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.
Key facts about The 72 Fund
In short: The 72 Fund gave $2.9M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $487K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 85-4148852
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,924,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- Average grant
- $487,333
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $54,094,754
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
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.
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.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
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%).
Giving History
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 |
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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.
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