TBL Charitable Foundation
TBL Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Newtonville, Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants included support for a university, science and mathematics education, cancer-related work, early intervention for deaf children, and human services.
TBL Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: TBL Charitable Foundation gave $2.5M across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $205K), mostly in Massachusetts. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,459,800
- +170.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $204,983
- +170.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $31,662,087
- -3.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (6 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to TBL Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing lists F Thomson Leighton as the contact; no application form or other materials are required, and no award restrictions are listed. No deadline is listed.
- Contact
Application contact: F Thomson Leighton
Mailing address: 15 Charlesden Park, Newtonville, MA 02460
Phone: (617) 765-2100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who TBL Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Brandeis University ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 62 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as Massachusetts 62%, Washington, DC 24%, Virginia 11%, New Jersey 2%, and California 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is TBL Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 12 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $406K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $163K repeat.
- 42% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 100% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $667K (2020) to $2.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | General Purpose | $1,500,000 |
| Society for Science and the Public Washington, DC | To promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement: to inform, educate, and inspire the world in the 21st century. | $600,000 |
| Center for Excellence in Education McLean, VA | The center seeks high achieving high school and university students from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds to further develop their mathematical and scientific skills. | $275,000 |
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | General Purpose | $51,000 |
| Regents of the University of California Oakland, CA | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| The Decibels Foundation Westford, MA | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Ieee Computer Society Los Alamitos, CA | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Korean Society for Molecular & Cellular B | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| St Francis House Gainesville, FL | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Swim Across America Boston, MA | Dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With the help of hundreds of volunteers nationwide and past and current olympians, saa is helping to find a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service. | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with TBL 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,662,087 | $1,467,712 | $2,537,181 | $2,459,800 | 12 | $2,468,600 | $1,411,903 | $2,141,932 |
| 2023 | $32,731,556 | $13,952,490 | $959,989 | $911,000 | 12 | $927,914 | $813,857 | $1,933,048 |
| 2022 | $19,739,055 | $170,893 | $1,163,868 | $1,136,500 | 11 | $1,150,684 | $266,615 | $1,530,429 |
| 2021 | $20,732,030 | $6,044,050 | $1,261,638 | $1,227,500 | 15 | $1,240,754 | $80,087 | $1,358,408 |
| 2020 | $15,949,618 | $513,853 | $703,318 | $667,000 | 12 | — | $500,669 | $1,321,273 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, TBL Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants show support for organizations working in education and science, as well as organizations serving other purposes. Brandeis University describes its mission as advancing the humanities, arts, and social, natural, and physical sciences, while also providing a broad liberal arts education. The Center for Excellence in Education says its programs help high-achieving students from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds develop mathematical and scientific skills.
Other 2024 grantees describe different areas of work: The Decibels Foundation says it directs charitable-event proceeds to early intervention programs for deaf children; Swim Across America says its charity swims raise funds for cancer research, prevention, and treatment; and St Francis House says it helps families with children achieve stable self-sufficiency through case management, meals, and educational, health, and career resources.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $2,459,800. Individual grants ranged from $1,800 to $1,500,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants were $1,500,000 to Brandeis University for general purposes, $600,000 to Society for Science and the Public to promote understanding and appreciation of science, and $275,000 to the Center for Excellence in Education to help students develop mathematical and scientific skills. Other grants included $51,000 to Princeton University and $5,000 each to the Regents of the University of California, The Decibels Foundation, IEEE Computer Society, and several other organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
F Thomson Leighton is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
TBL Charitable Foundation is led by F. Thomson Leighton, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
F. Thomson Leighton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about TBL Charitable Foundation
How much does TBL Charitable Foundation give each year?
TBL Charitable Foundation gave $2.5M across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $911K across 12 grants.
What is TBL Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
TBL Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $204,983, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from TBL Charitable Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does TBL Charitable Foundation give grants?
TBL Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (24%) and Virginia (11%).
Does TBL Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of TBL Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are TBL Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
TBL Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Brandeis University ($1,500,000), Society for Science and the Public ($600,000) and Center for Excellence in Education ($275,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is TBL Charitable Foundation?
TBL Charitable Foundation reported $31.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does TBL Charitable Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants show support for organizations working in education and science, as well as organizations serving other purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from TBL Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is TBL Charitable Foundation's EIN?
TBL Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3982689. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). TBL Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tbl-charitable-foundation-morg_802b035b264342808065f62c3c930dcb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203982689_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{TBL Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/tbl-charitable-foundation-morg_802b035b264342808065f62c3c930dcb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 TBL 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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