Nuance Foundation Inc
Nuance Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Burlington, Massachusetts. Its 2021 IRS filing is marked as the organization’s final return and states that it is ceasing operations and will distribute its remaining cash at dissolution; the foundation therefore appears to have wound down.
Nuance Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Nuance Foundation Inc gave $819K across 24 grants in 2021 (avg $34K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $819,198
- -58.0% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 24
- -44.2% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $34,133
- -24.8% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (77% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Nuance Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its 2021 filing says it was ceasing operations and would distribute its remaining cash at final dissolution.
- Contact
Mailing address: One Wayside Road, Burlington, MA 01803
Phone: (781) 565-5000
Website: https://www.nuancefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nuance Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Nuance Communications Employee Matching Program - Details Upon Request ($593K). Together the top 10 received $703K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 67 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2021, Massachusetts recipients received 77% of grant dollars. Other recipient-state shares were California 4%, New Jersey 4%, Washington, DC 3%, and New York 2%. The listed grants also included recipients in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Nuance Foundation Inc gives
- 17% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021). 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 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $819K (2021) to $2.0M (2020). In 2021 it made 24 grants totaling $819K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nuance Communications Employee Matching Program - Details Upon Request Burlington, MA | Multiple 501(C) Organizations - See Attached Listing | $593,198 |
| The Cooper Foundation Camden, NJ | To assist the medical field during the covid-19 pandemic | $30,000 |
| Black Girls Code New York, NY | To Provide Technology Education for African-American Girls | $10,000 |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA | To Support Umass Dept. of Accounting | $10,000 |
| Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Association Chicago, IL | To Provide Treatment of Alzheimers and Related Diseases | $10,000 |
| Bernard J Tyson Impact Fund (American Heart Association) Dallas, TX | To assist is reducing healthcare disparities in low-income communities | $10,000 |
| Chinese for Affirmative Action San Francisco, CA | To assist the asian American and pacific islander community with social change | $10,000 |
| Girls Who Code Inc New York, NY | To Provide Computer Skills and Education to Girls | $10,000 |
| Hire Heroes USA Alpharetta, GA | To Assist the Military Community with Employment Opportunities | $10,000 |
| National Society of Black Engineers Alexandria, VA | To Support Students with Engineering and Technology Opportunities | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $500,068 | $1,302,029 | $819,198 | 24 | $865,407 | $33,067 |
| 2020 | $809,011 | $1,000,985 | $2,016,032 | $1,952,020 | 43 | — | $57,016 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nuance Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $33K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing does not state a separate mission. Its 2021 grants included support for healthcare, technology and STEM education, scholarships, employment services for the military community, autism research, and civil rights organizations.
Among the grantees, Girls Who Code describes its mission as equipping girls from underserved communities to pursue STEM careers. Hire Heroes USA says it provides no-cost services to help military members, veterans, and military spouses succeed in civilian employment. Chinese for Affirmative Action describes itself as a community-based civil rights organization. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $819,198. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $593,198, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant was $593,198 to the Nuance Communications Employee Matching Program, for multiple 501(c)(3) organizations listed in an attachment. Other notable grants included $30,000 to The Cooper Foundation to assist the medical field during the COVID-19 pandemic, and $10,000 each to Black Girls Code, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Girls Who Code, Hire Heroes USA, and the National Society of Black Engineers, among others.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Mark Benjamin as president and director; Wendy Cassity as clerk and director; Mark March as treasurer; and Dan Tempesta, Beth Conway, and Juli Rochon as directors.
Nuance Foundation Inc is led by Mark Benjamin, President & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Mark Benjamin
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Conway
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Cassity
Clerk & Director
Clerk → Clerk & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan Tempesta
Director
New on the 2021 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Juli Rochon
Director
New on the 2021 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark March
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Amy Livingtone (2020) — Director
- Former: Daniel Tempesta (2020) — President & Director
- Former: Tom Beaudoin (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "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 Nuance Foundation Inc
How much does Nuance Foundation Inc give each year?
Nuance Foundation Inc gave $819K across 24 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $2.0M across 43 grants.
What is Nuance Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Nuance Foundation Inc's median grant in 2021 was $10,000, and its average grant was $34,133, across 24 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Nuance Foundation Inc give grants?
Nuance Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Nuance Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Nuance Foundation Inc's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Nuance Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Nuance Foundation Inc's largest 2021 grantees include Nuance Communications Employee Matching Program - Details Upon Request ($593,198), The Cooper Foundation ($30,000) and Black Girls Code ($10,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Nuance Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a separate mission. Its 2021 grants included support for healthcare, technology and STEM education, scholarships, employment services for the military community, autism research, and civil rights organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nuance Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Nuance Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Nuance Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $33K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Nuance Foundation Inc's EIN?
Nuance Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3838006. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Does Nuance Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 24, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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Nuance Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?