: David Saff (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Caleb Loring III (2021–2023) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Brian E. Lacey (2021) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Wesley Roberts (2021) — Councilor
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Society for Aiding
How much does Massachusetts Society for Aiding give each year?
Massachusetts Society for Aiding gave $100K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $85K across 9 grants.
What is Massachusetts Society for Aiding's typical grant size?
Massachusetts Society for Aiding's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,692, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Massachusetts Society for Aiding that year got $3K on average.
Where does Massachusetts Society for Aiding give grants?
Massachusetts Society for Aiding gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dorchester, MA (2 grants), Lowell, MA (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Massachusetts Society for Aiding give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Massachusetts Society for Aiding's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (3 grants).
Who are Massachusetts Society for Aiding's largest grantees?
Massachusetts Society for Aiding's largest 2025 grantees include Straight Ahead Ministries ($30,000), Future Hope Apprenticeship ($15,000) and Place of Promise ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Massachusetts Society for Aiding?
Massachusetts Society for Aiding reported $362K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $108K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $104K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Massachusetts Society for Aiding fund?
No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing describes a grant restriction focused on organizations trying to help discharged prisoners avoid returning to their former practices. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Massachusetts Society for Aiding?
The 2024 filing names Peter D. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Massachusetts Society for Aiding's EIN?
Massachusetts Society for Aiding's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2138900. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Massachusetts Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Massachusetts Society for Aiding funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/massachusetts-society-for-aiding-morg_6697e5f95fad4b8b8166ae42aa499af0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_042138900_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Massachusetts Society for Aiding funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/massachusetts-society-for-aiding-morg_6697e5f95fad4b8b8166ae42aa499af0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Society for Aiding'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.
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