The Cabot Family Charitable Trust
The Cabot Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1942 by Godfrey Lowell Cabot, it makes grants to nonprofit organizations in Boston and contiguous communities, as well as to organizations in which Cabot family members maintain philanthropic interest.
Key facts about The Cabot Family Charitable Trust
In short: The Cabot Family Charitable Trust gave $2.2M across 82 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Massachusetts. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 04-6036446
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,205,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 82
- Average grant
- $26,890
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (36 of 82, 2024)
- Total assets
- $55,761,187
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The Trust’s 2024 filing says it “does not accept unsolicited requests” and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- February 1 and September 1.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$55.8M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+10.2% YoY
Grant Count
82
+1.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+8.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cabot Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Cabot Family Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 36 of 82 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust describes its purpose as continuing the philanthropic work of Godfrey Lowell Cabot and his wife, Maria Moors Cabot. It considers requests for specific programs and activities, general operations, and capital campaigns in its stated funding areas.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among its grantees. Bridge Over Troubled Waters says it serves homeless, at-risk, and runaway youth and helps them move toward self-sufficiency. Neighborhood Villages says it develops solutions for early education and child care providers serving families with children ages 0–5. Community Servings says it provides medically tailored meals and groceries to chronically and critically ill people and their families. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work, not statements of the Trust’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Trust awarded 82 grants totaling $2,205,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed awards included $50,000 each to Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Community Servings, Family Access of Newton, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, Immigrant Family Services Institute, Roca, WGBH Educational Foundation, and Worcester Natural History Society, doing business as Ecotarium. Other notable awards included $48,000 to Codman Square Health Center and $40,000 each to Neighborhood House Charter School and Neighborhood Villages.
Review Cycle
February 1 and September 1. If either date falls on a weekend or holiday, the program information says applications are due the next business day.
How to Apply
and an online application. The filing lists an online application and says to refer to the grant program policy and review criteria for restrictions.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Cabot Family Charitable Trust
Ready to take the next step with The Cabot Family Charitable Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s stated service area is Boston and these contiguous communities: Brookline, Cambridge, Canton, Chelsea, Dedham, Everett, Milton, Needham, Newton, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Watertown, and Winthrop. It also considers organizations in which Cabot family members maintain philanthropic interest.
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 2% to New Hampshire, and 1% to Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 82 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2023) to $2.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 82 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bridge Over Troubled Waters Inc ($50K). Together the top 10 received $492K.
Grant Size Distribution
439 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 391 grants of 439 (89%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Over Troubled Waters Inc Boston, MA | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Community Servings Jamaica Plain, MA | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Family Access of Newton West Newton, MA | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center Dorchester, MA | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Immigrant Family Services Institute Mattapan, MA | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Roca Inc Chelsea, MA | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Worcester Natural History Society DBA Ecotarium Worcester, MA | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Codman Square Health Center Dorchester, MA | Exempt Purpose | $48,000 |
| Puppet Showplace Theatre Brookline, MA | Exempt Purpose | $44,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $55,761,187 | $2,655,030 | $2,862,815 | $2,205,000 |
| 2023 | $52,539,263 | $1,465,395 | $2,587,998 | $2,000,215 |
| 2022 | $48,618,283 | $470,909 | $3,241,938 | $2,601,233 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $55,761,187 | $52,539,263 | $48,618,283 |
| Revenue | $2,655,030 | $1,465,395 | $470,909 |
| Expenses | $2,862,815 | $2,587,998 | $3,241,938 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,598,864 | $2,386,762 | $2,953,648 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,413,031 | $1,272,051 | $733,144 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,682,946 | $2,420,147 | $2,516,710 |
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
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Laura Cabot Carrigan, Hendrika T Sluder, Mary Schneider Enriquez, Francis M Bradley, Dr Greenfield Sluder, Shoma Aditya, and John R Cabot as trustees. The filing notes Francis M Bradley ended November 26, 2024, and lists John R Cabot as a trustee “as of 11/2024.” Elizabeth Lynch is listed as executive director.
The Cabot Family Charitable Trust is led by Elizabeth Lynch, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Lynch
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
26.5 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $131K (2024)
Greenfield Sluder
Trustee
Term Trustee → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hendrika T. Sluder
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Cabot Carrigan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Schneider Enriquez
Trustee
Term Trustee → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shoma Aditya
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John R. Cabot
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Francis M. Bradley (2020–2024) — Trustee · Filing note: Ended 11/26/2024
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $131K, to Elizabeth Lynch (Executive Director).
Contact
Application contact: Elizabeth Lynch
Mailing address: 22 Batterymarch St Floor 2, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 451-1744
Website: https://cabotwellington.com
Frequently asked questions about The Cabot Family Charitable Trust
How much does The Cabot Family Charitable Trust give each year?
The Cabot Family Charitable Trust gave $2.2M across 82 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 81 grants.
What is The Cabot Family Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
The Cabot Family Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $26,890, across 82 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Cabot Family Charitable Trust that year got $27K on average.
Where does The Cabot Family Charitable Trust give grants?
The Cabot Family Charitable Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (36 grants), Cambridge, MA (9 grants), Dorchester, MA (6 grants) and Jamaica Plain, MA (5 grants).
Who are The Cabot Family Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
The Cabot Family Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Bridge Over Troubled Waters Inc ($50,000), Community Servings ($50,000) and Family Access of Newton ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Cabot Family Charitable Trust?
The Cabot Family Charitable Trust reported $55.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Cabot Family Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust describes its purpose as continuing the philanthropic work of Godfrey Lowell Cabot and his wife, Maria Moors Cabot. It considers requests for specific programs and activities, general operations, and capital campaigns in its stated funding areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cabot Family Charitable Trust?
The Trust’s 2024 filing says it “does not accept unsolicited requests” and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Cabot Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Cabot Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6036446. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Cabot Family Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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