The 72 Fund
The 72 Fund is a private foundation, 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.
The 72 Fund at a glance
In short: The 72 Fund gave $2.9M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $487K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,924,000
- +2.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $487,333
- +36.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $54,094,754
- +4.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The 72 Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kingsley Montessori School ($1.5M across 2 grants). Together the top 4 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 16 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How The 72 Fund gives
- Giving grew 7210% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2021) to $2.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsley Montessori School Boston, MA | Purchase of New School Building | $1,500,000 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College Cambridge, MA | Donovan-Chien Family Professorship | $800,000 |
| UNICEF USA Washington, DC | UNICEF Heart Strings Grant | $250,000 |
| UNICEF USA Washington, DC | General Charitable Purposes | $250,000 |
| Esperanza Academy Lawrence, MA | Ready to Rise Comprehensive Campaign - Esperanza Grant | $100,000 |
| Kingsley Montessori School Boston, MA | Strategic Consulting for Campaign | $24,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The 72 Fund?
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 | $54,094,754 | $1,960,258 | $3,372,843 | $2,924,000 | 6 | $3,109,021 | $1,696,686 | $2,570,405 |
| 2023 | $51,994,220 | $572,827 | $3,132,842 | $2,849,000 | 8 | $2,899,611 | $551,968 | $2,448,802 |
| 2022 | $47,911,348 | $-291,315 | $2,097,185 | $1,000,000 | 1 | $1,019,545 | $351,870 | $2,492,204 |
| 2021 | $59,705,198 | $88,061,632 | $207,074 | $40,000 | 1 | $72,069 | $59,592,636 | $687,262 |
| 2020 | $17,848,491 | $24,965,080 | $6,495 | — | — | — | — | $39,315 |
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.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The 72 Fund is led by Megan K. Donovan-Chien, President & Trustee since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Megan K. Donovan-Chien
President & Trustee
Trustee → President & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geoffrey M. Mason
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth R. Chien
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Knight
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert N. Shapiro (2020–2021) — Trustee
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 The 72 Fund
How much does The 72 Fund give each year?
The 72 Fund gave $2.9M across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.8M across 8 grants.
What is The 72 Fund's typical grant size?
The 72 Fund's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $487,333, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The 72 Fund give grants?
The 72 Fund gives mostly in Massachusetts: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The 72 Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of The 72 Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The 72 Fund's largest grantees?
The 72 Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Kingsley Montessori School ($1,524,000 across 2 grants), President and Fellows of Harvard College ($800,000) and UNICEF USA ($500,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The 72 Fund?
The 72 Fund reported $54.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The 72 Fund funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The 72 Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts
Eastern Bank Foundation
Wakefield, MA
Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$266.7M
Grants
1,786
Total Given
$19.0M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Charitable Trust-I
Boston, MA
The Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Charitable supports 501(c)(3) organizations across varied causes, including animal welfare, education, hunger relief, humanitarian work, and conservation. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,500 to $190,000, with a median of $11,000; Massachusetts received the largest share, though grants also went to organizations in other states. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
162
Total Given
$3.5M
Yawkey Foundation II
Westwood, MA
Yawkey Foundation II funds youth enrichment, housing and homelessness services, education and skills building, hunger relief, and baseball education and outreach, primarily in Massachusetts, with some giving in New York. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,250 to $2.5 million, with a median of $35,000. It directs applicants to review its online grant guidelines, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$467.4M
Grants
166
Total Given
$19.1M
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Cornelius a & Muriel P Wood Tua
Dallas, TX
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
7
Total Given
$91K
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The 72 Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-72-fund-morg_b78dc868f8d44a2593d6add04e15cb8e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_854148852_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The 72 Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-72-fund-morg_b78dc868f8d44a2593d6add04e15cb8e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 The 72 Fund'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.
The 72 Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?