The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable
The C Jean & Myles McDonough Charitable Foundation is a family foundation established in 1986 in Massachusetts. Based in Worcester, MA, the foundation supports cultural, educational, and community institutions primarily in central Massachusetts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
-25.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
-0.6% YoY
Grant Count
3
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$833K
-0.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports museums and organizations involved with:
- Arts and cultural institutions
- Historic preservation
- Higher education
- The environment
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated significant philanthropic commitment to central Massachusetts cultural institutions:
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds institutions in Worcester and central Massachusetts communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,510,065 | $4,724,750 | $7,166,137 |
| Revenue | $1,286,647 | $93,023 | $7,870,713 |
| Expenses | $2,501,332 | $2,534,410 | $1,002,498 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,500,000 | $2,515,000 | $985,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $204,729 | $93,023 | $1,446,526 |
| Distributable Amount | $163,810 | $266,184 | $165,507 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts ($1,500,000), Worcester Art Museum ($900,000), Worcester Cultural Coalition ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HANOVER THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS WORCESTER, MA | GENERAL | $1,500,000 |
| WORCESTER ART MUSEUM WORCESTER, MA | GENERAL | $900,000 |
| WORCESTER CULTURAL COALITION WORCESTER, MA | GENERAL | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jean McDonough (C. Jean McDonough) - Founder/Primary Philanthropist
- Moved to Worcester in 1960 with her late husband Myles McDonough
- Served as trustee and docent at Worcester Art Museum
- Described the Worcester Art Museum as her "second home"
- Died August 22, 2021, at age 96
Myles McDonough (deceased) - Co-founder
- Founder of FLEXcon, a pressure-sensitive adhesives manufacturer based in Spencer, Massachusetts
- Co-established the foundation with Jean McDonough
Neil McDonough - Jean McDonough's son
- Spoke on behalf of the family regarding foundation grants
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEIL MCDONOUGH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARK MCDONOUGH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation's most recent major announcement was the $10 million gift to Worcester Art Museum in July 2019, which represented the museum's largest gift in its 123-year history at that time. This contribution continued Jean McDonough's lifelong support of the institution and demonstrated the foundation's ongoing commitment to strengthening cultural organizations in central Massachusetts.
McDonough donates $10 million to Worcester Art Museum, largest gift of its\Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 1024 Worcester, MA 01613-1024
Telephone: 508-791-0901
EIN: 04-2947391
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable fund?
The foundation supports museums and organizations involved with: • Arts and cultural institutions • Historic preservation • Higher education • The environment • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable?
The foundation has demonstrated significant philanthropic commitment to central Massachusetts cultural institutions: **2015 Major Grant Round:** $15.25 million distributed to seven cultural organizations: • Worcester Art Museum: $4 million (endowment for directorship) • American Antiquarian Society: $4 million • Tower Hill Botanic Garden: $2.5 million • EcoTarium: $2 million • Worcester Historical Museum: $1.5 million • Music Worcester: $750,000 • Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts: $500,0…
Where does The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable make grants?
The foundation primarily funds institutions in Worcester and central Massachusetts communities.
What size grants does The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable award?
In 2024, The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable awarded 3 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $833K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable reported a distributable amount of $164K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable's EIN?
The C Jean & Myles Mcdonough Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2947391. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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