The Bigbird Fund is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a human services-focused foundation with tax-exempt status since June 2014. Donations to the organization are tax-deductible.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$247K
-67.8% YoY
Grant Count
22
+15.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-72.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and Creative Writing
- Historic Buildings
- Journalism
- Community and School Gardens
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $105,234
- Total Giving: $246,875
Earlier Financial Data (2023):
- Revenue: $142,000
- Expenses: $785,000
- Total Assets: $244,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation's financial position shows a significant decline in assets between 2023 and 2024, with expenses exceeding revenue in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
102 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Huntington Theatre Company Inc ($40,000), Arbor Brothers Inc ($25,000), Phoenix Charter Academy ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| AQUIDNECK LAND TRUST MIDDLETOWN, RI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ARBOR BROTHERS INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BOSTON ART REVIEW BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $4,750 |
| HEALTHY WALTHAM WALTHAM, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM P MCQUILLAN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| LINDA M CRINITI | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bigbird Fund fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and Creative Writing • Historic Buildings • Journalism • Community and School Gardens
How do I apply for a grant from The Bigbird Fund?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $966,960. **Recent Giving Activity:** According to the most recent available data, the foundation distributed $246,875 in total giving.
Where does The Bigbird Fund make grants?
The foundation operates primarily in Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding region.
What size grants does The Bigbird Fund award?
In 2024, The Bigbird Fund awarded 22 grants totaling $247K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Bigbird Fund's EIN?
The Bigbird Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4072533. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bigbird Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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