Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation
The Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including education, homelessness services, food distribution, health, and animal welfare.
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation gave $258K across 69 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Massachusetts. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $257,708
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 69
- -2.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,735
- -3.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,028,013
- +2.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (4 of 69, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation
- Review Cycle
- October 15 annually. The 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- October 15 annually.
- Contact
Application contact: Carol S Parks Trustee
Mailing address: 200 Newbury Street 4Th Floor, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 262-3600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Suffolk University ($66K). Together the top 10 received $204K.
Grant Size Distribution
334 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 328 grants of 334 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts. The remaining reported shares were Connecticut (2%), Florida (2%), New York (1%), and Arkansas (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 69 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 94% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 125% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $214K (2022) to $275K (2024). In 2025 it made 69 grants totaling $258K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk University Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $66,000 |
| Rosie's Place Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $40,000 |
| Mass Eye & Ear Infirmary Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $22,500 |
| Pine Street Inn Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $15,000 |
| MSPCA Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $12,500 |
| National Braille Press Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $11,000 |
| Family Reach Foundation Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $10,000 |
| Greater Boston Food Bank Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $10,000 |
| The Hundred Club of MA Boston, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $10,000 |
| St Lawrence Church Chestnut Hill, MA | 501 (C) (3) | $6,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,028,013 | $508,282 | $463,952 | $257,708 | 69 | $313,311 | $2,641 | $250,696 |
| 2024 | $1,982,839 | $553,894 | $478,195 | $275,158 | 71 | $330,394 | — | $225,394 |
| 2023 | $1,907,692 | $384,689 | $442,034 | $250,558 | 67 | $303,101 | — | $209,400 |
| 2022 | $1,964,988 | $621,546 | $392,088 | $214,208 | 66 | $263,261 | $92,719 | $216,748 |
| 2021 | $1,735,655 | $419,111 | $414,898 | $245,108 | 61 | $291,472 | $5,524 | $222,055 |
| 2020 | $1,731,409 | $633,841 | $388,789 | $223,178 | 57 | — | $178 | $182,191 |
| 2019 | $1,485,565 | $390,023 | $384,737 | $224,408 | 54 | — | — | $180,675 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $251K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Pine Street Inn describes its mission as ending homelessness, and National Braille Press says it promotes literacy among blind children and provides access to information for blind people. The Greater Boston Food Bank describes its work as acquiring and distributing food through member agencies and direct distribution sites.
Other 2025 grantees include Family Reach Foundation, which says it provides non-medical financial support to families facing cancer; Haitian Health Foundation, whose mission is to improve health and well-being in Haiti through healthcare, education, and community development; and Foster Parrots, which describes work caring for pet birds and educating the public.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 69 grants totaling $257,708. Grants ranged from $100 to $66,000, with a median award of $1,000. Its largest reported grants were $66,000 to Suffolk University, $40,000 to Rosie’s Place, $22,500 to Mass Eye & Ear Infirmary, $15,000 to Pine Street Inn, and $12,500 to MSPCA.
The 2025 filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants are instructed to submit written proposals, including proof of Section 501(c)(3) status, to Carol S Parks, Trustee. Proposals for payroll, administration, or rehabilitation of property or buildings are not accepted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carol S Parks and Joseph A Parks V as trustee/managers.
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carol S. Parks
Trustee & Manager
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$140K (2019) → $172K (2025)
Joseph A. Parks V
Trustee & Manager
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $172K, to Carol S Parks (Trustee/Manager).
Frequently asked questions about Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation
How much does Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation give each year?
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation gave $258K across 69 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $275K across 71 grants.
What is Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,735, across 69 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation give grants?
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (27 grants), Brookline, MA (5 grants), Boca Raton, FL (2 grants) and Dorchester, MA (2 grants).
Does Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 69 grants with a stated purpose on Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "501 (C) (3)" (69 grants).
Who are Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Suffolk University ($66,000), Rosie's Place ($40,000) and Mass Eye & Ear Infirmary ($22,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation?
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $313K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $251K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation fund?
The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation?
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6088774. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sawyer-parks-charitable-foundation-morg_a2a247afd46f4f6c8ab13c2dd6cb421a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046088774_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sawyer-parks-charitable-foundation-morg_a2a247afd46f4f6c8ab13c2dd6cb421a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation'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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