Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust is a private foundation, based in Boston, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $6.0M in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 7 grants totaling $406K. Net investment income was $827K.
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust gave $406K across 7 grants in 2026 (avg $58K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $406,250
- +14.0% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 7
- +75.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $58,036
- -34.8% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $5,998,704
- +5.8% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (95% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated September 2026.
Who Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Proprietors of the Boston Atheneaum ($110K). Together the top 7 received $406K.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 13 grants of 26 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (−6%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $253K (2024) to $433K (2023). In 2026 it made 7 grants totaling $406K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietors of the Boston Atheneaum Boston, MA | For American art and culture related to the polly thayer starr fellowship. | $110,000 |
| Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Boston, MA | To support studio through virtual and in-person public programs. | $100,000 |
| Norwell Visiting Nurse Association Inc Norwell, MA | In support of the pat roche hospice home's fund. | $100,000 |
| Trustees of Tufts College FBO School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts Medford, MA | The smfa at tufts polly thayer starr charitable trust term scholarship and polly thayer starr studio internship at the isabella stewart gardner museum | $27,500 |
| Boston Arts Academy Foundation Inc Boston, MA | Visual Arts and Design at Boston Arts Academy | $25,000 |
| Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry Roxbury, MA | A teaching artist as part of the roxbury youth programs. | $25,000 |
| New Britain Museum of American Art Inc New Britain, CT | Polly Thayer Starr Research Fellow in American Art | $18,750 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $5,998,704 | $859,070 | $527,697 | $406,250 | 7 | $489,594 | $826,502 | $491,059 |
| 2025 | $5,668,762 | $766,528 | $477,678 | $356,250 | 4 | $436,530 | $389,589 | $481,275 |
| 2024 | $5,382,191 | $418,632 | $350,675 | $252,500 | 5 | $313,448 | $381,405 | $409,190 |
| 2023 | $5,315,046 | $111,322 | $538,673 | $432,500 | 6 | $503,059 | $76,852 | $390,472 |
| 2022 | $5,742,294 | $449,001 | $435,813 | $327,500 | 4 | $397,062 | $416,094 | $431,724 |
| 2021 | $5,729,143 | $565,836 | $471,652 | $338,820 | 6 | — | $532,636 | $417,408 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $491K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust's 2026 filing lists 4 officers; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Arthur B. Page
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1.5 hrs/week
$19K (2021) → $20K (2026)
M. Bradford Bedingfield
Trustee
On filings since 2025
1.5 hrs/week
$18K (2025) → $20K (2026)
Ryan P. McManus
Trustee
On filings since 2025
1.5 hrs/week
$18K (2025) → $20K (2026)
Dinah Starr
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Nancy B. Gardiner (2021–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $20K, to Arthur B Page (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust
How much does Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust give each year?
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust gave $406K across 7 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $356K across 4 grants.
What is Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust's median grant in 2026 was $27,500, and its average grant was $58,036, across 7 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust give grants?
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants).
Does Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust's largest 2026 grantees include Proprietors of the Boston Atheneaum ($110,000), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum ($100,000) and Norwell Visiting Nurse Association Inc ($100,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust?
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $490K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $491K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust's EIN?
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2756435. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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