Rowland Foundation Inc
Rowland Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation was incorporated in 1960 in Delaware under the original name Edwin H. Land-Helen M. Land, Inc., and was renamed in 1972. The foundation was established by Edwin H. Land, founder and former chairman of the Polaroid Corporation and inventor of the Polaroid-Land camera and film.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36.5M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
-8.0% YoY
Grant Count
36
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$55K
-0.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Higher education
- Human services
- Children and youth services, including youth arts programs
- Social services
- Homelessness
- Education
- Arts and culture
Types of support provided include general operating support and project support.
Grantmaking
The foundation appears to be possibly open to applications based on recent tax filings. The foundation has limited staffing and operates with volunteer board members.
Grant Range
$50,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Boston, Massachusetts area and Massachusetts more broadly.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total assets: $36,466,468
- Total giving: $1,973,000 (most recent fiscal year)
- IRS status: Active since August 1962
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,466,468 | $35,717,444 | $31,619,980 |
| Revenue | $3,039,322 | $6,469,411 | $2,119,172 |
| Expenses | $2,295,125 | $2,377,189 | $2,481,997 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,030,953 | $2,211,049 | $2,262,150 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,873,898 | $6,320,960 | $1,951,712 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,395,254 | $2,040,272 | $2,178,263 |
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
188 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership includes:
- Edward Smallwood (Co-President, Treasurer & Trustee)
- Kate Chertavian (Co-President & Trustee)
- Valerie Smallwood (Vice President & Trustee)
- Charlotte Houghteling Smallwood (Secretary & Trustee)
- Gerald Chertavian (Trustee)
- Daniel Drake (Trustee)
All board members serve 10 hours per week with no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALERIE SMALLWOOD | VICE PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| GERALD CHERTAVIAN | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| DANIEL DRAKE | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| EDWARD SMALLWOOD | CO-PRESIDENT, TREASURER & | 10 | — |
| KATE CHERTAVIAN | CO-PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| CHARLOTTE HOUGHTELING SMALLWOOD | SECRETARY & TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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