Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation
The Susan A. and Donald P. Babson Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1995 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across the United States and internationally.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
+27.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$289K
+11.2% YoY
Grant Count
76
+8.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+2.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $317K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is "the enrichment and empowerment of people of all ages around the world, so as to prevent exploitation, poverty, and injustice."
While the foundation does not designate specific program areas, its grants historically support work in:
- Human services
- Education and vocational/career development
- Economic opportunity
- Environmental initiatives
- Sustainable agriculture and food security
- Immigrants' causes
The foundation does not make capital grants but provides program and general operating support through its grantmaking programs.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes approximately 50 modest grants annually. In 2024, the foundation awarded 91 grants totaling $289,380. Recent grantees have included Human Rights Watch, Meenakshi Foundation, and Point Foundation.
Grant Range
was $1,000 to $10,000, with an average grant size of $3,500
Average Grant
of $3,500
Review Cycle
February 28
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes the Greater Boston area and Massachusetts broadly. However, its funding reach extends across numerous states including New York, Virginia, California, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, Florida, Minnesota, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and others. The foundation also supports work internationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,532,142
- Total Revenue: $1,573,967
- Total Expenses: $373,895
- Total Giving: $289,380
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,532,142 | $4,337,811 | $4,177,838 |
| Revenue | $1,573,967 | $500,576 | $475,939 |
| Expenses | $373,895 | $338,478 | $386,381 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $326,195 | $328,779 | $344,557 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,535,846 | $490,603 | $442,420 |
| Distributable Amount | $317,243 | $301,023 | $311,958 |
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
201 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pathway to Possible ($10,000), Human Rights Watch ($10,000), Meenakshi Foundation Inc ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PATHWAY TO POSSIBLE NEWTON CENTRE, MA | PAUL T. BABSON II JUBILEE HOUSE | $10,000 |
| ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CLIMATE CENTRAL PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| DC SCORES WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| HARLEM EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| NEW AMERICAN PATHWAYS ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| THE SAFINA CENTER SETAUKET, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| SANDY HOOK PROMISE FOUNDATION NEWTOWN, CT | KNOW THE SIGNS (KTS) | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN FUND FOR EMMANUEL NEWTON, MA | A RECOMMENDED GRANT TO EMMANUEL COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, IN ORDER TO FUND A POST DOC | $8,000 |
| AMERICAN FUND FOR EMMANUEL NEWTON, MA | EMMA ENABLES | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY | CO-TRUSTEE (UNTIL 9/2024) | 1 | $47,476 |
| DEBORAH BABSON | FAMILY MEMBER TRUSTEES | 1 | — |
| AVERILL BABSON | FAMILY MEMBER TRUSTEES | 1 | — |
| RICHARD L BABSON | FAMILY MEMBER TRUSTEES | 1 | — |
| RAY CONSIDINE | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | $5,000 |
| MAITHRI B BABSON | FAMILY MEMBER TRUSTEES | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation revised its application process beginning in 2019, transitioning to an invitation-only model for competitive grants. This change reflects a strategic shift toward supporting organizations with which the foundation has established relationships.
Demakes Family YMCA Receives Grant from the Paul and Edith Babson FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is "the enrichment and empowerment of people of all ages around the world, so as to prevent exploitation, poverty, and injustice." While the foundation does not designate specific program areas, its grants historically support work in: • Human services • Education and vocational/career development • Economic opportunity • Environmental initiatives • Sustainable agriculture and food security • Immigrants' causes The foundation does not make capital grants but provides pr…
How do I apply for a grant from Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation?
**Competitive Grant Program** • Accepts applications only from organizations that have been invited to apply • Invitations are sent via email before the end of the year • Application deadline: February 28 • In 2024, the grant range was $1,000 to $10,000, with an average grant size of $3,500 • A limited number of multi-year grants may be considered in each grant cycle **Discretionary Grant Program** • Reflects the interests of individual trustees and family members • No applications are accepted…
Where does Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes the Greater Boston area and Massachusetts broadly. However, its funding reach extends across numerous states including New York, Virginia, California, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, Florida, Minnesota, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and others. The foundation also supports work internationally.
What size grants does Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation award?
In 2024, Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation awarded 76 grants totaling $289K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $317K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation's EIN?
Susan a & Donald P Babson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6782460. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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