Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
The Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati is a private foundation located in Boston, Massachusetts. Organized by officers of the Massachusetts Continental line on June 9, 1783, at New Windsor, New York, the organization held its first meeting in Massachusetts on February 18, 1784, and was incorporated by act of the General Court on March 13, 1806. The organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and operates as a private foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.2M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$152K
-12.6% YoY
Grant Count
30
+3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-15.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati reported a distributable amount of $200K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati's purpose is to perpetuate the remembrance of the American Revolution and promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence. The organization's primary funding focuses include:
- Support for Revolutionary War history programs
- The Frederick Graham Award
- Warren/Winthrop fellowships
- Teacher training for Patriot's Paths
- Student transportation
- Education and historical preservation initiatives
Grantmaking
The organization generates revenue through multiple channels:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization primarily funds initiatives in Massachusetts, with some activity in the District of Columbia and Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $2,242,882
- Total revenues: $247,712
- Total expenses: $260,379
- Total liabilities: $0
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since April 1938 (EIN: 04-6046761)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,242,882 | $2,255,549 | $2,357,051 |
| Revenue | $247,712 | $145,307 | $85,682 |
| Expenses | $260,379 | $246,809 | $272,060 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $178,877 | $184,842 | $231,140 |
| Net Investment Income | $173,486 | $81,131 | $56,531 |
| Distributable Amount | $199,880 | $178,525 | $183,250 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Society of the Cincinnati ($32,000), General Henry Knox Museum ($15,000), Concord Museum ($12,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALDEN KINDRED OF AMERICA DUXBURY, MA | GRANT REVOLUTIONARY WAR ENCAMPMENT. | $750 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LAFAYETTE GAITHERBURG, MD | PARTIAL FUNDING TOWARD 200TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR AND EVENTS. | $3,750 |
| BATTLE RHODE ISLAND ASSOCIATION PORTSMOUTH, RI | FUND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF WEBSITE | $5,000 |
| BIDWELL HOUSE MONTEREY, MA | FUND 16% OF THE BUDGET FOR EVENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH REVOLUTION 250. | $1,000 |
| BUNKER HILL MONUMENT ASSOCIATION CHARLESTOWN, MA | FUNDING FOR THE RESTORATION OF PORTRAITS. | $1,500 |
| COL BAILEY 2ND BOLTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE GRANT | $5,000 |
| COMMONWELATH MUSEUM BOSTON, MA | FUNDING SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR FIELD TRIPS TO THE MUSEUM. | $4,000 |
| CONCORD MUSEUM CONCORD, MA | PATRIOT DAY CELEBRATION, TEACHER TRAINING AND RESOURCES TIED TO THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. | $12,000 |
| DYER MEMORIAL LIBRARY ABINGTON, MA | REQUESTED FUNDS TO CREATE AN EXHIBIT AND PUBLIC PROGRAM. | $1,000 |
| FRIENDS OF FORT CONSTITUTION BARRINGTON, NH | FUNDING FOR REPRODUCTION OF POWDER BARRELS AND RESTORING A HISTORIC FLAG. | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The organization's leadership structure includes:
- Herbert J. Motley Jr. – President
- Paul Clemente Jr. – Vice President
- Christopher John Porter – Treasurer
- J. Archer O'Reilly III – Secretary
- Thomas Warren Thaler – Assistant Secretary
- Stephen John Kelleher Jr. – Assistant Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| J ARCHER O'REILLY III | SECRETARY | 10 | $2,000 |
| HERBERT J MOTLEY JR | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| PAUL CLEMENTE JR | VICE PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER JOHN PORTER | TREASURER | 3 | — |
| THOMAS WARREN THALER | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| STEPHEN JOHN KELLEHER JR | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati made an investment in inclusive history at the American Independence Museum, demonstrating the organization's commitment to expanding historical narratives related to the American Revolution.
Grants - Massachusetts Society of the CincinnatiFrequently Asked Questions
What does Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati fund?
The Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati's purpose is to perpetuate the remembrance of the American Revolution and promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence. The organization's primary funding focuses include: • Support for Revolutionary War history programs • The Frederick Graham Award • Warren/Winthrop fellowships • Teacher training for Patriot's Paths • Student transportation • Education and historical preservation initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Made 21 grants in the most recent reporting year • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $37,000 • Median grant amount: $4,000 • Total giving: $152,065 (2024) **Recent Grants:** • The Society of the Cincinnati (Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati Intern program): $32,000 (2024) **Revenue Sources:** The organization generates revenue through multiple channels: • New member initiation fees, used for exempt purposes • Registration fees from events (including t…
Where does Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati make grants?
The organization primarily funds initiatives in Massachusetts, with some activity in the District of Columbia and Rhode Island.
What size grants does Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati award?
In 2024, Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati awarded 30 grants totaling $152K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati reported a distributable amount of $200K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati's EIN?
Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6046761. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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