The Christopher Catanese
The Christopher Catanese is a private foundation based in Canton, Massachusetts. The foundation’s website identifies it as the Christopher Catanese Children’s Foundation, established by the Catanese family in 2005 after Christopher’s death. It supports 501(c)(3) organizations through educational, medical, and recreational programs for children and young adults.
The Christopher Catanese at a glance
In short: The Christopher Catanese gave $147K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Massachusetts. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $146,962
- +3.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- -11.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,390
- +17.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,957,810
- +11.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (2 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Christopher Catanese
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 16 Minuteman Way, Canton, MA 02021
Phone: (508) 782-1165
Website: https://www.chrisfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Christopher Catanese funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ne Hemophilia Association ($25K). Together the top 10 received $122K.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 109 grants of 110 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts; Texas, Iowa, and Maine each received 1%. The website lists recipients in Massachusetts and elsewhere, including Austin Creative Alliance and Ecole Presbyteral Sainte Marie de Labadie.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Christopher Catanese open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 23 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 162% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $109K (2021) to $147K (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $147K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ne Hemophilia Association Dedham, MA | Donation | $25,000 |
| Perkins School for the Blind Watertown, MA | Donation | $25,000 |
| The League School Walpole, MA | Donation | $17,500 |
| Be Like Brit Rutland, MA | Donation | $12,000 |
| Circle of Hope Norwood, MA | Donation | $10,000 |
| St John's Seminary Brighton, MA | Donation | $10,000 |
| Pan Mass Challenge Needham, MA | Donation | $8,212 |
| Golf Fights Cancer Norton, MA | Donation | $5,000 |
| Mary's Wish for Children Waltham, MA | Donation | $5,000 |
| Millertracy Children's F Waltham, MA | Donation | $4,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Christopher Catanese?
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 | $1,957,810 | $375,581 | $176,114 | $146,962 | 23 | $146,962 | $72,296 | $90,447 |
| 2023 | $1,755,980 | $372,782 | $166,698 | $141,759 | 26 | $141,759 | $50,035 | $80,845 |
| 2022 | $1,555,289 | $339,867 | $162,893 | $146,053 | 19 | $146,053 | $24,089 | $71,816 |
| 2021 | $1,374,701 | $336,978 | $122,312 | $108,993 | 20 | $108,993 | $23,316 | $61,973 |
| 2020 | $1,155,128 | $215,757 | $124,089 | $120,149 | 22 | — | $23,145 | $54,462 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Christopher Catanese reported a distributable amount of $90K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to enrich children’s and young adults’ lives by supporting organizations that provide educational, medical, and recreational programs. Its website says it has pledged more than $100,000 to fund the Be Like Brit orphanage in Haiti and has raised more than $1 million for organizations listed among its 2025 recipients since 2005.
The 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported services. New England Hemophilia Association says its mission is to improve quality of life for people with bleeding disorders and their families through education, advocacy, and support. Perkins School for the Blind says it serves children and young adults with multiple disabilities and others through education services, accessibility, professional development, and innovation. Circle of Hope says it provides clothing and hygiene essentials to people and families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Other 2024 recipients include organizations whose stated missions address cancer support and treatment, and children’s emotional, behavioral, and educational challenges.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $146,962. Grants ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest listed awards were $25,000 each to New England Hemophilia Association and Perkins School for the Blind; $17,500 to The League School; $12,000 to Be Like Brit; and $10,000 each to Circle of Hope and St. John’s Seminary.
Other listed 2024 awards included $8,212 to Pan Mass Challenge, $5,000 each to Golf Fights Cancer and Mary’s Wish for Children, $4,000 to Miller Tracy Children’s Foundation, $2,750 to GivenGain Foundation, and $2,500 to A Gift From an Angel. The website says the foundation has concluded its in-person annual fundraisers after 16 years and that its commitment to enriching children’s lives remains.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Peter Catanese II and Mary Ann Catanese as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Peter Catanese II as its chairman and Christopher’s father.
The Christopher Catanese's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary Ann Catanese
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Peter Catanese II
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Christopher Catanese
How much does The Christopher Catanese give each year?
The Christopher Catanese gave $147K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $142K across 26 grants.
What is The Christopher Catanese's typical grant size?
The Christopher Catanese's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $6,390, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Christopher Catanese that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Christopher Catanese give grants?
The Christopher Catanese 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 (3 grants), Walpole, MA (2 grants), Needham, MA (2 grants) and Waltham, MA (2 grants).
Does The Christopher Catanese give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on The Christopher Catanese's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (23 grants).
Who are The Christopher Catanese's largest grantees?
The Christopher Catanese's largest 2024 grantees include Ne Hemophilia Association ($25,000), Perkins School for the Blind ($25,000) and The League School ($17,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Christopher Catanese?
The Christopher Catanese reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $147K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $90K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Christopher Catanese fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to enrich children’s and young adults’ lives by supporting organizations that provide educational, medical, and recreational programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Christopher Catanese?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds 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 Christopher Catanese's EIN?
The Christopher Catanese's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3882991. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Christopher Catanese accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Christopher Catanese funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-christopher-catanese-morg_285ffb1a686e4b319cb3ec4bc761f0c4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203882991_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Christopher Catanese funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-christopher-catanese-morg_285ffb1a686e4b319cb3ec4bc761f0c4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Christopher Catanese'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.
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