The Devonshire Foundation
The Devonshire Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It supports ready-for-growth programs addressing social and environmental issues, with an emphasis on building organizations’ capacity to expand their reach and improve outcomes.
The Devonshire Foundation at a glance
In short: The Devonshire Foundation gave $3.0M across 40 grants in 2024 (avg $74K), mostly in Massachusetts. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,970,575
- -5.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- -2.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $74,264
- -2.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $37,016,295
- +0.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (6 of 35, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (99% 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 Devonshire Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It says it identifies prospects through its nonprofit-sector network. Organizations wishing to connect may send one or two paragraphs about their organization and its potential for growth; the foundation says it will reach out if it is interested in learning more.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Hcm 75 Federal St 1100, Boston, MA 02110-1911
Phone: (617) 357-9110
Website: https://thedevonshirefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Devonshire Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tech Goes Home Incorporated ($290K). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
234 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 134 grants of 234 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says most of its grantee partners, particularly youth and impact partners, are based in the metro Boston area. It occasionally funds organizations elsewhere in New England and does not fund organizations outside New England. In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 1% to recipients in the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Devonshire Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 35 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $57K; repeat grants $91K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $31K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 114% 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 $3.0M (2024) to $3.4M (2020). In 2024 it made 40 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tech Goes Home Incorporated Boston, MA | Tech goes home's three-year grant supports expansion of their development and earned revenue teams to increase fundraising and earned revenue income. The grant will help tech goes home build internal capacity to support long-term expansion and deepen their impact. | $290,471 |
| Boston Food Forest Coalition Jamaica Plain, MA | Three-year grant to support building out a fully staffed development department with the tools needed to support and increase fundraising efforts and sustainability. | $279,600 |
| United South End Settlements Boston, MA | United south end settlements' (USES) three-year grant supports USES's financial sustainability through improved fundraising and earned revenue. The grant supports development staffing needs, upgrading USES's website and working with a government affairs and relations consultant. | $251,000 |
| Friends of the Children-Boston Boston, MA | Three-Year Grant Supports Increasing Fundraising Capacity. | $250,000 |
| Urban Farming Institute Mattapan, MA | Three-year grant supports building their internal capacity to strengthen fundraising, finance and marketing infrastructure allowing the organization to grow overall revenue and fundraising. | $250,000 |
| Third Sector New England (Mattapan Food and Fitness) Mattapan, MA | Three-year grant supports program, operations, and development staff hires to help expand mffc's programmatic reach and increase fundraising | $249,843 |
| Science Club for Girls Inc Cambridge, MA | Three-year grant supports the development, operations, and communications teams to increase fundraising and support operational infrastructure. | $200,000 |
| Young Man with a Plan Boston, MA | Three-year grant supports development and operations staff hires to help increase fundraising and the number of young men served | $200,000 |
| Breaktime United Inc Boston, MA | Three-year capacity building grant to support breaktime's statewide expansion through building organizational capacity and increased development efforts. | $180,000 |
| Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust Lowell, MA | Three-year grant supports development, operations and program staff hires to help increase fundraising and expand programmatic reach. | $155,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Devonshire Foundation?
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 | $37,016,295 | $4,330,611 | $3,902,958 | $2,970,575 | 40 | $3,491,666 | $4,004,225 | $3,065,777 |
| 2023 | $36,771,212 | $3,820,823 | $3,868,160 | $3,129,104 | 41 | $3,580,663 | $3,533,326 | $2,743,468 |
| 2022 | $37,151,327 | $2,827,991 | $4,101,296 | $3,276,439 | 53 | $3,760,231 | $2,456,026 | $2,771,628 |
| 2021 | $38,706,243 | $5,222,680 | $3,639,506 | $3,035,375 | 39 | $3,368,206 | $4,984,605 | $3,132,148 |
| 2020 | $37,682,386 | $2,197,748 | $3,965,227 | $3,395,151 | 61 | — | $2,012,865 | $2,644,620 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Devonshire Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to create measurable and sustainable impact by supporting ready-for-growth programs addressing social and environmental issues. Its website identifies three funding areas: youth, environmental sustainability, and nonprofit-sector impact. It provides capacity-building support for staff and operational growth, and also describes challenge or matching grants and grants intended to foster growth in the nonprofit sector.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate these areas. Boston Food Forest Coalition describes its work as turning vacant lots into public edible parks, with a focus on racial equity and climate resilience. Friends of the Children–Boston says it supports young people facing significant obstacles through long-term professional mentoring. Science Club for Girls provides free STEM programs and mentoring for girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities. Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust works to improve quality of life through education and the creation and preservation of parks and open spaces.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 40 grants totaling $2,970,575. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $290,471, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed awards included $290,471 to Tech Goes Home Incorporated for a three-year grant supporting development and earned-revenue capacity; $279,600 to Boston Food Forest Coalition for development-department capacity; and $251,000 to United South End Settlements for fundraising and earned-revenue capacity. Other large awards included $250,000 each to Friends of the Children–Boston and Urban Farming Institute, and $249,843 to Third Sector New England (Mattapan Food and Fitness).
The foundation’s website says it generally looks for organizations with demonstrated, measurable impact, readiness for growth, relevance to its mission, and openness to collaboration. Most of its grantees have annual organizational or program budgets of $700,000 to $5 million, and the foundation aims for its multi-year grants to represent no more than 10% of a grantee partner’s budget. It says most grantees are at least two years old, have a full-time paid executive director, track outcomes and impact, and have completed a strategic plan or developed a multi-year growth path.
The foundation strongly prefers organizations providing programs directly to the community over those primarily engaged in policy advocacy. It does not fund bricks-and-mortar capital projects or scholarships. Its website describes a collaborative proposal process, including feedback and discussion of reporting requirements, and says it may provide consultation and guidance to grantees.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Weston Howland III as president; Charles E Clapp III as treasurer; and Susan Davidson, Jennifer Geyer, and Kit Howland as trustees.
The Devonshire Foundation is led by Weston Howland III, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Weston Howland III
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Davidson
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Geyer
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kit Howland
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles E. Clapp III
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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 Devonshire Foundation
How much does The Devonshire Foundation give each year?
The Devonshire Foundation gave $3.0M across 40 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.1M across 41 grants.
What is The Devonshire Foundation's typical grant size?
The Devonshire Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $74,264, across 40 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Devonshire Foundation that year got $57K on average.
Where does The Devonshire Foundation give grants?
The Devonshire Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (15 grants), Dorchester, MA (4 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants) and Mattapan, MA (2 grants).
Does The Devonshire Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of The Devonshire Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 40) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Matching Grant" (5 grants), "Distribution for Xanthaky Memorial Scholarship Fund" (4 grants) and "Annual Membership" (3 grants).
Who are The Devonshire Foundation's largest grantees?
The Devonshire Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tech Goes Home Incorporated ($290,471), Boston Food Forest Coalition ($279,600) and United South End Settlements ($251,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Devonshire Foundation?
The Devonshire Foundation reported $37.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Devonshire Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to create measurable and sustainable impact by supporting ready-for-growth programs addressing social and environmental issues. Its website identifies three funding areas: youth, environmental sustainability, and nonprofit-sector impact. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Devonshire Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Devonshire Foundation's EIN?
The Devonshire Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6004808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Devonshire Foundation 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 October 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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Browse active grant opportunities in The Devonshire Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Devonshire Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-devonshire-foundation-morg_ad88ef1bcd854290bedd2646436593c0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046004808_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Devonshire Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-devonshire-foundation-morg_ad88ef1bcd854290bedd2646436593c0},
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 Devonshire Foundation'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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