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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rowland Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Boston Foundation - Fbo Familyaid Boston Inc ($200,000), Northeastern University ($100,000), The Boston Foundation - Fbo Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO A SAFE PLACE INC BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY INC BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $30,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC INC BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $75,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO BETHEL INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO BOSTON BALLET INC BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO BOSTON CHILDREN'S CHORUS INC BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO BOSTON MUSIC PROJECT BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $22,000 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION - FBO BOSTON YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS INC BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $40,000 |
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 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rowland Foundation Inc fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from Rowland Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • 36 grants awarded in the most recent reporting period • Median grant size: $50,000 • Grant range: $6,000 to $200,000 • Total giving: $1,973,000 (most recent fiscal year) **Application Status:** 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.
Where does Rowland Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Boston, Massachusetts area and Massachusetts more broadly.
What size grants does Rowland Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Rowland Foundation Inc awarded 36 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $55K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Rowland Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rowland Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Rowland Foundation Inc's EIN?
Rowland Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6046756. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rowland Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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