Southcoast Community Foundation Inc
SouthCoast Community Foundation Inc is a public charity based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Established in 1995, it brings together donors, organizations, and resources to strengthen communities, and distributes charitable funds to organizations in its region.
Key facts about Southcoast Community Foundation Inc
In short: Southcoast Community Foundation Inc gave $2.5M across 92 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Massachusetts. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 04-3280353
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,515,004
- Grants made (2024)
- 92
- Average grant
- $27,337
- Median grant
- $12,550
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (18 of 92, 2024)
- Total assets
- $62,047,747
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$62.0M
+10.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
+73.7% YoY
Grant Count
92
+76.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
-1.8% YoY
Is Southcoast Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 92 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated in the foundation’s 2024 filing is “uniting people, organizations, and resources to strengthen our communities.” Its website identifies arts and culture, basic human needs, education and economy, and nonprofit resilience as focus areas. The 2024 grant list also includes awards categorized for health and human services, community and economic development, education and youth development, and arts, culture, and humanities.
Among the supported organizations, Old Dartmouth Historical Society says its mission is to promote learning through art, history, science, and culture rooted in the region’s stories. PACE Community Housing Corporation says it provides affordable housing and access to nutritious food for people and families with low and moderate incomes in Greater New Bedford. New Bedford Symphony Orchestra describes its work as arts education and low-cost concerts. Other grantees include organizations whose stated missions concern community change, youth development, conservation education, and local history and preservation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 92 grants totaling $2,515,004. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $190,000, with a median of $12,550. Among the largest awards were $190,000 to The Salvation Army Canton for health and human services; $173,625 to Old Dartmouth Historical Society for education and youth development; $158,873 to PACE Inc for community and economic development; $137,500 to UMass Dartmouth Foundation for education and youth development; and $134,000 to New Bedford Public Schools for education and youth development. The foundation also reported grants to New Bedford Symphony Orchestra ($109,330), Global Learning Charter Public School ($100,500), and SouthCoast Chamber Foundation ($90,000).
The foundation’s grant information describes a combination of donor-directed funds and competitive opportunities. Donor-directed funds may operate by invitation or advisor recommendation; targeted opportunities have their own eligibility criteria, geographic focus, or program priorities. The Henry H. Crapo Foundation Fund description says it considers requests from 501(c)(3) organizations and may support program, project, or operating needs, with an emphasis on capital projects that fill funding gaps. It does not provide enough detail here to state the fund’s complete geographic eligibility requirements. Grantees must submit reports at the end of the grant cycle; discretionary-grant recipients may also be asked for mid-term progress reports, site visits, and evaluations.
The foundation’s 2026 Spring Grant Cycle information described a March 31, 2026 application deadline, which has passed. The foundation’s website describes annual spring and fall cycles and says that open fund-specific opportunities are listed with guidelines and timelines.
Open Grants
34 open opportunities from Southcoast Community Foundation Inc
Amy Edwards Second Wind Initiative Scholarship Grant
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
BankFive President’s Scholarship Grant
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Charles J. Lewin Interfaith Scholarship Grant
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it serves 41 cities and towns across Bristol, Plymouth, Dukes, and Norfolk Counties in Southeastern Massachusetts, including Greater New Bedford, Greater Fall River, and Southern Plymouth County. Its 2024 grant data show that 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 92 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2023) to $7.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 92 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Salvation Army Canton ($190K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
495 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 362 grants of 495 (73%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Salvation Army Canton Canton, MA | Health and Human Services | $190,000 |
| Old Dartmouth Historical Society New Bedford, MA | Education and Youth Development | $173,625 |
| Pace Inc New Bedford, MA | Community and Economic Development | $158,873 |
| Umass Dartmouth Foundation Dartmouth, MA | Education and Youth Development | $137,500 |
| New Bedford Public Schools New Bedford, MA | Education and Youth Development | $134,000 |
| New Bedford Symphony Orchestra New Bedford, MA | Arts, Culture, and Humanities | $109,330 |
| Global Learning Charter Public School New Bedford, MA | Education and Youth Development | $100,500 |
| Southcoast Chamber Foundation Fall River, MA | Arts, Culture, and Humanities | $90,000 |
| United Way of Greater New Bedford New Bedford, MA | Health and Human Services | $70,550 |
| Buttonwood Park Zoological Society New Bedford, MA | MISC. | $55,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $62,047,747 | $11,660,451 | $7,539,209 | $2,515,004 |
| 2023 | $56,028,716 | $10,495,771 | $9,952,781 | $1,447,912 |
| 2022 | $49,607,521 | $12,813,868 | $8,467,671 | $4,375,334 |
The foundation’s website separately says it manages over $72 million in charitable assets and more than 450 funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $62,047,747 | $56,028,716 | $49,607,521 |
| Revenue | $11,660,451 | $10,495,771 | $12,813,868 |
| Expenses | $7,539,209 | $9,952,781 | $8,467,671 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,760,414 | $980,040 | $971,504 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Melanie Edwards-Tavares as president and CEO; Gail Fortes as chair; Jayne Rebello Korn as vice chair; Linda Bodenmann as immediate past chair; Jonathan Rounds as treasurer; and Maria Rosario as clerk. It also lists Kate Alves, Janet Coquillette, Nathaniel Rodriguez, and Cynthia Rose as directors.
