The 72 Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BOSTON, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $54.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $2.9M. Net investment income was $1.7M.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$54.1M
+4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
+2.6% YoY
Grant Count
6
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$487K
+36.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The 72 Fund reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The 72 Fund
Based on IRS filings
The 72 Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BOSTON, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $54.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $2.9M. Net investment income was $1.7M.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $54,094,754 | $51,994,220 | $47,911,348 |
| Revenue | $1,960,258 | $572,827 | $-291,315 |
| Expenses | $3,372,843 | $3,132,842 | $2,097,185 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,109,021 | $2,899,611 | $1,019,545 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,696,686 | $551,968 | $351,870 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,570,405 | $2,448,802 | $2,492,204 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Kingsley Montessori School ($1,500,000), President and Fellows of Harvard College ($800,000), Unicef Usa ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| KINGSLEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL BOSTON, MA | PURCHASE OF NEW SCHOOL BUILDING | $1,500,000 |
| KINGSLEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL BOSTON, MA | STRATEGIC CONSULTING FOR CAMPAIGN | $24,000 |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, MA | DONOVAN-CHIEN FAMILY PROFESSORSHIP | $800,000 |
| ESPERANZA ACADEMY LAWRENCE, MA | READY TO RISE COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN - ESPERANZA GRANT | $100,000 |
| UNICEF USA WASHINGTON, DC | UNICEF HEART STRINGS GRANT | $250,000 |
| UNICEF USA WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH R CHIEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MEGAN K DONOVAN-CHIEN | PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE | 35 | — |
| GEOFFREY M MASON | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| MICHELLE KNIGHT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The 72 Fund?
The 72 Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BOSTON, MA. It holds $54.1M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The 72 Fund?
As of 2024, The 72 Fund holds $54.1M in total assets with $2.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 6 grants totaling $2.9M in 2024.
Where does The 72 Fund operate?
The 72 Fund has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Massachusetts.
What size grants does The 72 Fund award?
In 2024, The 72 Fund awarded 6 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $487K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The 72 Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The 72 Fund reported a distributable amount of $2.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The 72 Fund's EIN?
The 72 Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4148852. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The 72 Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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