Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc is a Boston, Massachusetts–based public charity formed in 1986. It works to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment, and to share them with the public. Its work includes beach programs, youth environmental education, and clean-water and environmental advocacy.
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc at a glance
In short: Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc gave $80K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $80,000
- +540.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +450.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,273
- +16.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,500
- Total assets
- $949,571
- -17.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 212 Northern Avenue Suite 304 West, Boston, MA 02210
Phone: (617) 451-2860
Website: https://savetheharbor.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc
Who Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Resist Inc ($13K). Together the top 10 received $75K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 13 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Better Beaches program funds activities on public DCR beaches from Nahant to Hull, across nine municipalities: Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull. In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 7% to a recipient in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2023) to $80K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $80K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Resist Inc Jamaica Plain, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $13,000 |
| City of Revere Revere, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $9,000 |
| Men of Melanin Magic LLC Boston, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $8,000 |
| Piers Park Sailing Center East Boston, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $7,000 |
| Revere Beach Partnership Inc Revere, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $7,000 |
| North Shore Juneteenth Association Inc Lynn, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $6,500 |
| Aashka Dance Company Hyde Park, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $6,000 |
| Caribbean American Carnival Association Roxbury, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $6,000 |
| Daddy & ME Inc Hyde Park, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $6,000 |
| Neighborhood of Affordable Housing East Boston, MA | Support free public events and programs on public beaches | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $949,571 | $1,932,015 | $1,690,562 | $80,000 | 11 | $8,766 |
| 2023 | $1,150,629 | $1,614,621 | $1,514,300 | $12,500 | 2 | $4,497 |
| 2022 | $1,120,142 | $1,296,826 | $1,360,411 | — | — | $969 |
| 2021 | $897,450 | $1,264,621 | $1,163,161 | — | — | $468 |
| 2020 | $652,807 | $960,815 | $958,013 | — | — | $1,204 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment, and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy.
Its Better Beaches Grant Program awards small grants to local organizations, artists, and individuals for free events and programs on public beaches. The organization says the program is intended to give community members decision-making power over community spaces and help people who may not visit the beach, or face barriers to access, enjoy these shared waterfront spaces. In 2024, it reported funding 201 free beach events through the program. Its other stated activities include youth environmental education, water-quality advocacy, and public policy work.
The grantees’ own descriptions show support for varied community organizations. For example, RESIST describes its mission as supporting movements for justice and liberation through resource redistribution and storytelling. Piers Park Sailing Center describes its mission as inclusive empowerment through marine science and community sailing. Revere Beach Partnership says it works to preserve and enhance Revere Beach for everyone’s enjoyment, while Stonewall Sports says it builds safe spaces for LGBTQA individuals and promotes inclusivity in sports.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the organization gave 11 grants totaling $80,000. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $13,000, with a median of $6,500. Each of the 11 listed grants had the stated purpose of supporting free public events and programs on public beaches.
Notable 2024 recipients included RESIST Inc. ($13,000), City of Revere ($9,000), Men of Melanin Magic LLC ($8,000), Piers Park Sailing Center ($7,000), and Revere Beach Partnership ($7,000).
The Better Beaches program accepts proposals from organizations, collectives, and creative individuals. Applicants may come from any community, but proposed activities must take place on a designated regional public DCR beach. The program says it prioritizes applicants with annual budgets under $750,000 and those led by or intentionally serving people who face barriers to accessing Boston Harbor. It also notes interest in grantees providing recurring free beach resources related to community health, harm reduction, and food justice. Grant funds must support events and programs; the organization says it monitors use by verifying that proposed events occur as planned.
The website states that applications for the 2026 beach season are closed. The 2026 program allocation is over $300,000, with awards ranging from $2,500 to $8,500 per grantee.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael A. Leon as chair; Christopher Byner, Michael Kineavy, and Susan Tracy as vice chairs; Elisabeth Jackson as treasurer; and Malene Welch as clerk. Directors listed are Hilina Ajakaiye, Olivia Barker, Laura A. Burke, and Tom Cox.
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc is led by Christopher Mancini, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 26 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher Mancini
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$116K (2020) → $128K (2024)
Michael A. Leon
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Theodore
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eugene Kennedy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Sandoval
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph P. Newman
Director
Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Simpson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Fernandes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura A. Burke
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Martin
Director
Director → Clerk, 2022
Clerk → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul D. Foster
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas N. O'Brien
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Cox
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Gaeta
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Barker
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Etty Padmodipoetro
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Usovicz
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hilina Ajakaiye
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin O'Shea
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsay Sparling
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Puleo
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Byner
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth Jackson
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Kineavy
Vice Chair
Vice Chair → Director, 2022
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Tracy
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Malene Welch
Clerk
Director → Clerk, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Joseph R. Savage (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Christian R. Scorzoni (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: David Lee (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: David Spillane (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Julie Pagano (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mark Chrisos (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Martha Laposata (2020–2021) — Clerk
- Former: John Obrien (2021) — Director
- Former: Judith Pederson (2020) — Director
- Former: Mark Straubel (2020) — Director
- Former: Thomas A. Kershaw (2020) — Director
- Former: Thomas G. Wolfe (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $128K, to Christopher Mancini (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc
How much does Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc give each year?
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc gave $80K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $13K across 2 grants.
What is Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's typical grant size?
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's median grant in 2024 was $6,500, and its average grant was $7,273, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc give grants?
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Revere, MA (2 grants), East Boston, MA (2 grants) and Hyde Park, MA (2 grants).
Does Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Free Public Events and Programs on Public Beaches" (11 grants).
Who are Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's largest grantees?
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Resist Inc ($13,000), City of Revere ($9,000) and Men of Melanin Magic LLC ($8,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc?
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc reported $950K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.9M.
What does Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment, and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc?
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check savetheharbor.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's EIN?
Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2908768. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/save-the-harborsave-the-bay-inc-morg_8a7855206bb0447eb94502a095bff33c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_042908768_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/save-the-harborsave-the-bay-inc-morg_8a7855206bb0447eb94502a095bff33c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Save the Harborsave the Bay Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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