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc is led by Melanie Edwards-Tavares, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 4 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melanie Edwards-Tavares
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$69K (2023) → $225K (2024)
Alison Smart
Executive Director of Probable Futures
Executive Director of Probable Futures → Executive Director of Probable, 2021
Executive Director of Probable → Executive Director of Probable Futures, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$175K (2020) → $225K (2024)
Gail Fortes
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles F. Holley
Director of Finance & Administrator
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $118K (2024)
Tammy Dayton
Creative Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$120K (2022) → $111K (2024)
Cynthia Rose
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Tangen
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Coquillette
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Alves
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathaniel Rodriguez
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Bodenmann
Immediate Past Chair
Director & Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Rosario
Clerk
Director → Assistant Clerk, 2022
Assistant Clerk → Clerk, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jayne Rebello Korn
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Rounds
Treasurer
Director → Assistant Clerk, 2021
Assistant Clerk → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Carl J. Cruz (2019–2023) — Clerk
- Former: Louis E. Sousa (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Priscilla Ditchfield (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Trish Arnold (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Damon Chaplin (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Denise M. Porche (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jeffrey Pagliuca (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Leonard Lee (2022–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Patricia Grime (2023) — Director of Philanthropy
- Former: Colleen C. Carney (2019–2022) — Director Left Jun2022
- Former: Jason Rua (2019–2022) — Former Assistant Clerk Left Jun2022
- Former: Seth Garfield (2019–2022) — Director Left Jun2022
- Former: Sarah Rose (2021–2022) — Director of Engagement
- Former: Eric H. Strand (2019–2021) — Former Vice Chair
- Former: John Vasconcellos (2019–2021) — Former President
- Former: Nicholas M. Christ (2019–2021) — Former Director
- Former: Pamela Evans (2019–2020) — Director of Finance & Administrator
- Former: William R. Eccles Jr. (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gerald Kavanagh (2020) — Director
- Former: Erik Domingues Mdfaad (2019) — Director
- Former: Gerry Kavanaugh (2019) — Director
- Former: Terry Boyle (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $225K, to Alison Smart (Ed of Probable Futures). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 350 Union Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: (774) 438-4319
Website: https://southcoastcf.org
Frequently asked questions about Southcoast Community Foundation Inc
How much does Southcoast Community Foundation Inc give each year?
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc gave $2.5M across 92 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 52 grants.
What is Southcoast Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $12,550, and its average grant was $27,337, across 92 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Southcoast Community Foundation Inc that year got $15K on average.
Where does Southcoast Community Foundation Inc give grants?
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Bedford, MA (47 grants), Fall River, MA (17 grants), Westport, MA (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Southcoast Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 92 grants with a stated purpose on Southcoast Community Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education and Youth Development" (25 grants), "Arts, Culture, and Humanities" (23 grants) and "Health and Human Services" (14 grants).
Who are Southcoast Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The Salvation Army Canton ($190,000), Old Dartmouth Historical Society ($173,625) and Pace Inc ($158,873), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Southcoast Community Foundation Inc?
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc reported $62.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.7M.
What does Southcoast Community Foundation Inc fund?
The mission stated in the foundation’s 2024 filing is “uniting people, organizations, and resources to strengthen our communities.” Its website identifies arts and culture, basic human needs, education and economy, and nonprofit resilience as focus areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Southcoast Community Foundation Inc?
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check southcoastcf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Southcoast Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Southcoast Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3280353. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Southcoast Community Foundation Inc by hand.
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