The Dudley H and Sally S Willis
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2024, it made 36 grants totaling $80,500, primarily to organizations in Massachusetts.
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis at a glance
In short: The Dudley H and Sally S Willis gave $81K across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $80,500
- +19.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- -2.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,236
- +22.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,367,903
- +26.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Dudley H and Sally S Willis
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 50 Congress Street Room 800, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 227-8860
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Dudley H and Sally S Willis funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way ($10K). Together the top 10 received $53K.
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 112 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Massachusetts organizations received 86% of grant dollars. Other reported recipient-state shares were Virginia (7%), Vermont (4%), New York (1%), and Maine (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Dudley H and Sally S Willis gives
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 2583% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% 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 (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 $3K (2021) to $81K (2024). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $81K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Boston, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| St Andrew's Episcopal Church Wellesley, MA | General Support | $8,000 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra Boston, MA | General Support | $6,000 |
| Charles River School Dover, MA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Chatham Hall Chatham, VA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Shady Hill School Cambridge, MA | General Support | $5,000 |
| The Trustees Boston, MA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Conservation Law Foundation Boston, MA | General Support | $3,000 |
| New England Aquarium Boston, MA | General Support | $3,000 |
| Norwich Univeristy Northfield, VT | General Support | $3,000 |
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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 | $1,367,903 | $399,409 | $112,678 | $80,500 | 36 | $104,440 | $386,907 | $116,279 |
| 2023 | $1,081,172 | $228,316 | $100,192 | $67,400 | 37 | $92,015 | $211,862 | $96,825 |
| 2022 | $953,048 | $135,529 | $88,369 | $52,700 | 36 | $68,452 | $127,145 | $84,839 |
| 2021 | $905,888 | $558,154 | $26,509 | $3,000 | 1 | $7,904 | $529,987 | $79,336 |
| 2020 | $373,956 | $18,692 | $23,203 | $3,600 | 2 | — | $7,426 | $48,963 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dudley H and Sally S Willis reported a distributable amount of $116K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Boston Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as making music and providing educational and training programs; Chatham Hall says it prepares girls for college and productive lives; and the New England Aquarium describes work in public engagement, education, marine conservation, research, and ocean advocacy. Conservation Law Foundation says it works to protect New England’s environment, while Sherborn Historical Society describes collecting and preserving local history and providing educational services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 36 grants totaling $80,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest awards included $10,000 to United Way, $8,000 to St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, $6,000 to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and $5,000 each to Charles River School, Chatham Hall, Shady Hill School, and The Trustees. The listed grants were for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dudley H Willis, Deborah W Dowling, and Dudley H Willis Jr as trustees.
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Deborah W. Dowling
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$151 (2020) → $507 (2024)
Dudley H. Willis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$152 (2020) → $507 (2024)
Dudley H. Willis Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$151 (2020) → $508 (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sally S. Willis (2020–2023) — Trustee
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 $508, to Dudley H Willis Jr (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Dudley H and Sally S Willis
How much does The Dudley H and Sally S Willis give each year?
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis gave $81K across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $67K across 37 grants.
What is The Dudley H and Sally S Willis's typical grant size?
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,236, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Dudley H and Sally S Willis give grants?
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis gives mostly in Massachusetts: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (13 grants), Sherborn, MA (8 grants) and Wellesley, MA (2 grants).
Does The Dudley H and Sally S Willis give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Dudley H and Sally S Willis's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Dudley H and Sally S Willis's largest grantees?
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis's largest 2024 grantees include United Way ($10,000), St Andrew's Episcopal Church ($8,000) and Boston Symphony Orchestra ($6,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Dudley H and Sally S Willis?
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $104K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $116K (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 Dudley H and Sally S Willis fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dudley H and Sally S Willis?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Dudley H and Sally S Willis's EIN?
The Dudley H and Sally S Willis's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6719378. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Dudley H and Sally S Willis 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 Dudley H and Sally S Willis funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-dudley-h-and-sally-s-willis-morg_9b425a90dd9f4ac1a518768da76305f8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046719378_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Dudley H and Sally S Willis funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-dudley-h-and-sally-s-willis-morg_9b425a90dd9f4ac1a518768da76305f8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 Dudley H and Sally S Willis'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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