Massachusetts Society for Aiding

Private foundation · Grantmaker Bedford, MA EIN: 04-2138900

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.

Key facts about Massachusetts Society for Aiding

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.

EIN
04-2138900
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$100,000
Grants made (2025)
13
Average grant
$7,692
Median grant
$5,000
New grantees (estimate)
23% first-time grantees (3 of 13, 2025)
Total assets
$361,905
Primary geography
Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The 2024 filing names Peter D. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 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 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$362K

-2.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$100K

+17.2% YoY

Grant Count

13

+44.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

-18.8% YoY

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.

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. 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.

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.

Review Cycle

. 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.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All grant dollars in 2025 went to recipients in Massachusetts.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of all 13 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

BostonDorchesterLowellLynnFraminghamBrocktonCantonChattanoogaHyde ParkStrathamAuburndaleBrewsterDanversHyannisNeedhamTaunton

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K8 grants20217 grants202211 grants20239 grants202413 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2024) to $122K (2023). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $100K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Straight Ahead Ministries: $30KStraight Ahead Ministries$30KFuture Hope Apprenticeship: $15KFuture Hope Apprenticeship$15KPlace of Promise: $15KPlace of Promise$15KNew England Aftercare Ministries: $8KNew England AftercareMinistries$8KUnited Baptist Church: $7KUnited Baptist Church$7KBoston Collaborative: $5KBoston Collaborative$5KBoston Rescue Mission: $5KBoston Rescue Mission$5KFathers' Uplift Inc: $3KFathers' Uplift Inc$3KPeople Affecting Community Change (Pacc Global): $3KPeople Affecting CommunityChange (Pacc Global)$3KThrive Communities: $3KThrive Communities$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Straight Ahead Ministries ($30K). Together the top 10 received $93K.

Grant Size Distribution

48 grants across all recorded years

48<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 48 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Straight Ahead Ministries Lynn, MAFaith-Based Community Support$30,000
Future Hope Apprenticeship Dorchester, MARecovery Program and Support$15,000
Place of Promise Lowell, MASupport$15,000
New England Aftercare Ministries Framingham, MAFaith-Based Recovery Support$8,000
United Baptist Church Boston, MAReligious$7,000
Boston Collaborative Hyde Park, MACommunity and Religion Related Support$5,000
Boston Rescue Mission Boston, MASupport for Homeless and Other Peiople in Need$5,000
Fathers' Uplift Inc Dorchester, MAMental Health Support and Counseling$2,500
People Affecting Community Change (Pacc Global) Brockton, MACommunity Support$2,500
Thrive Communities Lowell, MAEmpower communities to welcome and support individueals transitioning from incarceration$2,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2025 $361,905 $98,819 $109,527 $100,000 13
2024 $372,613 $103,396 $88,447 $85,300 9
2023 $357,664 $50,381 $125,018 $121,925 11
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K$200K20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$361,905$372,613$357,664
Revenue$98,819$103,396$50,381
Expenses$109,527$88,447$125,018
Qualifying Distributions$108,237$87,222$123,793
Net Investment Income$91,729$93,171$40,624
Distributable Amount$103,508$87,118$85,313

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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.

Contact

Application contact: Peter D Holt
Mailing address: 284 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
Phone: (617) 913-9721

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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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