The Fish Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1999 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a tax-exempt charitable organization with a focus on supporting community-based organizations serving Greater Boston's most vulnerable families.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.3M
-23.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-34.4% YoY
Grant Count
5
-73.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$295K
+149.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fish Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $345K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fish Family Foundation supports community-based organizations serving Greater Boston's most vulnerable families. The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Immigration
- High- and proven-risk youth
- Community-based mental health services for underserved populations
- Racial equity
The foundation is also involved with the Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative Program, which brings women from Japan to Boston to receive four weeks of direct experience and training in nonprofit management and leadership development in areas of importance to women and Japanese society.
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds program support.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on Greater Boston and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,270,447
- Total Giving: $1,473,844
- Total Revenues: $266,522
- Total Expenses: $1,962,533
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,270,447 | $8,223,507 | $11,408,831 |
| Revenue | $266,522 | $-1,160,568 | $3,271,299 |
| Expenses | $1,962,533 | $3,145,506 | $4,184,195 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,872,992 | $3,053,068 | $3,918,352 |
| Net Investment Income | $393,572 | — | $2,414,250 |
| Distributable Amount | $345,296 | $431,558 | $673,430 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Boston Foundation ($1,404,000), Duet Inc ($46,819), Charles River Esplanade ($11,665).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOSTON, MA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $3,025 |
| CHARLES RIVER ESPLANADE BOSTON, MA | PLANTING & MAINTENANCE OF TREES IN THE STATE-OWNED PARK | $11,665 |
| DUET INC BOSTON, MA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $46,819 |
| LESLEY UNIVERSITY CAMBRIDGE, MA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $8,335 |
| THE BOSTON FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,404,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Staff:
- Lawrence K. Fish (Trustee)
- Atsuko Toko Fish (Trustee)
- Edward Takezo Fish (Trustee)
- Thaleia Schlesinger (Trustee)
- Emily Fish (Trustee)
- Nina Fish (Trustee)
- Leah Fish (Trustee)
- Tref Borden (Executive Director)
- Jennifer Rocchi (Director of Administration)
- Kozue Sawame (Director of Japan Program)
- Ayaka Ueike (Boston Program Manager)
The foundation has 3 employees on staff.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE K FISH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ATSUKO TOKO FISH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| EDWARD TAKEZO FISH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| THALEIA SCHLESINGER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| EMILY FISH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| NINA FISH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| LEAH FISH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2 Commonwealth Ave Apt 16f Boston, MA 02116-3160
Phone: 617-428-3775
EIN: 04-6905753
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Fish Family Foundation fund?
The Fish Family Foundation supports community-based organizations serving Greater Boston's most vulnerable families. The foundation's primary focus areas include: • Immigration • High- and proven-risk youth • Community-based mental health services for underserved populations • Racial equity The foundation is also involved with the Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative Program, which brings women from Japan to Boston to receive four weeks of direct experience and training in nonprofit managemen…
How do I apply for a grant from The Fish Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 68 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Typical award range: $250–$1,800,000 • Median grant amount: $12,000 • Recent grantees include The Boston Foundation ($1,404,000 for program support), Duet ($46,819 for program support), and Lesley University ($8,335 for program support) **Grant Types:** The foundation primarily funds program support.
Where does The Fish Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on Greater Boston and Massachusetts.
What size grants does The Fish Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Fish Family Foundation awarded 5 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $295K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Fish Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Fish Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $345K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Fish Family Foundation's EIN?
The Fish Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6905753. 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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